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1989 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Toyota Corolla are lower than the model-year median of 129.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 129

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
198614
198726
198823
198927
199071
199163
1992
Compare all Corolla years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
5Power Train
4Electrical System
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Vehicle Speed Control
3
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
2Seat Belts
2Seats
2Tires
2Structure
1Visibility
1

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: 0 of 23 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH HEARD RATTLING NOISE LIKE LOOSE FAN BELT IN THE FRONT OF CAR UNDERHOOD, SOMETHING DROPPED OFF THE CAR, THEN SMOKE OCCURRED, FLAMES CAME OUT, PART OF THE ENGINE BLOCK MISSING AND THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN THE ENGINE. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFOR…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH HEARD RATTLING NOISE LIKE LOOSE FAN BELT IN THE FRONT OF CAR UNDERHOOD, SOMETHING DROPPED OFF THE CAR, THEN SMOKE OCCURRED, FLAMES CAME OUT, PART OF THE ENGINE BLOCK MISSING AND THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN THE ENGINE. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832918

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

MUFFLER REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #602004

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #510238

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

CAR WAS PARKED AND STARTED IT OFF CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #979617

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983773

Official recalls

1

16V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

Jun 2, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

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.

Go deeper into Toyota Corolla problems

Toyota Corolla electrical problems →Toyota Corolla transmission problems →