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: 1 of 1 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.
Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reports
187,000 miles · Jan 3, 2013
Power TrainCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1981 TOYOTA CORONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY DOWN A SLOPE. THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AWAY. THE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1981 TOYOTA CORONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY DOWN A SLOPE. THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AWAY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO STEER AWAY FROM PARKED VEHICLES BUT WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SEIZED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TO TWO PARKED VEHICLES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STEERING LOCK THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 01/05/13*LJ UPDATED 2/4/2013 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10490863
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.
1981 Toyota Corona Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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