RoadVitals

1998 Toyota Corolla Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
16
Latest Jul 22, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 225 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Jul 22, 2008

I HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT A TOYOTA COROLLA 1998 AND EVERY TIME I TURN TO THE RIGHT I CAN HEAR A GRINDING NOISE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND I FEAR IT WILL COME OFF AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT. I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID TOYOTA HAD PROBLEMS WITH A BEARING ON THAT SIDE, WOULD YOU HELP ME CONFIRM THIS AS A PROBLEM OR DO I JUST DRIVE IT LIKE THIS HOPING IT DOESN'T FALL OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235345
Incident
Jul 21, 2008
Mileage
97,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 8, 2004

SAFETY NON COMPLAINT SERVICE TO TOYOTA COROLLA.*MR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ON SEPT 23, 2003, AS PART OF THE REPAIR WORK, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE P ARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE COVERED FOR 12 MONTHS AND WAS GOOD AT ANY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NATION WIDE. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR A 9000 MILES SERVICE, THE DEALER OBSERVED A NOISE DURING A TEST DRIVE, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE NOISE WAS DUE TO A BAD BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE PART AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER GO BACK TO THE DEALER THAT REPLACED IT IN BEGINNING.*JB

NHTSA ID
10091688
Incident
Sep 2, 2003
Suspension
Filed Feb 7, 2002

REAR STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED. RUINED REAR TIRES AS WELL.*AK

NHTSA ID
757943
Incident
Nov 7, 2000
Suspension
Filed Dec 17, 2001

REAR END HITS THE GROUND WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS AND DIPS IN THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8000760
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Suspension
Filed Jun 13, 2001

THE INNER BEARING RACE WAS BROKEN PREMATURELY, AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING CASE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID
561609
Suspension
Filed Dec 7, 2000

CONTROL ARM HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND HAD CAUSED VEHICLE EARLY WEAR ON TIRES, EVERY 20,000 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
876158
Incident
Dec 7, 2000
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+3 more
Filed Jan 3, 2000

AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, IN JULY OF 1999 THE FRONT AND RIGHT SEATBELT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558526
Incident
Oct 18, 1999
Body & structureBrakesSteering+2 more
Filed Oct 5, 1999

HIGH SPEEDS CAR HARD TO CONTROL, CORNERS HORRIBLY,PITCHING MOTION OVER BUMPS, CRUNCHING NOISE ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT

NHTSA ID
712862
Suspension
Filed Sep 17, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE TURNS VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD DEALERS CAN'T FIND REMEDY. *AK

NHTSA ID
847972
Incident
Aug 30, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jan 12, 1999
1 injury reported

FIVE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING 55-60MPH ON FREEWAY, VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL DURING A LANE CHANGE. CAR ENDED UP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER DENIED PROBLEM. THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS NEVER MENTIONED DURING SALE OR AFTER SPIN OUT. I AM SUFFERING FROM SEVERE WHIPLASH AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. DEALER WILL NOT RETURN MONEY. I REFUSE TO DRIVE UNSAFE CAR AND CAR HAS REMAINED AT DEALER SINCE DAY OF SPIN OUT. I LEARNED OF NEED FOR STABILIZER BAR FROM APRIL 98 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS (WHICH STATES 98 CE MODELS DO NOT HANDLE WELL, AND FARED POORLY ON EMERGENCY HANDLING TESTS). STABILIZER BARS WERE MADE STANDARD IN ALL MODELS AS OF APRIL 1998. THE COROLLA WAS REDESIGNED IN 98, SO ALL VE AND CE MODELS BUILT AND SOLD PRIOR TO APRIL 98 LACK THIS CRUCIAL SAFETY FEATURE. I BELIEVE A DEFECT/RECALL INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED.

NHTSA ID
702172
Incident
Jan 5, 1999
Suspension
Filed Aug 25, 1998

WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 60 MPH VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE DUE TO LACK OF FRONT STABILIZER BAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
826319
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed Aug 7, 1998

WHISTLING NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. (QCAW)

NHTSA ID
538905
Suspension
Filed Jun 25, 1998

VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A STABILIZER BAR. IT WAS AVAILABLE AS AN OPTION IF CUSTOM ORDERED.

NHTSA ID
537508
Suspension
Filed Apr 23, 1998

VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A STABILIZER BAR. THEREFORE COULD LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
822760
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Apr 10, 1998

SUSPENSION IS VERY POOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN HEAVY WINDS.*AK

NHTSA ID
533993
Suspension
Filed Apr 2, 1998

WHILE DRIVNG VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE LURCHES LEFT TO RIGHT. OWNER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK

NHTSA ID
821997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .