RoadVitals

1990 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.
27
Latest Dec 23, 2004
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.
1
Latest Feb 11, 2010
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.
3
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Toyota Corolla, most frequently naming the engine, tires & wheels and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 27 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

  • Engine826.7%
  • Tires & wheels620.0%
  • Transmission516.7%
  • Seat belts413.3%
  • Interior & seats26.7%
  • Visibility13.3%
  • Electrical13.3%
  • Powertrain (other)13.3%

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

1 campaign 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
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 27
Engine
Filed Dec 23, 2004

CONSUMER NOT HAPPY WITH SERVICE. *NM THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A CUSTOM HANGAR FOR HER MUFFLER. THE CONSUMER FELT LIKE THE SERVICE WAS RENDERED IN A FALSE AND MISLEADING MANNER. *TC

NHTSA ID
10109679
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Seat belts
Filed May 4, 2004

I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT (WHICH ATTACHED TO THE DOOR) DOES NOT RETRACT AT ALL. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR SOME TIME AND WOULD NOT PROTECT ME IN AN ACCIDENT. I THINK THIS SORT OF SEAT BELT DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO!*AK

NHTSA ID
10068274
Incident
Apr 30, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 18, 2002

EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS DEFECTIVE, DRIVER CAN SMELL CARBON MONOXIDE IN CAB OF VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE 4TH MANIFOLD, EACH ONE HAD CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE.*SLC

NHTSA ID
8002496
Incident
Jan 18, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 12, 2000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAR JERKED. THEN IT JERKED AGAIN, AND SOON AS CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD, TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. *AK

NHTSA ID
870268
Incident
Aug 25, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 13, 2000

SUDDEN BLOW OUT, THREAD DAMAGE BUT SUSTAINED TWO SECTIONS OF WALL DAMAGE AND HAD CRACKED INWALL AT BEAD AREA, SECOND TIRE CRACKS IN BEAD AREA

NHTSA ID
9000248
Incident
Oct 21, 1998
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Mar 3, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE ,TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CAR SKIDDED TO HALT ON ROADWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL RUNNING OUT OF FLUID. THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOWED FULL. THERE WAS NO DIP STICK FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL. SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO CHECK THE FLUID, IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857899
Incident
Dec 19, 1999
Filed Nov 11, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
714631
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 9, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A TIRE BLOWOUT. DEALER STATED ALL THE TIRES WERE DRY ROT. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. HAD TIRES INSTALLED TWO YEARS AGO. GOODYEAR TIRES STATED TIRES WERE DRY ROT SINCE BEING INSTALLED, AND THE TIRES WERE SITTING IN THE WAREHOUSE FOR TWO YEARS AND BECAME DRY ROT. *AK

NHTSA ID
834654
Incident
Jan 12, 1999

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.

PG004-97-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
1990Viewing271043.3
1989232056.7
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.