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1981 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Air. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports
5,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND OUTSIDE OF MY GARAGE I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT AND OPENED OUR GARAGE DOOR, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT SHOT ACROSS OUR GARAGE BREAKING STAIRS LEADING INTO OUR HOUSE, A WORKBENCH AND DID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO MY TOYOTA COROLLA AND OUR HOUSE. THE SOUND OF THE TIRES SCREECHING WAS LIKE S…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND OUTSIDE OF MY GARAGE I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT AND OPENED OUR GARAGE DOOR, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT SHOT ACROSS OUR GARAGE BREAKING STAIRS LEADING INTO OUR HOUSE, A WORKBENCH AND DID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO MY TOYOTA COROLLA AND OUR HOUSE. THE SOUND OF THE TIRES SCREECHING WAS LIKE SOMETHING ON A RACE TRACK. LUCKILY MY 8 YEAR DAUGHTER WAS ASLEEP ON THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR THEREFORE DID NOT GET OUT AND OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR, OTHERWISE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER. I HAD TWO NEIGHBORS BY MY HOUSE ONE A LAWYER THE OTHER AN ENGINEER FOR BELL LABS AND BOTH AGREED MY CAR OVER ACCELERATED. I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE TOYOTA REGIONAL OFFICE TO REPORT THIS AND THE REGIONAL OFFICE IN PHILADELPHIA WAS EXTREMELY RUDE AND SAID I MUST HAVE STEPPED ON THE GAS. FIRST OF ALL STEPPING ON THE GAS WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE THE CAR GO AT THAT RATE OF SPEED. I THINK TOYOTA HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM A LONG TIME, MY BOSSES NEIGHBOR HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN TO HIM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308271

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2002
Service Brakes, Air

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT INTERMITTENTLY BRAKES LIGHT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST PAST YEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001147

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 1995
Seat BeltsInjury

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD/INJURY. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #486844

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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