TOYOTA COROLLA · model year

1989 TOYOTA COROLLA

30 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989TOYOTACOROLLA carries 30 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 9 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 COROLLA is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (2) and seats (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1989 COROLLA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

30
Complaints
3
Crashes
9
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

30 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2
SEATS2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS1

Recent Complaints

20100203VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

IN 1991, DRIVING ON HWY 5 IN CAL, SUDDEN MY CAR TACKED OUT, ACCELERATING BEYOND ANYTHING I'VE EXPERIENCE. THIS CAR IS BEFORE THE CURRENT RECALL. I BRING THIS UP, BECAUSE, AT THE TIME, I KNEW IT WAS NOT THE PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO ME AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS IN THE WIRING OR COMPUTER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT COMPLETELY TACKED OUT, RISKING THAT IT WOULD THROW A ROD. THEN I TURNED THE KEY, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AS I DRIFTED OFF THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE DON'T LET TOYOTA GET AWAY WITH SAYING THIS IS JUST PEDALS, IT WAS NOT FOR ME. *TR

20070222CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

CONSUMER WANTS NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM WITH THE ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDAL. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER READ ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL IN WHICH DRIVERS COULD HIT THE WRONG PEDAL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. *NM

20070222CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

CONSUMER WANTS NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM WITH THE ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDAL. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER READ ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL IN WHICH DRIVERS COULD HIT THE WRONG PEDAL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. *NM

20030505SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING CAUSING EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED

20020719TIRES:TREAD/BELT

ON 7-9-02, 65 MPH, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE (I HAVE THE ORIGINAL TIRE AND SEPERATED TREAD) TIRE MAINTAINED PRESSURE WITHOUT THE TREAD. THE SEPARATING TREAD DENTED THE DRIVERS FENDER, DOOR, AND BROKE OFF A PLASTIC SUPPORT TO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE CARE HAD BEEN INSPECTED 4 DAYS PRIOR AND THE TIRES PASSED. (16 Y/O SON WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME) 3 OTHER WITNESS WERE IN VEHICLE.*AK

20020222POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

THERE WASN'T A WARNING OF LOW FLUID IN THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND IT BROKE AND LOCKED UP THE FRONT TIRES MAKING THE VEHICLE COME TO A DEAD STOP. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT IS CHECKED FOR SAFETY.*AK

20010817SEATS

VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DRIVER'S SEAT TO DISCONNECT FROM SEAT TRACKS/ANCHORS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *YH

20001023TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TREAD SEPARATION WAS FOUND BY MECHANIC WHEN ROTATING TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 1B EV GD TIRESIZE: P175/70R13)

19990927POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 35 MPH ENROUTE TO THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SIEZED LOCKING UP THE FRONT END, BRINGING THE CAR TO A SCREECHING HAULT. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO REACT AND AVOID A COLLISION. DEALER CONFIRMED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED AS I PLAN TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION MYSELF WITH A USED OR REBUILT COMPONENT. I DON'T EXPECT ANY REIBURSEMENT, BUT THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED AS IT DID CREATE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

19990812CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

NO TIME TO BRAKE, SEATBELTS FAILED TO CONTRACT SO DRIVER & PASSENGER HIT THE DASHBOARD WITH INJURIES.

19990609VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TOYOTA WAS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A PARKING LOT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

19981231FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH HEARD RATTLING NOISE LIKE LOOSE FAN BELT IN THE FRONT OF CAR UNDERHOOD, SOMETHING DROPPED OFF THE CAR, THEN SMOKE OCCURRED, FLAMES CAME OUT, PART OF THE ENGINE BLOCK MISSING AND THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN THE ENGINE. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19970923FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF, AFTER RUNNING FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES, THE CAR WENT INTO POST- IGNITION, AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS TOTALLED. NOT SURE OF THE EXACT CAUSE OF FIRE. *AK

19970501POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

AUTOMACTIC TRANSMISSION, CAN REMOVE THE KEY IN ANY GEAR. REMOVED THE KEY IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION, HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. *AK

19970325POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

AXLE SHAFT FELL OFF.

19970325SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS

BRAKE DRUM FELL OFF.

19970122FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT FIRE WHEN STRUCK FROM REAR.

19970122FireSTRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CENTER SUPPORT FOR DRIVER'S DOOR BENT IN ACCIDENT, PREVENTING DOOR FROM OPENING.

19970122SEATS

DRIVER'S SEAT SLID FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION UPON IMPACT.

19961231ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOISE.

Compare 1989TOYOTACOROLLA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 TOYOTA COROLLA have?
The 1989 TOYOTA COROLLA has 30 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 9 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 TOYOTA COROLLA?
The most-complained component for the 1989 TOYOTA COROLLA is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE and SEATS.
Is the 1989 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.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.