Toyota Corolla · model year

1996 Toyota Corolla

151 NHTSA complaints, 34 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
151
Recalls
0

The verdict

The 1996 Toyota Corolla posts below-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

Top 47%
fewest complaints, own model years
0
recall campaigns

The 1996ToyotaCorolla carries 151 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 34 crashes, 14 fires, 39 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 1996 Corolla is air bags:frontal with 24 filings, followed by seat belts:front:anchorage (8) and air bags (7). 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 1996 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.

151
Complaints
34
Crashes
14
Fires
39
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1996 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.

Total Complaints

151 filings

Crashes Reported

34 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL24
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE8
AIR BAGS7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS4
SEAT BELTS4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL3
TIRES3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2

Recent Complaints

20191001CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTRY - VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DRIVER REPORTS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP HIS VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. INDEPENDENT WITNESS APPEARS TO VERIFY DRIVER'S REPORT. *DT VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON BEFORE CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.*JB

20170614AIR BAGS

FEB 14, 2012, WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON PANEL. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO CAPITOL AUTO SERVICE, 94-422 UKEE STREET, WAIPAHU, HI 96797 AND SPOKE WITH OWNER, MR. FOX TO ASK WHAT PROBLEM WAS.(CONTACT PH-(808) 676-1888. AFTER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE AIRBAG AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE RESOLVED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN UPCOMING SAFETY INSPECTION. AFTER MUCH DIFFICULTY, HE WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN AN AIRBAG WHICH WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. INVOICE #2004, DATED FEB. 21, 2012. AMOUNT PAID $948.90. TO DATE, MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT ON RECALL LIST. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT TAKATA HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS 10 YEARS AGO AND DID NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION. MY CLAIM IS BE REIMBURSED FOR THOSE MONIES PAID ($948.90) WHEN VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE RECALL LIST AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A SAFETY CHECK AND BE ABLE TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE ON OUR ROADWAY.. I AM ABLE TO EMAIL YOU A PHOTO COPY OF THE INVOICE USING MY CELL PHONE IF YOU REQUIRE S

Mileage: 46,797

20150525SEAT BELTS

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FOR TOYOTA COROLLA '96 MODEL IS DEFECTIVE: THIS BELT HAS PULLED OUT AND WILL NOT RETRACT.

Mileage: 115,000

20150416SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE AND THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH THE FUSES SHORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REWIRED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUSES. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH FORCE TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20150416ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE AND THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH THE FUSES SHORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REWIRED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUSES. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH FORCE TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20150416SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE AND THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH THE FUSES SHORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND REWIRED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUSES. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR WITH FORCE TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20110401ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DURING DAMP, COLD WEATHER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 110,500

20110401VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ABNORMALLY BEFORE STRAIGHTENING. DURING THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

Mileage: 47,000

20110401STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ABNORMALLY BEFORE STRAIGHTENING. DURING THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

Mileage: 47,000

20100225VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA, AND I HOPE THE INFORMATION I PROVIDE HERE CAN HELP SOMEHOW WITH ANY CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS. AROUND 100,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO A NON-DEALER MECHANIC TO REPLACE MY TIMING BELT AS A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT, MY CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED AGAIN, AND I NOTICED THAT IN MOMENTS OF DECELERATION (EITHER IN BRAKING OR COASTING) THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY RACE AND I COULD FEEL THE GAS PEDAL PULL FROM ITS RESTING POSITION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MODEL I'VE INDICATED IS INACCURATE -- I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE MODEL WAS AS I NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE. I'VE BEEN AS SPECIFIC AS I CAN BE. I JUST THOUGHT IT MIGHT PROVE USEFUL. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ALSO INACCURATE AS THIS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO NOTICE, BUT NOT OFTEN ENOUGH OR SEVERELY ENOUGH TO WARRANT MY TAKING TO A DEALER. *TR

20100225ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA, AND I HOPE THE INFORMATION I PROVIDE HERE CAN HELP SOMEHOW WITH ANY CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS. AROUND 100,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO A NON-DEALER MECHANIC TO REPLACE MY TIMING BELT AS A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT, MY CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED AGAIN, AND I NOTICED THAT IN MOMENTS OF DECELERATION (EITHER IN BRAKING OR COASTING) THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY RACE AND I COULD FEEL THE GAS PEDAL PULL FROM ITS RESTING POSITION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MODEL I'VE INDICATED IS INACCURATE -- I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE MODEL WAS AS I NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE. I'VE BEEN AS SPECIFIC AS I CAN BE. I JUST THOUGHT IT MIGHT PROVE USEFUL. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ALSO INACCURATE AS THIS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO NOTICE, BUT NOT OFTEN ENOUGH OR SEVERELY ENOUGH TO WARRANT MY TAKING TO A DEALER. *TR

