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1998 Toyota Corolla

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota Corolla do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 129.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

64 reports with mileage · 161 unknown

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 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports8 fire reports24 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

61 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2004
Air Bags

FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT - I PURCHASED A 1998 TOYOTA CORLOOA IN JULY 1998. BEGINING IN SEPT OF 98 I BEGAN TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT.IT WAS TAKEN ON 9/29/98, 8/18/99, 8/15/00, 8/14/01. THE LAST VISIT THE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING BEFORE I LEFT THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO PULL IT BACK IN THE BAY FOR THE…

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FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT - I PURCHASED A 1998 TOYOTA CORLOOA IN JULY 1998. BEGINING IN SEPT OF 98 I BEGAN TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT.IT WAS TAKEN ON 9/29/98, 8/18/99, 8/15/00, 8/14/01. THE LAST VISIT THE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING BEFORE I LEFT THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO PULL IT BACK IN THE BAY FOR THEM TO RE-FIX IT. I WAS TOLD EACH TIME I TOOK IT IN THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE FUNCTIONAL EVEN IF THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK LAST MONTH AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PARTS BULLETIN ISSURE BY TOYOTA BACK IN 1999 THAT REQUIRED TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS ON THESE WIRES IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM STOP BLINKING. THIS WAS NEVER DONE ON MY CAR EVEN THOUGH ALL FOUR TIMES I TOOK IT IN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $200.00 TO DO THIS.I WAS ALSO TOLD AT THIS TIME THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL WHEN THE LIGHT IS FLASHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10060713

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2004
Air BagsElectrical System

AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN IMPACT. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BEING AGITATED WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10057551

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

THIS VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AN OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND RIBS. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #872416

45,000 miles · Aug 1, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10026881

108,000 miles · Apr 24, 2003
Air Bags

'AIR BAG' LIGHT FLASHING. CODE 44 IN MEMORY (RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG CIRCUIT). INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER FOLLOWED FLOW CHART TEST RECOMMENDATIONS. HIGH RESISTANCE IN HARNESS BETWEEN MODULE AND RIGHT AIR BAG. HARNESS WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $529. OLD HARNESS WAS SAVED IF EVER NEEDED FOR TESTING. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016459

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2003
Air BagsSeat Belts

THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, ALSO WHEN A SUDDEN STOP WAS MADE, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER PROPERLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014980

8 miles · Mar 28, 2003
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014646

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2002
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. AIR BAG COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018415

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Air Bags

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON ALLDAY. THIS COULD RESULT IN AIR BAG DEPLOYING PERMATURELY OR NOT DEPLOYING AT ALL.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016356

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2002
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015059

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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