1994 Toyota Corolla Owner Complaints

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AT ALL. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 1996 AND IS HAS LESS THAN 114,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11140094

Incident

Oct 12, 2018

Mileage

114,000 mi

THE AIR BAG EXPLOTE WITHOUT NO REASON IN FRONT OF ME. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE A MONTH AND THEY DON'T ANSWER NOTHING PLEASE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10723704

Incident

May 3, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

THIS CAR HAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT AND RESIDES IN FL. ABOUT 4 YRS. AGO THE DRIVERS SIDE HANDLE TO OPEN THE CAR STARTING TO ACTUALLY FALL APART. I HAD THAT ONE REPLACED BUT THE OTHERS ARE DOING THE SAME THING NOW. I NEVER KNEW THIS TO HAPPEN ON A CAR, REGARDLESS OF AGE. A NEIGHBOR OF MINE DOWN THERE ALSO SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER CAR, ALSO THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS IN THIS CAR, AS I KEEP IT IN FLORIDA FOR USE WHEN I GO DOWN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651928

Incident

Nov 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO BUSHES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10604357

Incident

Jun 17, 2014

IN JULY 2013, I STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. SMELL GOT STRONGER AND MORE NOTICEABLE AFTER GASSING THE CAR UP. THEN THE SMELL BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE DAY BY DAY. EVEN JUST SITTING IN THE CAR OR AS YOU WALKED PAST IT. CAR DID NOT HAVE TO BE ON AND YOU WOULD STILL SMELL IT. THERE WERE NO NOTICEABLE LEAKS UNTIL RECENTLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS OIL AT FIRST BUT THEN I FIGURED IT COULD BE GASOLINE. HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND THEY NOTICED A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK THAT SEEMED TO BE BLOWN OUTWARDS. I'M GOING TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THEN THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR THE PARTS & LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546007

Incident

Jul 31, 2013

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEAT SHIELD WAS REMOVED FROM THE FUEL TANK AND WHAT WAS FOUND UNDERNEATH THE HEAT SHIELD WAS A BUBBLE WHICH WAS LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK, WHICH WAS WHERE THE GAS LEAK WAS COMING FROM. IT APPEARED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL TANK. IF THE FUEL TANK WAS DAMAGED, T HEN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INWARD DENT IN THE TANK, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 307,097. UPDATED 11/10/11*LJ UPDATED 06/13/12

NHTSA ID

10422476

Incident

Jun 28, 2006

Mileage

307,097 mi

I TOOK MY 1994 COROLLA TO THE CAR WASH IN CROMWELL CT. AFTER I WAS DONE I PUT BACK THE MATS AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND MOVED FORWARD TO LEAVE THE STALL. AFTER A FEW FEET AND OUT OF THE STALL , I TRIED TO PUT THE BRAKES TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR BUT THE CAR KEPT ROLLING I KEPT BRAKING BUT NOTHING HAPPENED AND THE CAR WAS HEADING TOWARD THE ROAD (RTE 3), I MUST'VE PANICKED BECAUSE I TRIED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE DRIVE WHEN THE CAR ZOOMED BACKWARDS (I'VE NEVER KNEW THE COROLLA HAD THAT MUCH POWER) I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO COMPREHEND WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR SLAMMED IN SUCH FORCE IN THE CORNER WALL OF THE STALL. THE CAR WAS IN SUCH A SHAPE NO ONE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED, IT WILL NO LONGER STAND UPRIGHT. I REALLY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. NO SERIOUS INJURIES HAPPENED TO ME AND THANK THE LORD I DIDN'T HURT ANYBODY. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I DONATED THE CAR TO AMERIC CAN! CARS FOR KIDS ON JULY 13 2009. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 80,000 MILES. IT BELONGED TO MY WIFE'S GRAND FATHER WHO RARELY USED IT. AFTER HIS DEATH, WE TOOK THE CAR FOR A TUNEUP BEFORE WE PUT IT BACK ON THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THE TUNE UP. I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR INVESTIGATION FOR OLDER CARS. AGAIN, I COULDN'T MAKE SENSE OF WHAT HAPPENED BUT WHEN I READ ABOUT THE MATS THAT'S WHEN EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS CALLED TO SAY I NEEDED TO LET YOU KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10323923

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO SPIN AROUND AND LUNGE FORWARD ONTO THE LAWN. THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 9/29/11*CW

NHTSA ID

10321822

Incident

Feb 4, 2000

Mileage

50,000 mi

1994 TOYOTA COROLLA STEERING PROBLEM*CW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED A STEERING PROBLEM FOR YEARS. SHE HAS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EVERY FEW MONTHS TO HAVE IT RE-ALIGNED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIFT INTO OTHER LANES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10317580

