RoadVitals

1991 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.
71
Latest Jan 7, 2014
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.
13
7 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 71 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Toyota Corolla, most frequently naming the engine, body & structure and seat belts 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

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

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

Interior & seats
Filed Jan 7, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE COLD WEATHER, SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK HER DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT STATED DUE TO THE COLD, AND THAT THE DOOR LOCK DID NOT HAVE RIDGES, SHE WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE LOCK IN THE UPWARD POSITION AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVED AND UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10558770
Incident
Dec 16, 2010
Mileage
200,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 18, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA COROLLA DX SEDAN. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT 3 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE MORE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE THEN INDEPENDENTLY DECREASED IN SPEED BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND DIRECTED HIM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER LODGED THE CONTACT'S COMPLAINT BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,800.

NHTSA ID
10350417
Incident
Jul 10, 2010
Mileage
89,800 mi
Body & structureInterior & seatsSeat belts+4 more
Filed Feb 27, 2010
Crash reported

I HAVE A TOYOTA COROLLA. I WAS PULLED OVER ONE TIME BY THE NASHUA POLICE IN 2007 ALLEGING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SWERVING. I COULDN'T FEEL IF IT DOES..BUT COUPLE WEEKS AGO I OBSERVED IT VERY CLOSELY.AND YES IT DOES SWERVED. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE LIST OF MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THAT THE SECOND TIME THAT MY CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE MOTION COULD ALSO BE ATTRIBUTED TO STEERING MECHANISM. WHY ? I WAS ENGAGED IN REVERSE , WHILE CUTTING THE WHEEL TO MAKE A 90 DEGREES ANGLE BACKING BUT MY CAR WENT INTO A DONUT SPIN. AS A WOMAN WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT CARS. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT IS TOO IRONIC THAT THE SIMILARITIES OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE TOO FARFETCH TO IGNORE. THEY ARE IDENTICAL TO EACH OTHER. I AM SCARED TO RIDE IN IT SINCE THEN. I REMEMBER THE FIRST CAR I HAVE WAS A CELICA,THAT TOO CROSS A MIDDLE ISLAND WHILE I WAS MAKING A U TURN. AND THE RUST INSIDE MY TRUNK . WHY WOULD THE RUST IS INSIDE THE TRUNK. THE SEATBELT DOESN'T WORK. THE SEAT ARE TOO LOW THAT IF I DON'T REINFORCE IT WITH PADDED PILLOWS I COULD HARDLY SEE THE FRONT & THE BACK. I SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR BECAUSE I GET ATTACHED TO IT. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS I HAVE CHANGED IT LIKE YOU WON'T BELIEVED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314802
Incident
Feb 11, 2010
ElectricalSuspensionTransmission
Filed Feb 24, 2010
Crash reported2 injuries reported

MY CAR ACCELERATED ON REVERSE WHEREIN INSTEAD OF MAKING A 90 DEGREES ANGLE THE CAR WENT SWIPING IN 180 DEGREES. BOTH TIMES WAS RAINY. BOTH TIMES THE HEADLIGHTS & THE WINDSHIELD WIPER & THE BACK WINDOW DEFOGGER IS ON. DURING THIS BACK UP WHEN I TURN MY HEAD , THE REAR BACK WINDSHIELD WAS VERY BLURRY & TWICE THIS HAPPENS TO ME. BOTH TIMES I WAS MAKING A REVERSE LEFT SIDE CORNER. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR THE LEFT BACKLIGHT IS DAMAGED. I PUT THINGS TOGETHER THAT MAYBE THE SAME THING HAD HAPPEN TO THE FIRST OWNER OF MY CAR. I HAVE DRIVEN IN ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR 18 YEARS, WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT HAPPENED TO ME IN THE HIGHWAYS BUT THE ONLY TWO ACCIDENT I HAVE WITH SO FAR IS ON THIS CAR IN MY OWN BACKYARD, ON THE SAME EXACT MOTION, SAME WEATHER CONDITION. THE CAR WAS ON REVERSE. THE TWO TIMES IT HAPPENED WAS VERY IDENTICAL TO EACH OTHER.

NHTSA ID
10313976
Incident
Aug 19, 2007
Seat belts
Filed Jul 11, 2007

AFTER BUYING A USED 1991 TOYOTA COROLA I NOTICED 3 OUT OF 5 SEAT BELTS IN THIS CAR WERE DEFECTIVE. THE RETRACTOR ON THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LATCH WHEN I PULLED ON IT QUICKLY. MY WIFE AND I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE WHEN WE WERE TEST DRIVING THE CAR. THEY APPEARED TO BE FINE. I BELIEVE THERE WERE MANY OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE JUNK AND NEEDED TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA, AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THEM WITH PROPERLY WORKING ONES FREE OF CHARGE BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR KILLED. I CALLED TOYOTA AND ASKED THEM TO FIX THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS WAS A VERY URGENT SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THEM FREE OF CHARGE. I CALLED A TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY WANT $600 FOR 3 SETS OF SEAT BELTS, AND THAT DID NOT NOT EVEN INCLUDE LABOR TO INSTALL THEM. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE THEY WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO WORK ON. THEY MADE IT DIFFICULT ON PURPOSE SO THAT THE CONSUMERS GOT STUCK WITH A HUGE BILLS IF THEY WANTED THE SEAT BELTS FIXED. I WISH TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10196038
Incident
Jul 7, 2007
Seat belts
Filed Jun 8, 2005

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DOOR MOUNTED SEAT BELT. THE SHOULDER BELT COMES TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND CONNECTS TO THE DOOR. THE DOOR OPENS UP, AND CONSUMER IS NOT BELTED IN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10124543
Incident
Jun 7, 2005
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 8, 2004

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS THE VEHICLE HAD TAKEN AN EXIT, A LOUD NOISE ALONG WITH SMOKE, STEAM, AND LIQUID WAS POURING OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS LEFT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON THE EXIT RAMP WHILE ON AN INCLINE. CURRENTLY THE ROD BEARING IN THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. *SC

NHTSA ID
10094898
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
17,104 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 25, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ACCELERATOR CONTROLS. VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DRIVER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND IT WAS CHECKED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUR PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10059795
Mileage
82,500 mi

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
1991Viewing711047.2
1990271043.3
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.