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CarComplaints.com Notes: There must have been something in the water at the plant where they built the eighth generation Corollas, especially the 1998 and 1999 model years.

Outside of airbag problems being reported to NHTSA, this is about as dependable a car as you’ll find. But good luck finding one; owners say they want a new car, but can’t justify trading in their Corolla because the darn thing just keeps rolling.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
16 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,167 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Toyota Corolla seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1998 Toyota Corolla Owner Comments

problem #18

Jul 152010

Corolla

  • 167,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1998 Toyota Corolla. The contact was involved in a crash. None of the air bags deployed. The contact sustained a broken rib, fractured bone and whiplash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 167,000.

- Yadkinville, NC, USA

problem #17

Aug 182010

Corolla

  • 196,000 miles
My wife's 1998 Toyota Corolla was hit head on at 70mph by a full size passenger truck and the airbag did not deploy. She has been the sole owner of the vehicle since purchase. Prior to the accident, in the course of ownership, the airbag warning light came on periodically. We took the vehicle in several occasions to two different authorized Toyota dealerships and both reported that nothing was wrong. This, in spite of the fact that the light continued to flash intermittently. We have retained the diagnostic receipts from the dealerships. I contacted Toyota motors, and they have created a case number. Toyota motors requested crash photographs to be E-mailed to them, which I have done. No further contact has been received from Toyota motors. The vehicle is being held at our insurers salvage yard for further instructions.

- Lawrence, KS, USA

problem #16

Nov 072006

Corolla 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
On 11/7/2006 I was involved in an accident where my vehicle 98 Toyota Corolla rear ended a cement truck. The speed at which my car was traveling was 25-35 mph. The air bags did not deploy, my seat belt did not lock and because of this my chest hit the steering wheel. I visited the urgent care the same day and as a result of the accident I suffered strained ligaments and muscles in my neck and back and a bruise and scrape on my chest. I am still suffering.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #15

Nov 072001

Corolla

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Both front airbags deployed with a mod-speed front right crash by oncoming vehicle. Drivers front airbag started smoldering emitting an acrid gray smoke (electrical wiring?) from the base of the airbag; stopped smoking when disconnected battery. Passenger airbag broke front windshield when it deployed (had no passenger). Are either of these situations common/normal with airbag deployment?

- Rio Grande, PR, USA

problem #14

Jul 292001

Corolla

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
After being cut off by another vehicleit hit front driver's side of car, and side door panel of second car at 30mph. Upon impact, neither front nor side air bags deployed.

- Albany, NY, USA

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problem #13

Apr 122001

Corolla

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact airbags did not deploy, resulting in minor injuries. Manufacturer will be notified.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #12

Jul 262000

Corolla

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving at 10 mph, another vehicle going about 30 mph hit consumer's vehicle from driver's side door, and driver's side air bag did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant in this crash. The driver side door was damaged due to the accident.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #11

May 211998

Corolla

  • miles
Airbag light came on the paneltwo weeks after purchase. She took it back to dealership, and consumer was concerned about the light.

- Sunrise, FL, USA

problem #10

Jul 312000

(reported on)

Corolla

  • miles
While traveling at 35 mph and as a result of an accident air bags did not deploy at any time. Consumer was injured. Dealer was contacted.

- Ft Wyan, IN, USA

problem #9

Nov 161999

Corolla

  • miles
Was in an accident going 45mph a truck ran a stop sign and I hit them in the side my son was in the passenger seat and his seat caught when I pressed the brakes but released when we hit the other vehicle airbag deployed but did not inflate. The seatbelt also released when we hit the ditch. He hit his head on the winshield 2 times and is now dealing with post concussion syndrome. I called Toyota and they said they found no defects and that the safety system did what it was suppose to.( dot number: Tire size: P185/65R14 )

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #8

Nov 151999

(reported on)

Corolla

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer was involved in a frontal collision in which driver's air bag did not deploy, cause unknown.

- Fenton, MO, USA

problem #7

Nov 011999

Corolla

  • miles
I hit a truck at an intersction at 55. I did not see him. I was alone, and did not see the truck soon enough. My driver's air bag deployed, but did not inflate. The para-medic who reached me first noted that the bag had not inflated. They arrived in 5 minutes. The passenger side did inflate. I suffered severe bruising and broken ribs and hit the steering wheel. My insurance company asked me to report this incident.

- Winston-Salem, NC, USA

problem #6

Sep 011998

Corolla

  • miles
Outside door trim. Passenger side airbag.

- Yorba Linda, CA, USA

problem #5

Jul 301999

Corolla

  • miles
While driving at 35 mph another vehicle made a left turn in front of the consumer vehicle, and consumer couldn't stop and hit the other vehicle. None of the four air bags deployed.

- Sheboygan, WI, USA

problem #4

May 141999

(reported on)

Corolla

  • miles
Consumer was involved in 25 mph frontal collision in which the air bag sensor was hit, but driver's side/passenger side air bags did not deploy.

- Cedar Grove, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jan 181999

Corolla

  • miles
Vehicle is equipped with the front and rear side airbags. While making a left turn, another vehicle hit consumer's vehicle at the passenger rear side at about 15 mph, and the side airbags did not deploy which did not protect the occupant in the accident.

- Cambridge, MA, USA

problem #2

Oct 071998

Corolla

  • miles
Driver was hit on the driver's side at a considerable speed in such that the door was bent away from the frame of the vehicle, the side airbag did not deploy, and driver sustained injuries to the neck and left shoulder (strained muscles and ligaments).829522 dup of 781500; posted on 09-07-1999.

- Hamburg, AR, USA

problem #1

Jul 291998

(reported on)

Corolla

  • miles
Consumer was rear ended, resulting in a frontal collision in which the driver's or passenger's air bags did not deploy.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

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