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1997 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota Corolla do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 21 of 135 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports5 fire reports16 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

29 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2001
Air Bags

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOLLOW-UP NOTICE ON AIR BAG COMPUTER, CONSUMER DOES NOTTHAT WHY IT TOOK MANUFACTURER THREE YEARS TO SEND A RECALL NOTICE SHE STATES SHE HAS BEEN AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, ALSO CONSUMER HAS BEEN BACK ANF FORTH FOR OTHER RELATED ISSUES AND THE DEALER NEVER CAUGHT THE RECALL THA…

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CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOLLOW-UP NOTICE ON AIR BAG COMPUTER, CONSUMER DOES NOTTHAT WHY IT TOOK MANUFACTURER THREE YEARS TO SEND A RECALL NOTICE SHE STATES SHE HAS BEEN AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, ALSO CONSUMER HAS BEEN BACK ANF FORTH FOR OTHER RELATED ISSUES AND THE DEALER NEVER CAUGHT THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED BACK IN APRIL OF 1997.*YH

NHTSA ODI #563718

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2001
Air Bags

WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT HIS VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB

NHTSA ODI #563118

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS GOING 40-45MPH WHEN CONSUMER T BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUFFER FROM WHIPLASH. DEALER STATED "IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MORE INJURIES. CONSUMER WAS NOT GIVEN EXPLANATION WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT …

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VEHICLE WAS GOING 40-45MPH WHEN CONSUMER T BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUFFER FROM WHIPLASH. DEALER STATED "IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MORE INJURIES. CONSUMER WAS NOT GIVEN EXPLANATION WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA INSPECTED VEHICLE AND STATED AIR BAGS OPERATED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BY NOT DEPLOYING. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #893482

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45MPH. 17 YEAR OLD HIT STEERING WHEEL. OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AT THE TIME. FRONT END WAS CRUSHED BACKWARDS TOWARDS DRIVER & PASSENGER. HAD EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880393

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873350

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED MARCH OF 1997, I DO NOT KNOW IF WERE REPLACED OR THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL AIRBAGS. THEY DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY OPTIONS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #723170

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2000
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856558

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Air BagsInjury

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AIR BAG DEPLOYEDMENT AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE. AFTER REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO MANUFACTURER, CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S. RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM . *AK

NHTSA ODI #852911

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE SIDE IMPACT AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES . *AK

NHTSA ODI #833210

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1999
Air BagsCrash

HUSBAND DRIVING CAR APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. LADY IN VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO TRY TO AVOID HITTING HER, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. FRONT OF MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. MY DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. POLICE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE FACT THAT TH…

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HUSBAND DRIVING CAR APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. LADY IN VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO TRY TO AVOID HITTING HER, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. FRONT OF MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. MY DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. POLICE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THAT WE SHOULD REPORT THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #702444

Official recalls

1

97V043001 · Air Bags

Mar 20, 1997

IF THE AIR BAG COMPUTER IN A SUBJECT VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A MECHANICAL SHOCK (I.E., RAPIDLY MOVING THE FRONT SEAT BACK AGAINST THE STOPS OR A SUDDEN RELEASE OF THE PARKING BRAKE) WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, THE AIR BAG CAN DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AIR BAG COMPUTER.

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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