IllustrationBRAKES FAILED WHILE APPROACHING CARS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. *AK
1996 Toyota Corolla
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota Corolla do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corolla years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 15 of 129 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports13 fire reports21 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
12 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING. THE SERVICE STATION HAS REPLACED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. *JB *YH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZED; BRAKES PADS CRACKED, DRUMS REPLACED. 3 TIMES REAR PADS CRACKED AND BLEW, AS IF CAR WAS DRIVEN WITH FEET ON BOTH ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE, OR DRIVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON; BUT NEITHER WAS THE CASE. CAR WAS DRIVEN IN A NORMAL, MODERATE MANNER, AND AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS THE REAR SHOES BURNED/CRACKED, AN…
Read full complaint
FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZED; BRAKES PADS CRACKED, DRUMS REPLACED. 3 TIMES REAR PADS CRACKED AND BLEW, AS IF CAR WAS DRIVEN WITH FEET ON BOTH ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE, OR DRIVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON; BUT NEITHER WAS THE CASE. CAR WAS DRIVEN IN A NORMAL, MODERATE MANNER, AND AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS THE REAR SHOES BURNED/CRACKED, AND WORN ALMOST THROUGH, AND THE REAR DRUMS NEED REPLACING. FIRESTONE (WHO DID REPAIRS) SAY NO MECHANICAL REASON CAN BE FOUND, BUT MECHANICAL FAILRUE OF SOME KIND IS ONLY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION. *AK
ABS BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK
BRAKE SENSOR FAILED.
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
BRAKE PADS AND SHOES FAILED.
BRAKES DRAG.
FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED.
Official recalls
0No 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
1EA97015 · Turn Signal Failures
Opened Jul 22, 1997 · Closed Sep 21, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available