SUSPENSION
1997 Toyota Corolla
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 135 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Toyota Corolla, most frequently naming the seat belts, airbags and brakes categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 46 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 51 |
| Nov 1999 | 5 | 56 |
| Dec 1999 | 2 | 58 |
| Jan 2000 | 3 | 61 |
| Feb 2000 | 2 | 63 |
| May 2000 | 2 | 65 |
| Jun 2000 | 2 | 67 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 68 |
| Sep 2000 | 2 | 70 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 71 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 72 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 73 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 74 |
| Feb 2001 | 2 | 76 |
| Mar 2001 | 2 | 78 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 79 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 80 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 81 |
| Aug 2001 | 2 | 83 |
| Sep 2001 | 2 | 85 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 86 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 87 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 88 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 90 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 91 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 92 |
| Nov 2002 | 2 | 94 |
| Mar 2003 | 2 | 96 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 97 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 99 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 100 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 102 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 103 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 104 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 105 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 106 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 107 |
| Sep 2005 | 2 | 109 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 110 |
| Mar 2006 | 2 | 112 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 113 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 114 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 115 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 116 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 117 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 118 |
| Mar 2010 | 3 | 121 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 122 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 123 |
| Mar 2011 | 2 | 125 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 126 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 127 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 128 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 129 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 130 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 131 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 132 |
| Oct 2016 | 1 | 133 |
| May 2018 | 1 | 134 |
| Jan 2019 | 1 | 135 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Seat belts3927.3%
- Airbags2920.3%
- Brakes96.3%
- Driver assistance96.3%
- Tires & wheels74.9%
- Body & structure74.9%
- Interior & seats74.9%
- Transmission64.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
6 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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY TO REPAIR MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK
- NHTSA ID
- 11173000
- Incident
- Jan 29, 2019
- Mileage
- 135,000 mi
I WAS SCANNING MY VEHICLE WITH AN OBD2 SCANNER AND LEARNED THAT MY CAR, WHICH I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAS HAD RECALLS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN RECTIFIED. ATTACHED ARE SCREENSHOTS OF THE RECALL INFORMATION. THE FIRST ONE HAS ME MORE WORRIED THAN THE OTHER....INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. PLEASE READ THE DETAILS. THE SECOND (FRONT STRUTS) IS SOMETHING THAT ALSO CONCERNS ME BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF SHOCK ABSORPTION. MY VIN# [XXX] (ALSO ON THE SCREENSHOTS) IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF MY VEHICLE AND WHETHER OR NOT THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, PLEASE SHARE IT WITH ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 11097722
- Incident
- May 23, 2017
ON MARCH 23, 2013, I PURCHASED FOUR NEW COOPER TIRES FROM SEARS AUTO CENTER IN LIMA, OHIO, FOR MY 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE SPECIFIC TIRES INSTALLED WERE COOPER RESPONSE TOURING M+S 175/65R14, DOT U9EX LRC 4110, A08. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE DRIVEN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE TIRES AND MAINTAINED APPROPRIATE TIRE PRESSURE, MAINTENANCE, AND ALIGNMENT. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THIS MORNING (OCTOBER 30, 2016), THE TIRE TREAD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND FORCING ME OFF THE ROAD. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON I-475 NORTH TRAVELLING AT THE SPEED LIMIT, IN THE MIDDLE LANE. IT TOOK LESS THAN TEN SECONDS TO COAST TO A STOP. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES TO IMPACT OURS BEFORE REACHING THE SHOULDER. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FROM THIS TREAD SEPARATION INCLUDE DESTROYING THE WHEEL WELL, BODY DAMAGE, LAUNCHING THE HEADLIGHT APART FROM THE CAR, SPONTANEOUS RELEASE OF WIPER FLUID ON TO THE WINDOW AS THE TREAD RIPPED OFF FROM THE TIRE, AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO TOYONLY, 1050 VIJAY DRIVE, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341. WHILE THE TREAD SEPARATION HAS CAUSED THE AFOREMENTIONED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, THE VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE MECHANICALLY SOUND. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM COOPER TIRES.
- NHTSA ID
- 10920129
- Incident
- Oct 30, 2016
- Mileage
- 200,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA EQUIPPED WITH COOPER RESPONSE TOURING TIRES, SIZE: 175/65/R14. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10777736
- Incident
- Sep 24, 2015
- Mileage
- 93,000 mi
MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT COME OUT. I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND GOT IT FIXED ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO. I PAID OVER 300.00 FOR A MECHANIC SHOP TO COMPLETELY REPLACE MY SEAT BELT. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN TO THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT. I REALLY DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THIS SEAT BELT THING FIXED EVERY TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF FAULTY/DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING.
