IllustrationTHERE IS NO INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE SEPARATE FROM THE KEY.
1998 Toyota Corolla
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota Corolla do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corolla years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
825–50K
1450–75K
1875–100K
11100–150K
7150K+
64 reports with mileage · 161 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
36 crash reports8 fire reports24 injury reports
What owners actually said
225 reportsWHILE DRIVING AND WHENEVER VEHICLE IS ON A UPGRADE OR HILL THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE VEHICLE IS SET IN DRIVE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER. NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS CONSIDERED A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK
NOTICED AN ODOR/FUMES INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN ITS STARTED OR NOT. MOST HEAVY WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. TOOK TO DEALER AT LEAST 7 DIFFERENT TIMES & PROBLEM HAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 60 MPH VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE DUE TO LACK OF FRONT STABILIZER BAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK
THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR SEAT COMBINED LAP/SHOULDERHAS A BELT EXTENDER. THE LAP BELT COMES UP HIGHER THAN THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. SHOULDER STRAP DOES NOT LOCK SECURELY. DEALER SUGGESTS TO PUT THE CHILD IN THE SEAT ON THE SIDE BECAUSE THE CHILD SEAT CANNOT GO IN THE MIDDLE SEAT. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *…
Read full complaint
THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR SEAT COMBINED LAP/SHOULDERHAS A BELT EXTENDER. THE LAP BELT COMES UP HIGHER THAN THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. SHOULDER STRAP DOES NOT LOCK SECURELY. DEALER SUGGESTS TO PUT THE CHILD IN THE SEAT ON THE SIDE BECAUSE THE CHILD SEAT CANNOT GO IN THE MIDDLE SEAT. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHISTLING NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. (QCAW)
REAR SEAT BELT DESIGN DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH CHILD SAFETY SEAT. (QCAW)
STEERING HOUSING COVER CRACKED/MAKES NOISE. (QCAW)
CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, RESULTING IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A STABILIZER BAR. IT WAS AVAILABLE AS AN OPTION IF CUSTOM ORDERED.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.