Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 1987 Toyota Corolla with NHTSA between 1995 and 2010.
The largest single group is the acceleration & cruise control.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Toyota Corolla
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
320.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
320.0%
Median failure at 10,000 miles
Lights
213.3%
Seats
16.7%
Tires
16.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.7%
Suspension
16.7%
Brakes
16.7%
Electrical System
16.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 2Mar 2010
NHTSA investigations into the 1987 Toyota Corolla
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE88059Opened 13 Jun 1988Closed 14 Sep 1988VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DEFOGGER FIRES
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The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 10,000 milesSebring, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM NOT LOOKING FOR DAMAGES AND HAD NEVER OFFICIALLY REPORTED THIS, BUT ABOUT 23 YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA COROLLA THAT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 90-100 MPH LIKE RESENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT TOYOTA VEHICLES ARE DOING. IN SPITE OF STANDING ON THE BRAKE, TRYING TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PUTTING MY TOE UNDERNEATH THE GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF IT WAS STUCK I WAS IN DANGER OF RUNNING UNDER THE REAR OF A SEMI. MY 15 YEAR OLD SON REACHED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM GOING TO GET OFF THE ROAD. RECENTLY DIVORCED, I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO INSISTED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR! I TRADED IT IN AND TOOK A BIG MONETARY LOSS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NEW. I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED AT THE TIME. NOW I AM WONDERING IF TOYOTA HAS BEEN COVERING UP THESE INCIDENTS A VERY LONG TIME AND IF ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AS LONG AGO AS I DID AND WHETHER OR NOT THE INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED. I DO NOT BELIEVE TOYOTA INCIDENTS ARE NEW, NOR DO I BELIEVE IT IS A GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. IT HAS TO BE A COMPUTER ELECTRICAL THING. AFTER OVER 20 YEARS OF NOT BUYING TOYOTA, JUST THIS THANKSGIVING BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND NOW ALL THIS!!!! GOT THAT ONE FIXED YESTERDAY, HOPEFULLY, BUT I STILL FEAR AN ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10319423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE ONCOMING, BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS OF OTHER PARTIES' AUTO. I'VE BEEN DISTRACTED BY ONCOMING BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS AND FROM MY REARVIEW MIRROR IN THE EVENING.
NHTSA complaint #762430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
UPPER PORTION OF THE FEMALE CONNECTOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #784012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Idaho Falls, IA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. THEN, AFTER PASSING THAT SPEED VIBRATION WILL STOP. FOUND OUT THAT FRONT TIRES HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. GOOD YEAR WHEATHER HANDLER 7JJ.
NHTSA complaint #868048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lawarence, MA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WHEN PUTTING THE HEAT ON, WINDSHIELD CRACKS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT PARK LIGHT HAS A LITTLE OPENING IN THE LENS.
NHTSA complaint #837934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lawarence, MA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN PUTTING THE HEAT ON, WINDSHIELD CRACKS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT PARK LIGHT HAS A LITTLE OPENING IN THE LENS.
NHTSA complaint #837934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aurora, CO
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT BOLTS TO THE FLOOR PAN BROKE, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY. COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #833165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harrisonburg, VA
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSEMBLY (DISK BRAKES) REFUSED TO RELEASE AND SEIZED CAUSING EXTREME HEAT AT RIGHT REAR WHEEL NEARLY CAUSING A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #701562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Midfield, AL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR WHILE MOVING, CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #533942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Adkins, TN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ALL THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN THE REAR ARE STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION. PROBLEM NOT REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #807555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valencia, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO DISENGAGE, TRAPPING OWNER INSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #985782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Longdale, OK
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
REAR STRUTS WELD FAILED, CAUSING METALLIC BRAKE LINE TO BREAK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES/CONTROL. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #489861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnatti, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, IT WAS AT HIGH IDLE, SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #974944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS GENERALLY IN DAMP WEATHER/COLD ENGINE; USUALLY WHEN MAKING TURNS, 20 MPH OR LESS; NO PRIOR WARNING. TT
NHTSA complaint #958702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cloquet, MN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. TT
NHTSA complaint #958342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.