1998 Toyota COROLLA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
150 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
77,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 150 complaints (18.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 6.0% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
Air Bags: 27; Structure:Body:Door: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Seat Belts: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Tires: 6; Electrical System: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 87 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 27 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 21 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 27; 2001: 9; 2002: 14; 2003: 21; 2004: 18; 2005: 9; 2006: 8; 2007: 6; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 12; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 6; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007432 · 2002-10-02 (October 2, 2002)
WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE DURING A RAINING DAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY WENT TO THE SIDE. THIS KIND OF SCENARIO HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE ( ON LOCAL STREETS WHILE DRIVING AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR). I FELT THAT THIS CAR'S BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE OTHER CARS I OWNED BEFORE. SHOULDN'T THE ANTI-BRAKE SYSTEM HELP THE CAR STAY STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD? ON 09-20-2002, IT WAS RAINING, I DROVE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED AROUND 50 MILES PER HOUR, ON THE FIRST LEFT LANE. AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE SPEED FURTHER, MY CAR W…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,690 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016804 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
ABS LOCKED UP WHEN I TAPPED ON CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE MAKING THE CAR SKID AND FISH TAIL SENDING ME 4 LANES ACROSS THE FREEWAY INTO THE CEMENT BARRIER TOTALING MY CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 77,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030546 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
MY CAR STARTER WOULD NOT STOP CRANKING AFTER I STOPPED AND PULLED THE KEYS OUT. IT KEPT CRANKING UNTIL THE BATTERY DIED. A FIRE STARTED WHICH MELTED THE HARNESS. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057551 · 2004-02-04 (February 4, 2004)
AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN IMPACT. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BEING AGITATED WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048084 · 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WITHIN 15,000 MILES. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061215 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINEDTHAT THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014652 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043272 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
I BOUGHT A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA LE IN JULY. I FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DOWNSHIFT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NICELY WHEN CLIMBING SLIGHT HILLS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL NOT SHIFT BACK UP TO FOURTH GEAR FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME EVEN GOING DOWNHILL. I CHECKED OUT THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND A TSB FOR THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA THINKING THEY WOULD REPAIR THIS ADMITTED DEFECT BUT THEY REPEATEDLY REFUSED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TO HAVE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND THEN RE-ENGAGE IT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11091891 · 2018-05-04 (May 4, 2018)
THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A GPS DEVICE THAT ATTACHES TO THE CAR THROUGH THE OBDII PORT. MANUFACTURERED BY AGNIK CORPORATION SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAME VYNCS. THE DEVICE, WHEN INSTALLED, HAS CAUSED INTERMITTENT STALLING OF THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED SUCH APPROACHING A STOP OR IDLING IN GEAR AT A STOP. THIS WAS REALIZED TO BE CAUSED BY THE DEVICE AFTER ABOUT 1 WEEK OF EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STALLING. WHEN THE DEVICE WAS REMOVED FROM THE CAR, THE STALLING ISSUE DISSAPEARED. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEVICE FOR SUBMISSION TO THE NHTSA FOR TESTING. WHEN I B…
Owner-reported narrative. 235,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159958 · 2006-06-15 (June 15, 2006)
MAJOR FUEL LEAK AT INJECTORS CAUSING LIQUID GASOLINE TO POOL IN THE WELLS OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED O-RINGS AT TOP OF INJECTORS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 92,906 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159958 at NHTSA ↗