RoadVitals

1989 Toyota Corolla

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest Feb 3, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jun 2, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Toyota Corolla, most frequently naming the engine, interior & seats and brakes categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 19 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine517.9%
  • Interior & seats310.7%
  • Brakes310.7%
  • Driver assistance310.7%
  • Seat belts27.1%
  • Transmission27.1%
  • Tires & wheels27.1%
  • Electrical27.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
16V396000

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

Jun 2, 2016
7,749 units potentially affected
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
The risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLCManufacturer number SET16BView on NHTSA.gov
10E002000

SUSPENSION

Feb 11, 2010
12,657 units potentially affected
The defect: RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
The risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
RIDE CONTROL, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 23
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 3, 2010

IN 1991, DRIVING ON HWY 5 IN CAL, SUDDEN MY CAR TACKED OUT, ACCELERATING BEYOND ANYTHING I'VE EXPERIENCE. THIS CAR IS BEFORE THE CURRENT RECALL. I BRING THIS UP, BECAUSE, AT THE TIME, I KNEW IT WAS NOT THE PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO ME AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS IN THE WIRING OR COMPUTER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT COMPLETELY TACKED OUT, RISKING THAT IT WOULD THROW A ROD. THEN I TURNED THE KEY, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AS I DRIFTED OFF THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE DON'T LET TOYOTA GET AWAY WITH SAYING THIS IS JUST PEDALS, IT WAS NOT FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10304661
Incident
Apr 12, 1991
Brakes
Filed May 5, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING CAUSING EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED

NHTSA ID
10018141
Incident
Apr 30, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 13, 2002

ON 7-9-02, 65 MPH, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE (I HAVE THE ORIGINAL TIRE AND SEPERATED TREAD) TIRE MAINTAINED PRESSURE WITHOUT THE TREAD. THE SEPARATING TREAD DENTED THE DRIVERS FENDER, DOOR, AND BROKE OFF A PLASTIC SUPPORT TO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE CARE HAD BEEN INSPECTED 4 DAYS PRIOR AND THE TIRES PASSED. (16 Y/O SON WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME) 3 OTHER WITNESS WERE IN VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
764165
Incident
Jul 9, 2002
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 20, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WANTS NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM WITH THE ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDAL. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER READ ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL IN WHICH DRIVERS COULD HIT THE WRONG PEDAL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. *NM

NHTSA ID
566215
Incident
Jan 25, 2002
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 19, 2002

THERE WASN'T A WARNING OF LOW FLUID IN THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND IT BROKE AND LOCKED UP THE FRONT TIRES MAKING THE VEHICLE COME TO A DEAD STOP. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT IS CHECKED FOR SAFETY.*AK

NHTSA ID
758420
Incident
Feb 13, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 17, 2001

VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DRIVER'S SEAT TO DISCONNECT FROM SEAT TRACKS/ANCHORS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID
894662
Incident
Mar 25, 1993
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 11, 2000

TREAD SEPARATION WAS FOUND BY MECHANIC WHEN ROTATING TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 1B EV GD TIRESIZE: P175/70R13)

NHTSA ID
733994
Incident
Oct 4, 2000
Transmission
Filed Sep 27, 1999

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 35 MPH ENROUTE TO THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SIEZED LOCKING UP THE FRONT END, BRINGING THE CAR TO A SCREECHING HAULT. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO REACT AND AVOID A COLLISION. DEALER CONFIRMED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED AS I PLAN TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION MYSELF WITH A USED OR REBUILT COMPONENT. I DON'T EXPECT ANY REIBURSEMENT, BUT THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED AS IT DID CREATE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID
712236
Incident
Sep 24, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB003220

AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

Toyota PRO19-02

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.

T-SB-0032-20 Rev

EQUIPMENT

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

T-SB-0304-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

T-SB-0032-20

EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2020 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

PG006-01-Obsolet

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Toyota Corolla by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000—
2026151063.7
2025270058.1
2024612060.5
2023723057.9
2022950049.1
20211841052.4
20203043055.6
20192005165.8
20181333266.1
20171773267.9
20162121260.9
20152191261.0
20142672263.8
20132015266.5
20124455264.2
20115849262.2
20101,24217365.7
20091,45913364.8
20083136467.4
20078366366.0
200683910466.8
200585310467.3
200447713466.9
200372013467.0
20021175162.0
20011334058.0
20001455056.7
19991554055.4
19982254056.3
19971356059.0
19961296167.4
19951767269.8
19941728169.7
19931306167.7
1992632053.5
1991711047.2
1990271043.3
1989Viewing232056.7
1988261054.8
1987140133.0
1986301—
1985301—
1984621—
1983102—
1982500—
1981300—
1980210—
1979210—
1978010—
1977110—
1976101—
1975000—
1974000—
1973100—
1972000—
1971021—
1970010—
1969020—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.