20100225EQUIPMENT

I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA, AND I HOPE THE INFORMATION I PROVIDE HERE CAN HELP SOMEHOW WITH ANY CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS. AROUND 100,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO A NON-DEALER MECHANIC TO REPLACE MY TIMING BELT AS A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT, MY CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED AGAIN, AND I NOTICED THAT IN MOMENTS OF DECELERATION (EITHER IN BRAKING OR COASTING) THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY RACE AND I COULD FEEL THE GAS PEDAL PULL FROM ITS RESTING POSITION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MODEL I'VE INDICATED IS INACCURATE -- I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE MODEL WAS AS I NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE. I'VE BEEN AS SPECIFIC AS I CAN BE. I JUST THOUGHT IT MIGHT PROVE USEFUL. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ALSO INACCURATE AS THIS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO NOTICE, BUT NOT OFTEN ENOUGH OR SEVERELY ENOUGH TO WARRANT MY TAKING TO A DEALER. *TR

20080917VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LTR FROM CONGRESSMAN JO BONNER ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENT, WHO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL IN HIS 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CONSUMER CONTROL DID NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA DENIED KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL. *JB

20080908FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GAS TANK WAS CORRODED ON TOP. THERE WERE HOLES ON THE FILLER PIPE AND RUST ON THE GAS TANK. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY THE AUTO SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

Mileage: 94,000

20070204CrashAIR BAGS

AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING VIOLENT COLLISION. *JB

Mileage: 115,000

20070204CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY TOYOTA COROLLA (1996) WAS TOTALED IN A RECENT CRASH -- BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY! *JB

Mileage: 115,000

20061007FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON OCT 1 2006 MY TOYOTA COROLLA 1996 MODEL ECONOMY TYPE HAD ITS ACCELERATOR STUCK AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO REDUCE THE SPEED OR BRAKE IT. AND AFTER TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR FOR . 5 MINUTES IT FELT LIKE SOME THING FELL FROM THE FRONT AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER SO I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP IN A PARKING LOT. THEN SAW SMOKE FROM THE HOOD AND IT BURST IN TO FLAMES BY THE TIME FIRE CREW WERE ABLE TO STOP ALL OF THE ENGINE WAS ONE BLACK MOLTEN MASS. *NM

Mileage: 73,000

20050915TIRES:VALVE

I EXPERIENCED THREE FLAT ULTRA HP 4 GOODYEAR TIRES ON THREE DIFFERENT TIRES ON MY 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA DUE TO FAULTY VALVE STEMS IN AN APPROXIMATE 4 MONTH PERIOD (MAY 2005 - AUGUST 2005). THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN JANUARY OF 2005 FROM THE GOODYEAR DEALER IN SACRAMENTO, CA. I WAS NOT INJURED BECAUSE OF THE FLAT TIRES. IN TWO CASES HELP ARRIVED QUICKLY, BUT IN THE JULY 2, 2005 INCIDENT I WAS STRANDED FOR SIX HOURS AND IT WAS A VERY FRUSTRATING AND UPSETTING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE MY CAR WAS IMPOUNDED FROM THE HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO PAY A PARKING CITATION BECAUSE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER UNDER THE GOODYEAR CONTRACT NEVER RESPONDED TO MY CALL. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO GOODYEAR, THE GENTLEMAN AT THE COUNTER IN THE SACRAMENTO OFFICE TOLD ME THERE HAD A BEEN A BAD BATCH OF VALVE STEMS AROUND CHRISTMAS-TIME 2004. THEY REPLACED MY VALVE STEMS WITH 4 METAL, TRUCK-TYPE VALVE STEMS AND I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE. HOWEVER, IT HAS TAKEN MY TWO MONTHS TO TRY AND GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM GOODYEAR FOR TH

20050112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

TAIL LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS OPERATIONAL, IT STOPS WORKING IF I TURN ON HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 8 OR 9 TIMES WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING AND AM ALWAYS TOLD THE BULB HAS BLOWN AND THEY REPLACE IT AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THERE IS APPARENTLY A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAUSE WHEN WE PULL OUT THE "BLOWN" BULB AND PUT IT BACK IN, THE LIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN OF ABSOLUTELY NO ASSISTANCE OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS.*AK

20040625ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

TO TURN INTO OUR ROAD, DOWN SHIFTED THE GEAR FROM 3RD TO 2ND.CLANKING NOISE, FUMES AND SMOKE FILLED THE CAR. NOTICED OIL LEAK. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER SAID 3RD PISTON ROD BROKE AND MADE A HOLE IN THE ENGINE !! WIERD. ANYONE FACED A SIMILAR PROBLEM?*AK

Mileage: 80,000

Compare 1996ToyotaCorolla to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 Toyota Corolla have?
The 1996 Toyota Corolla has 151 NHTSA complaints, 34 crashes, 14 fires, 39 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Toyota Corolla?
The most-complained component for the 1996 Toyota Corolla is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 24 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1996 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 1996 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.