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

I HAVE THE COROLLA STEERING ISSUE ON MY 1994 COROLLA EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE, AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO HOLD DOWN ON MY STEERING WHEEL AT AN ANGLE, AND IT STILL FLOATS NEAR OTHER LANES. I HAVE THE ALIGNMENT WORKED ON EVERY FEW MONTHS, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT IT. IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR MOST OF THE YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311991

Incident

Feb 18, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY 94 COROLLA SEEMS TO HAVE A POWER FAILURE PROBLEM WHEN A WATER PUDDLE IS RUN THROUGH. MY STEERING WHEEL LOSES POWER AND MY BRAKES RESPOND VERY WEAK. THIS EFFECT LASTS AROUND 4 MIN. ANY IDEAS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10295052

Incident

Dec 6, 2009

Mileage

170,000 mi

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK ON MY CAR TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL GAS TANK. THE NEW REPLACEMENT TOYOTA GAS TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS ABOVE THE EXHAUST PIPE WITHIN THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE THAT IT WAS REPLACED. THESE CRACKS WERE NOT CAUSES BY EXTERNAL WEAR, ABRASIONS OR DEBRIS, BUT RATHER APPEARED AS A FISSURE IN THE METAL OF THE TANK. IN BOTH CASES, DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE LEAKS ABOVE THE EXHAUST PIPE, GASOLINE WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE SHIELD, WHICH IS VERY HOT AND RISKS FIRE. DESPITE THE DEFECTIVE PART, THE TOYOTA DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME FOR THE FULL COST OF A 3RD GAS TANK PLUS LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249520

Incident

Sep 10, 2008

Mileage

108,837 mi

FOUR NEW MICHELIN TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM BJ'S WAREHOUSE CLUB ON 08/09/07 AND WERE MOUNTED ON A 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE INSTALLATION INCLUDED NEW VALVE STEMS AND BALANCING. ON 09/25/08 ONE OF THE VALVE STEMS FAILED CAUSING THE TIRE TO LOSE PRESSURE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED TO STOP, BUT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER WAS PLACED IN JEOPARDY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST BJ'S TIRE CENTER AFTER A SPACE SAVER SPARE WAS INSTALLED. THE BJ'S TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE TIRE AND COMMENTED THAT THE STEM HAD FAILED RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF THE TIRE. ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON THEM AND ABOUT 13 MONTHS OF TIME. THE TECHNICIAN COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS VERY UNUSUAL. A REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS NOT IN STOCK AND WAS ORDERED. ANOTHER FULL SIZE TIRE HAD TO BE PURCHASED FROM ANOTHER TIRE DEALER (PEP BOYS) TO TEMPORARILY REPAIR THE VEHICLE, SINCE THE SPACE SAVER SPARE CANNOT BE USED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 60 MILES FROM MY HOME WHILE COMMUTING. INVESTIGATION OF TIRE STEMS SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT DEFECTIVE STEMS WERE SOLD BY DILL IN 2006 AND 2007 TO SOME DEALERS. MY CONCERN IS THAT HOW DO I KNOW IF THE THREE REMAINING TIRE STEMS ARE NOT DEFECTIVE? SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL BY BJ'S? *TR

NHTSA ID

10243806

Incident

Sep 25, 2008

Mileage

208,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, A SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS PRESENT AROUND THE VEHICLE. UPON SELF INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK LOCATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME, FUEL HAD LEAKED FROM THE GAS TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP IN 10/05 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

10170674

Incident

Oct 11, 2006

Mileage

205,531 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE VEHICLE A FEW HUNDRED FEET IN FRONT ME AND I REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, I WAS NOT AWARE THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I WENT THROUGH MANY BULBS WHICH KEPT BLOWING OUT. I REALIZED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE HEADLIGHTS. INSIDE THE LENS IT IS BROWN THEREFORE DIMMING THE HEADLIGHT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10166824

Incident

Oct 10, 2004

Mileage

112,700 mi

3 INTERIOR AND 1 EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN. FRONT PASSENGER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN AND HAS CAUSED YOU TO NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR HANDLE IS BROKEN AND EXTERIOR HANDLE IS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF SO YOU CANNOT OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ID

10114627

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

101,000 mi

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE EXAMINED DOZENS OF WHITE 1994 COROLLAS IDENTICAL TO MINE: THEY ALL HAVE MAJOR PAINT DEFECTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THEIR FRONT HOODS. I AM A PHYSICIST. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. (MY COROLLA WAS MADE IN CANADA.) IT AFFECTS ALL CARS MADE IN THE SAME YEAR AT THE SAME PLANT. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT AS THEIR FAULT. THE FAULT DOES NOT SHOW UP UNTIL _AFTER_ WARRANTIES HAVE RUN OUT - SO I CANNOT BE REPORTED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10102167

