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1999 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota Corolla do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
155Owner complaints

Model-year median: 129

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1999 Toyota Corolla

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 155 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Tires: 22 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 20 reports
  • Air Bags: 19 reports
  • Suspension: 14 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 13 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    129
    1996    135
    1997    225
    1998    155
    1999    145
    2000    133
    2001    117
    2002
    Compare all Corolla years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Tires
    22    Engine And Engine Cooling
    20    Air Bags
    19    Suspension
    14    Vehicle Speed Control
    13
    All reported categories
    Structure
    10    Seat Belts
    9    Steering
    9    Visibility
    8    Exterior Lighting
    7    Latches/locks/linkages
    7    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    7    Electrical System
    6    Power Train
    6    Unknown Or Other
    6    Fuel System, Gasoline
    5    Equipment
    3    Fuel System, Other
    3    Seats
    3    Engine
    1    Interior Lighting
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    53 reports with mileage · 102 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.

    • Tires. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    24 crash reports5 fire reports16 injury reports

    Exterior Lighting complaints

    7 reports
    Clear category filter
    130,000 miles · Apr 4, 2016
    Exterior Lighting

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AT NIGHT, BOTH THE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILA…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AT NIGHT, BOTH THE HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/31/2016*LJ

    NHTSA ODI #10853278

    50 miles · Dec 5, 2004
    Exterior Lighting

    BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ON. ALSO, SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME OF THE BRAKE LIGHT, VE ENCOUNTERED THE INTERIOR LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE DOOR LIGHT COMING ON/OFF, WHEN ALL DOORS ARE OBVIOUSLY SECURE AND I AM DRIVING THE CAR. WAS TOLD BY ADVANCE AUTO IT WAS MOST LIKELY A W…

    Read full complaint

    BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ON. ALSO, SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME OF THE BRAKE LIGHT, VE ENCOUNTERED THE INTERIOR LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE DOOR LIGHT COMING ON/OFF, WHEN ALL DOORS ARE OBVIOUSLY SECURE AND I AM DRIVING THE CAR. WAS TOLD BY ADVANCE AUTO IT WAS MOST LIKELY A WIRING ISSUE AND NOT A FUSE PROBLEM.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #10102188

    Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2003
    Electrical SystemExterior LightingInterior Lighting

    WHILE DRIVING, ALL LIGHTING SYSTEMS WAS OUT SERVICE. INSTRUMENTAL LIGHTS/ HEAD LIGHTS/ BRAKE LIGHT AND SIGNAL LIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10022179

    Mileage unknown · May 7, 2001
    Air BagsExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesCrashInjury

    WAS TRAVELING 15-20MPH AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED HOOD LATCH TO RELEASE HOOD, AND IT POPPED BACKWARDS TOWARDS WINDSHIELD. ALSO, LEFT HEADLIGHT HAD POPPED OUT.*AK CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NAD SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #887575

    Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
    Exterior Lighting

    HEADLIGHTS AJUSTED TO POINT 50-60 FEET DOWNWARD POSITION, CAUSING BLIND SPOT AND POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HEADLIGHTS MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #855244

    Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2000
    Exterior Lighting

    THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY GO OUT 30 FEET WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. ON FLAT GROUND THE HEADLIGHTS GO ON 50-75 FEET, WHICH IS NOT FAR ENOUGH. DEALER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN COMPLIANCE. PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED. *AK *ML

    NHTSA ODI #854957

    Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999
    Exterior Lighting

    DESIGN OF HEADLIIGHT ASSEMBLY AFFECTED VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #840701

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No 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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

    Go deeper into Toyota Corolla problems

    Toyota Corolla electrical problems →Toyota Corolla transmission problems →