← New search

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

What owners actually said

135 reports
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…

Read full complaint

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 …

Read full complaint

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 · Jun 28, 2001
Electrical System

LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GO OUT WHEN HE HIT 45MPH WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891627

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2001
SteeringCrash

CAR SWERVED OFF ROAD AND SPUN AROUND TWICE BEFORE HITTING THE GUARD RAIL HEAD-ON. CAR TOTALED. NO TIRE FAILURE INVOLVED. ROAD CLEAN/DRY. NO EXPLANATION FOR LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #745231

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, THE FRONT BRAKES MAKE A VERY LOAD CLANK. LOAD ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO TURN AND LOOK AT YOU. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM , AND THEY SAID ALL 1997 TOYOTA COROLLAS DO THIS, AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL,THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. NOW WHEN I GO GOT STOP,I FEEL LIKE ITS G…

Read full complaint

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, THE FRONT BRAKES MAKE A VERY LOAD CLANK. LOAD ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO TURN AND LOOK AT YOU. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM , AND THEY SAID ALL 1997 TOYOTA COROLLAS DO THIS, AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL,THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. NOW WHEN I GO GOT STOP,I FEEL LIKE ITS GETTING HARDER TO STOP. IF YOU COULD RSVP ME I'D APPRECIATE IT . THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743664

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001
Seat Belts

WITH ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THIS ITEM SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL AS IT IS LAW TO DRIVE WITH A SEATBELT ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743133

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2001
Seat Belts

REAR LAP BELT BUCKLE CAME APART. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE REAR CENTER LAP BELT THAT HOLDS CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #883218

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Latches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic

LOCKS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S REAR DOORS BECOME JAMMED, AND CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHTS ARE PREFORMING ERRATICALLY . PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881211

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

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.

Go deeper into Toyota Corolla problems