NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Toyota Corolla. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
ALL FOUR DOORS LET IN WATER WHEN IT RAINS. YH
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. WHENEVER CONSUMER MANEUVERS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
DRIVER WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT A CONSIDERABLE SPEED IN SUCH THAT THE DOOR WAS BENT AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND LEFT SHOULDER (STRAINED MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS).829522 DUP OF 781500; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 35 MPH, HIT THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHILE GOING ABOUT 55MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK
FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT - I PURCHASED A 1998 TOYOTA CORLOOA IN JULY 1998. BEGINING IN SEPT OF 98 I BEGAN TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT.IT WAS TAKEN ON 9/29/98, 8/18/99, 8/15/00, 8/14/01. THE LAST VISIT THE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING BEFORE I LEFT THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO PULL IT BACK IN THE BAY FOR THEM TO RE-FIX IT. I WAS TOLD EACH TIME I TOOK IT IN THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE FUNCTIONAL EVEN IF THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK LAST MONTH AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PARTS BULLETIN ISSURE BY TOYOTA BACK IN 1999 THAT REQUIRED TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS ON THESE WIRES IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM STOP BLINKING. THIS WAS NEVER DONE ON MY CAR EVEN THOUGH ALL FOUR TIMES I TOOK IT IN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $200.00 TO DO THIS.I WAS ALSO TOLD AT THIS TIME THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL WHEN THE LIGHT IS FLASHING.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATING. MJS
WHILE DRIVING AND WHENEVER VEHICLE IS ON A UPGRADE OR HILL THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE VEHICLE IS SET IN DRIVE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER. NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS CONSIDERED A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK
DRIVER'S SEAT TILT MECHANISM FAILED DURING A REAR END COLLISION.
POWER STEERING FAILED. YH
AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED.
OUTSIDE DOOR TRIM. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND NOTHING WAS WRONG. *YC
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
CHARCOAL CANISTER ASSEMBLY FAILED. *YC
THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR SEAT COMBINED LAP/SHOULDERHAS A BELT EXTENDER. THE LAP BELT COMES UP HIGHER THAN THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. SHOULDER STRAP DOES NOT LOCK SECURELY. DEALER SUGGESTS TO PUT THE CHILD IN THE SEAT ON THE SIDE BECAUSE THE CHILD SEAT CANNOT GO IN THE MIDDLE SEAT. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
FAULTY WIRING CAUSED AIR BAG LIGHT TO GO ON. YH
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE PANELTWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. SHE TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, AND CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIGHT. *AK
GAS CAP FAILED. YH
DASHBOARD--AIR BAG LIGHT.
WHEN GAS IS PUMPED INTO THE FUEL TANK(IF OVERFILLED, THE GAS WOULD NOT GO TO GROUND, IT WOULD GO TO BOTTOM VEHICLE SHUT OFF VALVE DID NOT OPERATE, DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEM'S WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AND THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES WHILE SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE TRACK, AND SEAT WOULDN'T LOCK.
TRANSMISSION AND DOOR PROBLEM FIXED, STEERING WHEEL STILL NOISY (I GIVE UP). *AK
NOTICED AN ODOR/FUMES INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN ITS STARTED OR NOT. MOST HEAVY WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. TOOK TO DEALER AT LEAST 7 DIFFERENT TIMES & PROBLEM HAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK
TRUNK LATCH FAILED. YH
IGNITION FAILED. *YC
CIGARRETTE LIGHTER FAILED.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED.
1998 TOYOTA COROLLA'S DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AT THE LATCH AREA WHERE IT HOOKS IN . THE TRUNK LOCK BROKE INSIDE THE CYLINDER AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE INSIDE. *TS THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED ALTHOUGH ALL THE OCCUPANTS HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS BUCKLED. *NM
1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER STATES SEAT BELT DEFECTIVE. *TGW SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE SEAT BELT BEGAN FRAYING AS A RESULT OF BEING SCRAPED BY THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MECHANISM AS IT SLID THROUGH THE SLOT. THE SEAT BELT HAS LOST ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF ITS WIDTH. THE DEFECT APPEARS TO BE THE SLOT IN THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM. SO, MERELY REPLACING THE SEAT BELT WOULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB
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
SUSPENSION IS VERY POOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN HEAVY WINDS.*AK
VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A STABILIZER BAR. THEREFORE COULD LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN THE GAS TANK.
VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A STABILIZER BAR. IT WAS AVAILABLE AS AN OPTION IF CUSTOM ORDERED.
CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, RESULTING IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
STEERING HOUSING COVER CRACKED/MAKES NOISE. (QCAW)
REAR SEAT BELT DESIGN DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH CHILD SAFETY SEAT. (QCAW)
WHISTLING NOISE FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. (QCAW)
THERE IS NO INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE SEPARATE FROM THE KEY.
BRAKES MAKE NOISE.
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE HIGHWAY TO SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE ITS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
FRONT SEAT MATERIAL NOT MADE PROPERLY. NLM
GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. YH
CLOCK FAILED. *YC
WINDSHIELD BROKE. NLM
TRUNK LOCK FAILED. NLM
REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER INOPERATIVE. NLM
DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SENSOR IS CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO BLINK ON AND OFF, CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.DEALER HAS TIGHTENED A LOOSE SCREW THAT HOLDS SENSOR 6 TIMES, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IS BAD CAUSING THE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.