- NHTSA ID
- 10731876
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2015
- Mileage
- 170,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED FROM THE REAR AND LATER SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10691882
- Incident
- Feb 25, 2015
- Mileage
- 158,000 mi
TOYOTA COROLLA DX 1997 THE CAR WAS SOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER IN ST LOUIS MISSOURI WHILE I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL. THE CAR HAS BEEN NOW IN FLORIDA FOR THE LAST TEN YEAR IN A WARM, EXTREMELY HUMID CLIMATE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ADMITTED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. APPARENTLY IN HUMID CLIMATES. NOW DOES IT NOT MAKE SENSE TO CHECK OUT THE AIRBAG IF THE CAR HAS BEEN IN A HUMID CLIMATE .REGARDLESS WHERE THE CAR WAS SOLD ? OR IS THE CAR SAFE BECAUSE IT WAS SOLD SOMEWHERE ELSE AND IF THE CAR IS THEN DRIVEN IN A HUMID CLIMATE THE AIRBAG WILL WORK SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS IN A COLD WEATHER CLIMATE? *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10606820
- Incident
- Jun 4, 2014
DRIVING ON SH 79 FREEHOLD BORO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP AND MAKE TURN PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. PUMPED BRAKE PEDAL IN PANIC MANY TIMES WHEN VEHICLE PULLED SHARP RIGHT AND WHILE STILL PUMPING BRAKE PEDAL AND ATTEMPT TO USE HAND BRAKE VEHICLE FINALLY SLOWED AND STOPPED. MECHANIC ADVISED BOTH BRAKE LINES IN REAR WERE NOT COATED AND FLUID LEAKED FROM PLACE WHERE CLAMP STRAPPED THEM TO UNDERCARRIAGE OF CAR. LINES WERE RUSTED AS NO PROTECTION COATING WAS APPLIED DURING MANUFACTURING. THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY COROLLA BRAKE LINES DUE TO THIS LACK OF COATING. NO WARNING PRIOR TO BRAKES FAILING. NO TRAFFIC CLOSE WHILE BRAKING JUST TOTALLY SCARED TO DEATH. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10525946
- Incident
- Jul 12, 2013
- Mileage
- 76,110 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
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.
AIR BAGS
Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
BACK OVER PREVENTION; SERVICE BRAKES
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
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.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 63.7 |
| 2025 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 58.1 |
| 2024 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 60.5 |
| 2023 | 72 | 3 | 0 | 57.9 |
| 2022 | 95 | 0 | 0 | 49.1 |
| 2021 | 184 | 1 | 0 | 52.4 |
| 2020 | 304 | 3 | 0 | 55.6 |
| 2019 | 200 | 5 | 1 | 65.8 |
| 2018 | 133 | 3 | 2 | 66.1 |
| 2017 | 177 | 3 | 2 | 67.9 |
| 2016 | 212 | 1 | 2 | 60.9 |
| 2015 | 219 | 1 | 2 | 61.0 |
| 2014 | 267 | 2 | 2 | 63.8 |
| 2013 | 201 | 5 | 2 | 66.5 |
| 2012 | 445 | 5 | 2 | 64.2 |
| 2011 | 584 | 9 | 2 | 62.2 |
| 2010 | 1,242 | 17 | 3 | 65.7 |
| 2009 | 1,459 | 13 | 3 | 64.8 |
| 2008 | 313 | 6 | 4 | 67.4 |
| 2007 | 836 | 6 | 3 | 66.0 |
| 2006 | 839 | 10 | 4 | 66.8 |
| 2005 | 853 | 10 | 4 | 67.3 |
| 2004 | 477 | 13 | 4 | 66.9 |
| 2003 | 720 | 13 | 4 | 67.0 |
| 2002 | 117 | 5 | 1 | 62.0 |
| 2001 | 133 | 4 | 0 | 58.0 |
| 2000 | 145 | 5 | 0 | 56.7 |
| 1999 | 155 | 4 | 0 | 55.4 |
| 1998 | 225 | 4 | 0 | 56.3 |
| 1997Viewing | 135 | 6 | 0 | 59.0 |
| 1996 | 129 | 6 | 1 | 67.4 |
| 1995 | 176 | 7 | 2 | 69.8 |
| 1994 | 172 | 8 | 1 | 69.7 |
| 1993 | 130 | 6 | 1 | 67.7 |
| 1992 | 63 | 2 | 0 | 53.5 |
| 1991 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 47.2 |
| 1990 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 43.3 |
| 1989 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 56.7 |
| 1988 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 54.8 |
| 1987 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 33.0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1984 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
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.