1992 Toyota Corolla Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1992 Toyota Corolla, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine2226.5%
- Electrical1214.5%
- Seat belts910.8%
- Body & structure89.6%
- Brakes67.2%
- Transmission67.2%
- Fuel system33.6%
- Steering33.6%
- Powertrain (other)33.6%
- Suspension22.4%
- Visibility22.4%
- Driver assistance22.4%
- Tires & wheels22.4%
- Exterior lighting11.2%
- Interior & seats11.2%
- Airbags11.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 92 TOYOTA COROLLA. ON THURSDAY 31 DECEMBER 2009 MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE STARTER ON MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN THE IGNITION TO TURN ON MY CAR I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED THE HEAT AND SAW SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD AND WITNESSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. I PUT OUT THE FIRE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE STARTER OVERHEATED AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED FIRE. *TR
FUEL GAUGE WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED, NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE HEAD LIGHTS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WERE FLICKING. *YH
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL GAUGE WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED, NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE HEAD LIGHTS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WERE FLICKING. *YH
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULER BELT BECOMES FRAID AND STARTS TO UNRAVEL. THIS SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING ON OTHER CORROLLAS WITH THIS RESTRAINT SYSTEM. (92'S HAVE TWO BELTS; A LAP BELT AND A SHOULDER BELT) IS THERE A RETRO- FIT AVAILABLE? THIS PROBLEM SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU.*AK
RETRACTOR ON DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER CANNOT PULL OUT THE BELT AND LOCK IT INTO PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES THAT OPEN THE DOORS, THE PLASTIC HANDLES HAVE BROKEN & UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDES NOW.
DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. PASSENGERS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND A UNDETERMINED PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHIN TRANSMISSION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
STARTER FAILED. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION WILL STICK IN FIRST GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE.*AK
DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. PASSENGERS WERE UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND A UNDETERMINED PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHIN TRANSMISSION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD TWICE. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURES WERE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. *YH
FUEL GAUGE WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED, NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE HEAD LIGHTS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WERE FLICKING. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
STEERING ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
STARTER FAILED. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
STARTER FAILED. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
STARTER FAILED. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WANT TO LET SOMEONE KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN 2005 TO MY 1992 COROLLA. I WAS WAITING BEHIND ANOTHER CAR TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD/ I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY OTHER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED AS HARD AS I COULD. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BEFORE I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BUT IT TOOK EVERY BIT OF STRENGTH I HAD TO DO IT. I NEVER REPORTED IT BECAUSE I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW CAR WHICH I HAVE NOW. A 2005 COROLLA. I REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA WHEN I HEARD ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD KNOW. THIS WAS A 1992 CAR. MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN IT HAPPENED. I NEVER HEARD A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. *TR
SUDDEN UNINTENTED ACCELERATION, VEHICLE ACCIDENT, UNKNOWN CAUSES. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIRE FAILED WHILE DRIVING (FIRESTONE 175/70/13). NLM
I HAVE A COMPLAIN ABOUT DEALER.WHEN I GOT THE CAR IT WAS 64000 MILES ON THE CAR.DURING 6 MONTHS OF MY USE CAR'S TRANSMISSION ,BRAKES TIRES,EXAHUST SYSTEM .ALTERNATOR ARE COMPLETLY GONE.I SAW THE CAR TO EXPERIENCED MECHANIC.ALL THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THIS CAR HAVE WRONG MILEAGE ON IT.IT MUST BE USED MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS SHOWING ME ON METER.AND EVEN THIS MODEL IS NOT '92 ,WHICH I WAS TOLD BY DEALER.THIS WAS OLDER THAN THIS.MY DEALER GAVE ME GUARANTEE FOR TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE FOR 10000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE.WHEN I HAD FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WITHIN THIS MILEAGE LIMIT .I CALLED MY DEALER TO GET IT FIXED,AND HE REFUSED IT.SO MY DEALER HAS CHESTED ME BY SAYING THAT IT IS 92'CAR AND SHOWING WRONG MILEAGE ON IT.I NEED SOME HELP ON THIS MATTER.THANK YOU.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN USING THE RIGHT TURNING SIGNAL, ALL THE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. HAPPENS IN DAMP WEATHER. *AK HEAD LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED AND CORRECTED PROBLEM. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DASHBOARD LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER STEPPED ON BRAKES TO SLOWDOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT IN FRONT OF HER, AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AT SPEED OF 35 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER HURT HER NECK AND BACK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .