FaultScore

1999 Toyota Corolla engine problems

21 of the 188 complaints about the 1999 Toyota Corolla are about the engine — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 63,000 miles.

D

21

Complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Emission Control 5 23.8%
Gasoline 4 19.0%
Engine 3 14.3%
Exhaust System 2 9.5%
Belts AND Associated Pulleys 2 9.5%
GAS Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 1 4.8%
Cooling System 1 4.8%
Catalytic Convertor 1 4.8%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 4.8%
Engine 1 4.8%

Engine & Cooling across every Toyota Corolla year

1991 16 1.2%
1992 29 2.2%
1993 14 1.1%
1998 19 1.5%
1999 21 1.6%
2000 53 4.1%
2001 34 2.6%
2002 24 1.9%
2003 111 8.6%
2004 55 4.3%
2005 121 9.4%
2006 128 9.9%
2007 102 7.9%
2008 54 4.2%
2009 133 10.3%
2010 43 3.3%
2011 26 2.0%
2013 19 1.5%
2014 20 1.5%
2015 18 1.4%
2016 13 1.0%
2017 10 0.8%
2018 15 1.2%
2019 39 3.0%
2020 109 8.4%
2021 40 3.1%
2022 13 1.0%
2023 13 1.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 135,000 miles Galt, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND DRIVING AN ADDITIONAL 800 MILES, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA complaint #10885509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 109 miles Charlotte, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MY CAR IS 9 YRS OLD, 109,000 MILES IT'S ON THE LOWER END OF THE RECOMMENDATION MILEAGE FOR THE YEAR OF THE CAR. ON 9/3/08 FIRST DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON. I GOT NERVOUS WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS AND THEY CHECKED THE LIGHT, IT SHOWED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR FLOW. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT AFTER 3 DAYS. BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA FOR REPAIRS OF SOME OTHER ITEMS AND MENTIONED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON AND THEN OFF. THEY CHECKED IT BUT WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS READING CORRECTLY. 4 DAYS LATER CAME BACK ON AGAIN AND WENT OUT 3 DAYS LATER. 2 DAYS PASSED AND THEN IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN AND REMAINED ON EVER SINCE. I BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A CHARCOAL CANISTER FAILURE AND IT WOULD COST $450, I WAS UPSET BECAUSE I JUST GOT $968 WORTH OF REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE DONE. I ALWAYS KEEP UP ON MY MAINTENANCE WORK/OIL CHANGES. IS THIS A FAULTY PART FROM TOYOTA? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS GOING AND IF IT IS NORMAL AFTER SO MANY YEARS/MILES THEN WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE AND HARD TO FIND OR REPAIR? I HEARD ONLY TOYOTA HAS THE PART WHICH WAS QUOTED TO ME AS $232. SO IF I DON'T PAY $450 MY VEHICLE WON'T PASS INSPECTION/EMISSION TEST. CAN SOMEONE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10245084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Union, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FROM TIME TO TIME ON ITS ON DUE TO FAILURES OF THE CHARCOAL CANISTER/EVAPORATIVE SOLENOIDS. THE CHARCOAL CANISTER SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT. THE CAR WILL RUN JUST FINE (DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF FAILURE), BUT IF YOU HAVE EMISSIONS TESTING, THE CAR WILL FAIL. MANY TOYOTA OWNERS SEEM TO BE HAVING THIS SIMILAR TROUBLE DUE TO SOME FLAW IN THE TOYOTA ICU PROGRAMMING. IF YOU SEARCH ON THE NET FOR THE SIMILAR PROBLEM, MANY LINKS WILL SHOW UP. ----------------- HTTP://AUTOS.MSN.COM/RESEARCH/VIP/RELIABILITY.ASPX?YEAR=1999&MAKE=TOYOTA&MODEL=CAMRY&TRIMID=-1 ----------------- HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/TOYOTA/600.HTML. *JB -----------------

NHTSA complaint #10180750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Suffolk, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

OIL LIGHT CAME ON AT $60,000, KEPT LOOSING OIL EVEN THOUGH I HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT THE DEALERSHIP. FOUND OUT CAR IS BURNING OIL AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME $750 TO REPLACE VALVE SEALS (WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT FIX PROBLEM). TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THIS BECAUSE WARRANTY TIME IS UP. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA!!!

NHTSA complaint #10162605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles West Bloomfield, MI

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

MY 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR THE TWO YEARS. THE CODE IS P0446/0441 AND WHEN WINTER COMES IT GOES AWAY AND RE APPEARS IN SUMMER. I FIRST NOTICED THAT AROUND 36000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A CANISTER PROBLEM, BUT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE AND I SEE THAT THERE A LOT OF TOYOTA OWNERS WHO ARE SEEING THE SAME COMPLIANT. ALSO FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS I SEE THAT THE SEAT BELT NOT PUT SIGN START TO FLASH EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE SEAT BELT ON.

NHTSA complaint #10125378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Columbus, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

DT: EVAP CANNISTER ALSO CALLED A CHARCOL CANNISTER FAILED AT 67000MILES ON CAR. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMMING ON AND NOW THE CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. DEALER TOLD HER IT WAS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW IN EVAP CANNISTER. HAS NOT CONTACTED MANUFACTURER YET.

NHTSA complaint #10120339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles N Billerica, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CORROSION CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BOLT HOLDING THE MUFFLER STRAP ON BOTH MY 1998 AND 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA IN APRIL 2004 AND APRIL 2005 RESPECTIVELY. FORTUNATELY I WAS AT LOW SPEED IN 2004 SO THE DAMAGE WASN'T GREAT AND IN 2005 MY WIRE FAIL SAFE PREVENTED AN EXHAUST DROP. STAINLESS STEEL IS REQUIRED FOR THIS FASTENER OR MORE MUFFLER HOLDING DEVICES.

NHTSA complaint #10116743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

NO ACCIDENTS, ALL MAINTENANCE DONE AS SPECIFIED IN MANUAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. FIRST TIME TOYOTA DEALER SAID IT WAS LOOSE GAS CAP. CAME BACK ON. NEXT TIME THEY SAID IT WAS CHARCOAL CANISTER (COST $736). LIGHT RETURNED. NOW THEY SAY IT IS SOME VALVE AND IS GOING TO COST ANOTHER $700 -800 TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10082865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

I HAVE A 99 TOYOTA COROLLA VE AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHEN A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP LIT UP. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE CAR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS CHECKED. IT SHOWED THAT MY CAR HAS A EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM VENT CONTROL CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS, IT WOULD COST ME 400-500 DOLLARS TO FIX IT BESIDES A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY JUST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. AFTER THE CHECK UP, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WAS OFF BUT THEN COME BACK LATER. I LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ALSO THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT STILL ON EVEN AFTER FIXING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM OF A FAULTY CIRCUIT THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CANISTER TO VENT AND THAT CAUSES GAS TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE CANISTER AND MAKES IT BREAK DOWN. THUS, RESULTING IN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I DON'T KNOW HOW SAFE DRIVING MY CAR IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND IT WOULD CAUSE PROBLEM WITH SMOG CHECK, GAS, FIRE...

NHTSA complaint #10082389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,500 miles MT. Juliet, TN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

PURCHASED MY CAR USED ON 2002. THE CAR NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL IN JANUARY 2004, THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS AT THE SAME TIME THE A/C SYSTEM NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE A/C SYSTEM WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE EMISSION PROBLEMS WERE NOT. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY GOING ON AND OFF SINCE THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO BE CHECKED, THE MECHANIC TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. HOWEVER, THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO ARISE. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MONTHS AND HAS NOW STARTED ITS ON AND OFF AGAIN SHOW. THE RESEARCH I HAVE BEGUN HAS OPENED MY EYES TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF CHARCOAL CANISTERS BEING REPLACED AS FAST AS PEOPLE CHANGE UNDERWEAR. THIS REPLACEMENT COST ABOUT $467-/ WITH LABOR. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THIS IS THE GOING RATE FOR THIS JOB. I AM UPSET TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME 'CANISTER' AS I AND TOYOTA, WITH WHOM I LOVE THEIR CARS, ARE NOT MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS NOR STANDING UP TO THE PLATE TO ASSIST THEIR CONSUMERS. I WORK IN A CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY AND KNOW PERSONALLY HOW PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ONE ANOTHER. I ASK TOYOTA TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM THOROUGHLY.

NHTSA complaint #10079168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,200 miles Oxford, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

UPON SEEING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ON I TOOK MY 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA (50,200 MILES) TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE ALMOST $500 WITH LABOR. THIS PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY PAST 3 YEARS AND 30000 MILES. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND FUEL EFFICIENCY CONCERN AND I THINK THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD INCLUDE IT IN ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY. I AM TRYING TO SHOP AROUND FOR A CHEAPER ESTIMATE. I HAVE PERFORMED ALL THE RECOMMENDED MAINTAINENCE SCHEDULES AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS NOT ADDRESSED DURING ROUTINE MAINTAINENCE.

NHTSA complaint #10074601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Upper Darby, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

MY ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON I 95. LACK OF OIL TO THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WAS THE STATED CAUSE. OIL HAD BEEN RECENTLY CHANGED AND WHEN CHECKED WAS FULL ON THE DIPSTICK. MILAGE 64,000. MANUAL RECOMENDS CHECKING THE TIMING CHAIN AT 80,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10036704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greensboro, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

TENSION RETAINER BOLT BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10022562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Benning, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WE BOUGHT A 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH 19,509 MILES ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 FROM AN INDEPENDENT USED CAR DEALER. THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE SAME DAY WE BOUGHT THE CAR SO WE TOOK THE COROLLA TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, JAY TOYOTA OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA TO HAVE THE ENGINE INSPECTED THE DAY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR. ON OUR WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE NOTICED EXCESSIVE SMOKE FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND "JERKY" ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE WAS IN POOR CONDITION DUE TO SLUDGE DAMAGE AND EVEN ADMITTED THAT TOYOTA CO. HAS BEEN HAVING SLUDGE PROBLEMS IN TOYOTA ENGINES. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT TOYOTA MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY DOES NOT HONOR ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SLUDGE DAMAGE. THEIR ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS $2500-$5800. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED THAT WE NOT DRIVE THE COROLLA ANYMORE THAN NECESSARY BEFORE WE HAVE THE ENGINE REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ENGINE MAY FAIL DUE TO THE SLUDGE. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ENGINE REPAIRED, BUT WE DID SEND AN OIL SAMPLE IN FOR OIL ANALYSIS. ALTHOUGH THE OIL WE SENT IN ONLY HAD 314 MILES ON IT, THE LEVELS OF FUEL AND IRON IN THE OIL WERE CONSIDERED HIGH. ACCORDING TO THE ANALYSIS AN OIL SAMPLE FROM A GASOLINE ENGINE SHOULD CONTAIN LESS THAN 2% FUEL, OUR SAMPLE WITH ONLY 314 MILES ON IT ALREADY HAD FUEL PERCENTAGE OF 2.8. THE UNIVERSAL AVERAGE FOR IRON IS 9 PARTS PER MILLION, OUR OIL HAD 34 PARTS PER MILLION OF IRON. IT SEEMS TO US THAT OUR COROLLA IS HAVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM AS THE MODELS THAT TOYOTA COMPANY HAS AGREED TO INCLUDE IN ITS PROGRAM IN WHICH CERTAIN ENGINE MODELS WITH SLUDGE DAMAGE CAN BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED BY TOYOTA AT NO COST. AFTER VISITING SOME CAR REVIEW AND CAR SURVEY SITES AND PERFORMING SOME SEARCHES ON THE WEB, WE FOUND THAT WE WERE NOT THE ONLY COROLLA OWNERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SLUDGE. WE BELIEVE COROLLA SHOULD NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM TOYOTA'S SLUDGE PROGRAM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lockport, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10015338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmington, DE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY ENGINE MAKES RATTLING NOISE SINCE IT REACHED 30,000 MILES. THE NOISE ONLY COMES FOR FIRST 10 MINUTES WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO CAROUSEL TOYOTA, PA DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. SINCE AT THAT TIME THE NOISE DID NOT COME THEY COULD FIX IT AS NOISE ONLY COMES WHEN CAR IS COLD. NOW MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ENGINE STILL MAKES RATTLING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10008196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami, FL Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #757536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hayward, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE MAKES TO MUCH NOISE DRIVING AT 65MPS CANT DRIVE OVER 60MPS

NHTSA complaint #729583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Alamitos, CA Fire 2 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #721061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coventry, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE TRAVELING AND TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THE SPEED 65 MPH. VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #858718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pomona, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINECYLINDERS WAS RECEIVING INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF OIL DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT, CAUSING LOSS OF COMPRESSION WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #855623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 Toyota Corolla problems

← Full 1999 Toyota Corolla report