1999 Toyota COROLLA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
140 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
66,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 53 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 140 complaints (9.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 8.6% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 8.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.4% |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
Tires: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Air Bags: 6; Steering: 6; Tires:Tread/Belt: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 5; Suspension: 5
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 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 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 | 25 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 25; 2001: 16; 2002: 14; 2003: 12; 2004: 18; 2005: 15; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 13; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10022179 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, ALL LIGHTING SYSTEMS WAS OUT SERVICE. INSTRUMENTAL LIGHTS/ HEAD LIGHTS/ BRAKE LIGHT AND SIGNAL LIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102188 · 2004-12-05 (December 5, 2004)
BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ON. ALSO, SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME OF THE BRAKE LIGHT, VE ENCOUNTERED THE INTERIOR LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE DOOR LIGHT COMING ON/OFF, WHEN ALL DOORS ARE OBVIOUSLY SECURE AND I AM DRIVING THE CAR. WAS TOLD BY ADVANCE AUTO IT WAS MOST LIKELY A WIRING ISSUE AND NOT A FUSE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019063 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, MY 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA VE HAS BEEN MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, OR UNEVEN PATCHES IN THE ROAD, OR WHENEVER I AM DRIVING AROUND A SHARP CURVE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR ITS 40,000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND MAINTENANCE YESTERDAY (MAY 21, 2003) THE SERVICE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE STEERING RACK END, ALSO KNOWN AS THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS PART OF THE SUSPENSION. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA OF CLEVELAND IN CLEVELAND, TN. THE MAN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062795 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, I HEARD SOMETHING BROKE AND THE CAR COULDN'T MOVE. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THE LEFT TRANSAXLE WAS BROKEN. FORTUNATELY, THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON LOCAL STREET. IF IT WERE ON HIGHWAY, I COLD HAVE BEEN INJURIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 66,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123815 · 2005-06-01 (June 1, 2005)
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON PERIODICALLY DESPITE 2 PREVIOUS WIRING REPAIRS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10123815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015338 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250067 · 2008-11-28 (November 28, 2008)
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST DUE TO DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY. INNER SPLINE ON POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY STRIPPED OUT AFTER 49,000 MILES, ALLOWING RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE PULLEY AND PUMP SHAFT. RESULTANT PULLEY WOBBLE ALLOWS THE SERPENTINE BELT TO WALK OFF THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133124 · 2005-08-16 (August 16, 2005)
I HAD PURCHASED A 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT, THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN ROTATING IMPROPERLY. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THE IMPROPER ROTATION OF THE WHEELS, WAS CAUSED BY AN IMPAIRMENT IN THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE AND THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I GOT A SECOND OPINION, AND THE SAME DIAGNOSIS WAS FOUND. SINCE THEN, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, EVERY TIME I PASS A COROLLA OR PRISM FROM 1999 ON, THE MAJORITY OF THE FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT ROTATING SMOOTHLY AND HAVE A WOBBLE/IMBALANCE PROBLEM, WHICH LIKE MINE, I'M SURE …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525906 · 2013-07-20 (July 20, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I CONTINUED HOME APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE, I THEN PARKED THE CAR CHECKED ALL FLUIDS, EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING AND UPON ACCELERATION THE CAR HESITATED TO MOVE BUT AT A SLOW SPEED IT WENT ON. ANYHOW, AS I DROVE I NOTICED THAT UPON ACCELERATION IT WOULD QUIET, BUT ONCE I RELEASED THE PEDDLE THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKING SOUND, AND IT FINALLY STOPPED MOVING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 112,063 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334658 · 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)
1999 TOYOTA COROLLA PURCHASED IN VERMONT JAN. 1999, MOVED TO NC IN JULY, 2008, WITH ABOUT 101,000 MILES. DRIVER WAS AT DOCTOR'S OFFICE PARKING LOT AUG '08-STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARDS, POOL OF BRAKE FLUID ON GROUND. REFILLED RESERVOIR, AND AS SOON AS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED OUT. TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE MECHANIC SHOWED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE TO REAR BRAKES WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND JUST RUPTURED UNDER PEDAL PRESSURE. HE SPLICED ON A 1-2 FOOT SECTION WHERE THE RUST WAS WORST. ON 6/…
Owner-reported narrative. 119,271 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334658 at NHTSA ↗