Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 Toyota Corolla
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
825.8%
Tires
619.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain
619.4%
Seat Belts
412.9%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 75,000 mi
Other & Unspecified
13.2%
Equipment & Accessories
13.2%
Seats
13.2%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
13.2%
Lights
13.2%
Body & Structure
13.2%
Steering
13.2%
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA
rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that
ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do
not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
1990 Toyota Corolla 4-DR
—
—
—
—
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.
May 1995peak 4Feb 2005
Recalls on the 1990 Toyota Corolla
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
10E002000
SUSPENSION
RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
Risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Aberdeen, NJCrash
STEERING
CONSUMER WAS SLOWING VEHICLE DOWN, THEN SUDDENLY COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL AND VEHICLE JUST WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #815227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wyckoff, NJCrash1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN REAR ENDED THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #985947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, OHCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 1:00, SPEED 35 MPH, LAP/SHOULDER ON DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT RETRACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #965875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Canandaigua, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CONSUMER NOT HAPPY WITH SERVICE. *NM THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A CUSTOM HANGAR FOR HER MUFFLER. THE CONSUMER FELT LIKE THE SERVICE WAS RENDERED IN A FALSE AND MISLEADING MANNER.
NHTSA complaint #10109679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesAthens, GA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT (WHICH ATTACHED TO THE DOOR) DOES NOT RETRACT AT ALL. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR SOME TIME AND WOULD NOT PROTECT ME IN AN ACCIDENT. I THINK THIS SORT OF SEAT BELT DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO!
NHTSA complaint #10068274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portage, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS DEFECTIVE, DRIVER CAN SMELL CARBON MONOXIDE IN CAB OF VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE 4TH MANIFOLD, EACH ONE HAD CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #8002496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Blairs, VA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAR JERKED. THEN IT JERKED AGAIN, AND SOON AS CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD, TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY.
NHTSA complaint #870268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Johnson, RI
TIRES:BEAD
SUDDEN BLOW OUT, THREAD DAMAGE BUT SUSTAINED TWO SECTIONS OF WALL DAMAGE AND HAD CRACKED INWALL AT BEAD AREA, SECOND TIRE CRACKS IN BEAD AREA
NHTSA complaint #9000248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Destin, FL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE ,TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CAR SKIDDED TO HALT ON ROADWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL RUNNING OUT OF FLUID. THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOWED FULL. THERE WAS NO DIP STICK FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL. SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO CHECK THE FLUID, IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK
NHTSA complaint #857899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Destin, FL
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE ,TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CAR SKIDDED TO HALT ON ROADWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL RUNNING OUT OF FLUID. THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOWED FULL. THERE WAS NO DIP STICK FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL. SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO CHECK THE FLUID, IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK
NHTSA complaint #857899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Islip, NY
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. YH
NHTSA complaint #604226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Islip, NY
INTERIOR LIGHTING
DOME LIGHT INOPERABLE WHEN DOOR OPENS. YH
NHTSA complaint #604226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roseville, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #714631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peacetree City, GA
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A TIRE BLOWOUT. DEALER STATED ALL THE TIRES WERE DRY ROT. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. HAD TIRES INSTALLED TWO YEARS AGO. GOODYEAR TIRES STATED TIRES WERE DRY ROT SINCE BEING INSTALLED, AND THE TIRES WERE SITTING IN THE WAREHOUSE FOR TWO YEARS AND BECAME DRY ROT.
NHTSA complaint #834654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Providence, RI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #531627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Okemos, MI
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDOWS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #522734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Wayne, IN
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
PARKING BRAKE LIGHT BADLY LOCATED AND CANNOT BE SEEN.
NHTSA complaint #518357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aberdeen, NJCrash
STEERING
CONSUMER WAS SLOWING VEHICLE DOWN, THEN SUDDENLY COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL AND VEHICLE JUST WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #815227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.