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

Mileage

120,000 mi

AFTER BUYING 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA IN 2003 FROM A USED CAR DEALER THE SEAT BELTS APPEARED TO BE LOOSE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER RETRACTS BACK INTO THE HOLDER. SMALL PASSENGERS ARE NOT PROTECTED AS THE SEATBELT WILL NOT HOLD THEM TIGHT. THE DRIVERS SIDE BELT IS DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT, AND IS BEGINNING TO NOT RETRACT AS WELL. WHAT CAN I DO? THE DEALER WANTS $140.00 FOR EACH REPLACEMENT BELT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100119

Incident

Nov 18, 2003

Mileage

995,676 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DRIVER RECEIVED ABRASIONS TO THE FACE AND CHEST AREA, AND HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING. THE NEXT DAY, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10054079

Incident

Jan 12, 2004

Mileage

147,052 mi

THE GAS TANK DEVELOPED CRACK/LEAK DIRECTLY OVER THE EXHAUST HEATSHIELD. THE LEAK IS IN A LOCATION TOTALLY PROTECTED FROM ANY ROAD DEBRIS IMPACT, THERE ARE ALSO NO SIGNS OF TRAUMA. THE LEAK WAS LOCATED AFTER SMELLING RAW FUEL, SEEING A DROP ON THE REAR EXHAUST HEATSHIELD THEN REMOVING THAT HEATSHIELD. ONLY THEN WAS THE LEAK LOCATION VISIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10048988

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY 1994 COROLLA WAGON DEVELOPED A LEAK IN THE GAS TANK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC (IMPORT MOTORS SERVICE INC, 303-422-9654, SEPP OR MIKE.) AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW FUEL TANK WHICH CARRIED A WARRANTY OF 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. I WAS RESPONSIBLE FINANCIALLY FOR BOTH THE PART AND LABOR. IN APRIL OF 2003 THE NEW TANK DEVELOPED A LEAK IN THE SAME AREA AS THE ORIGINAL, ABOVE THE HEAT SHIELD OF THE EXHAUST. LUCKILY NO FIRE OCCURRED. THAT SECOND TANK WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY SO I HAD A THIRD TANK PUT IN AND IT LASTED SIX MONTHS BEFORE DEVELOPING A LEAK IN THE SAME AREA AGAIN. I HAVE JUST HAD A FOURTH TANK PUT IN AND ONLY HAVE 2000 MORE MILES ON THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY FROM THE FIRST REPLACEMENT TANK, THEN I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW TANK AS WELL AS THE LABOR IF THIS ONE LEAKS. I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE LABOR ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH TANKS. THANKFULLY IMPORT MOTORS GAVE ME A SYMPATHY DISCOUNT ON THE LAST JOB, BUT THIS IS GETTING TO BE EXPENSIVE. TOYOTA HAS SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THEIR TANKS WHEN WE TRIED TO ADDRESS IT WITH THEM OVER THE INTERNET, THIS IS HARD TO BELIEVE. CHECK OUT COMPLAINTS OID ID NUMBERS: 878860 AND 755159. WHAT IS UP WITH TOYOTA'S REPLACEMENT GAS TANKS AND DO THEY POSE A FIRE AND SEAFTY RISK? SINCERELY, EDD HAMILTON

NHTSA ID

10041051

Incident

Sep 18, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED DRIVER HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE, THEN A FLAPPING NOISE NEAR THE FRONT BUMPER. DRIVER PULLED OVER. FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TIRE . THESE WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10039689

FRONTAL COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR. THE IMPACT WAS SO BAD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. TOYOTA STATED THAT THE IMPACT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH DEPLOYMENT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. SCC

NHTSA ID

10021735

ALL 4 SEAT BELT RETRACTORS LOCK UP AT TIMES, AND YOU CAN'T PULL THE SEAT BELTS OUT TO PUT THEM ON. EVENTUALLY, THEY WILL UNLOCK, BUT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO LOCK UP FROM TIME TO TIME.

NHTSA ID

10005274

Incident

Feb 4, 2003

CONSUMER STATES HIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAILING, HIS BRAKES LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, HORN IS NOT WORKING. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN HIS AUTO TO THE DEALER AND HIS RECALL WAS HONORED. HE IS AFRAID HIS WIFE WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. TS

NHTSA ID

8023015

Incident

Nov 4, 2002