Total Complaints
33 filings
Toyota Corolla · model year
1988 Toyota Corolla
33 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 33
- Recalls
- 0
The verdict
The 1988 Toyota Corolla posts below-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
- Top 31%
- fewest complaints, own model years
- 0
- recall campaigns
The 1988 Toyota Corolla carries 33 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 3 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1988 Corolla is structure:body:bumpers with 3 filings, followed by seat belts:front:anchorage (2) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (2). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1988 Corolla. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
33
Complaints
7
Crashes
3
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1988 Toyota Corolla
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20150323 ENGINE
VEHICLE DOES NOT PASS COLORADO EMISSIONS DUE TO HIGH CO (CARBON MONOXIDE). VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY TOYOTA SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGNS N03 & NA3 WHICH DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF VEHICLE FAILING EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO HIGH CO. NO EXPIRATION DATE/MILEAGE/AGE GIVEN FOR THESE TWO SERVICE CAMPAIGNS. PARTS FOR REPAIRS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES ABOUT ISSUE. WAS ADVISE TOYOTA WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH SERVICE CAMPAIGN IS STILL ACTIVE. *TR
20150323 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE DOES NOT PASS COLORADO EMISSIONS DUE TO HIGH CO (CARBON MONOXIDE). VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY TOYOTA SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGNS N03 & NA3 WHICH DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF VEHICLE FAILING EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO HIGH CO. NO EXPIRATION DATE/MILEAGE/AGE GIVEN FOR THESE TWO SERVICE CAMPAIGNS. PARTS FOR REPAIRS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES ABOUT ISSUE. WAS ADVISE TOYOTA WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH SERVICE CAMPAIGN IS STILL ACTIVE. *TR
20100218 Fire ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1988 TOYOTA COROLLA ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0051-91 UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10 *BF
20050509 SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DT: 88 TOYOTA, SAFETY BELT PLASTIC COVER CAME OFF ON DRIVERS' SIDE ,AND WHEN CLIPPED IT WON'T COME OFF UNLESS CONSUMER JABBED A SHARP OBJECT INTO IT TO GET IT TO OPEN. ( IT TAKES ABOUT 2 MINUTES). *AK *SB *NM
Mileage: 65,000
20010131 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20000310 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR HAVING A HOLE IN IT. ALSO, ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
20000310 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MUFFLER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR HAVING A HOLE IN IT. ALSO, ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
20000120 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING ON TURNPIKE 60MPH HEARD A NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION. VEHICLE SKIDDED, FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONTACT DEALER THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK
20000106 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE 60MPH HEARD A NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION. VEHICLE SKIDDED THEN CAME TO A STOP. CONTACT DEALER, FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD EXPLODED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *ML
20000106 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE 60MPH HEARD A NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION. VEHICLE SKIDDED THEN CAME TO A STOP. CONTACT DEALER, FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD EXPLODED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *ML
19990927 SEAT BELTS
THE RELEASE BUTTON HAD GOTTEN JAMMED,NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO GET FREE OF SEATBELT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND SAID SEAT BELT NEEDS REPLACING. *AK
19990830 Crash SEATS
SITTING AT STOP LIGHT AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, SEAT BROKE AND NECK REST BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL, AND FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO AN INTERSECTION. *AK
19990830 Crash SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
SITTING AT STOP LIGHT AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, SEAT BROKE AND NECK REST BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL, AND FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO AN INTERSECTION. *AK
19990407 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES WITHIN 85,000 MILES. *AK
19981005 STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
BUMPER FAILED TO PROTECT VEHICLE AND CONSUMER'S DURING VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURIES DUE TO DESIGN.
19981005 STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
BUMPER FAILED TO PROTECT DURING A LOW SPEED (25MPH) CRASH CAUSING REAR END DAMAGE.
19980924 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN ACCELERATING AROUND A BANKING TURN THE FORCE OF THE TURN LEAVES THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FUEL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19980903 STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
REAR BUMPER FAILED TO PROTECT VEHICLE IN 25 MPH REAR END COLLISION.
19980713 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION EXPERIENCED TWICE RESULTING IN TWO COLLISIONS.
19970408 Crash SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
VEHICLE HAD COME TO A STOP AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER FROM THE REAR. ONCE THAT HAPPENED THE SEAT BROKE. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER IN PLACE. THE DRIVER SEAT AND SEAT BELT BROKE WHICH ALLOWED DRIVER TO GO INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
Compare 1988 Toyota Corolla to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 Toyota Corolla have?▼
The 1988 Toyota Corolla has 33 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 3 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Toyota Corolla?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 Toyota Corolla is STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS.
Is the 1988 Toyota Corolla safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1988 Toyota Corolla; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.