1998 Toyota Corolla Recalls

No recalls on record Updated July 2026

No NHTSA recalls on record for the 1998 Toyota Corolla. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 278 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS
34
6crashes5injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
18
16crashes1fires13injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
14
1crashes1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
4crashes1injuries
TIRES
8
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
7
SEAT BELTS
7
2crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
6
3crashes2injuries
Total complaints278

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact's wife owns a 1998 toyota corolla. The contact stated while his wife was taking items out of the trunk of the vehicle, the trunk lid closed abruptly. The contact later noticed that the trunk lid driver’s side hinge was fractured. The contact's wife did not sustain any injuries. The…”

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS · reported 2022-05-22

“My auto mechanic and I, after extensive diagnosis, have confirmed that the pulse mileage/route tracking device that metromile car insurance had me plug into the computer port of my 1998 toyota corolla le is failing or has failed, and this caused a potentially disastrous situation to develop w/my…”

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:DONGLE · reported 2021-09-19

“Air bag light stays on. When I looked up any recalls on this year of toyota, there were alot of complaints and no fixes. I think toyota should fix this safety problem with the air bags, it is a big deal not feelig safe on the road. The light came on when we were driving. We tried to reset it but…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2020-08-26

“Takata airbag recall my 1998 toyota corolla is listed as one of the cars effected by the takata airbag recall. Today I noted a blinking light on my dash board for the airbag. Please advise.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2019-08-22

“This complaint is about a gps device that attaches to the car through the obdii port. Manufacturered by agnik corporation sold under the brand name vyncs. The device, when installed, has caused intermittent stalling of the vehicle at low speed such approaching a stop or idling in gear at a stop.…”

ENGINE · reported 2018-05-01

“Safety issue!!! The low mileage vehicle has a strange issue that toyota seems unable to repair! 139000.0 miles the vehicle will intermittently refuse to start. T the key unlocks but only so far it refuses to engage the starter or allow the auto gear selector to work! Strands my wife in the bad…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2016-12-25

“Safety issue!!! The low mileage vehicle has a strange issue that toyota seems unable to repair! 139000.0 miles the vehicle will intermittently refuse to start. T the key unlocks but only so far it refuses to engage the starter or allow the auto gear selector to work! Strands my wife in the bad…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2016-12-25

“Starter did not stop cranking, although ignition was turned off and key was removed. Continued cranking until after large amount of black smoke billowed from engine. Eventually stopped before catching fire. Found main engine wire harness melted, charred:; starter charred: battery case melted;…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2015-08-29
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Toyota Corolla as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.