MYRModel Year Report

1997 Toyota Corolla

● Typical for this model
1997 Toyota Corolla
RENDERED 2026-08-02T10:56:58.321Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Toyota Corolla Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1997 highlighted. 1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 3 complaints 1982: 5 complaints 1983: 1 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1986: 3 complaints 1986 1987: 14 complaints 1988: 26 complaints 1989: 23 complaints 1990: 27 complaints 1991: 71 complaints 1992: 63 complaints 1992 1993: 130 complaints 1994: 172 complaints 1995: 176 complaints 1996: 129 complaints 1997: 135 complaints 1997 1998: 225 complaints 1998 1999: 155 complaints 2000: 144 complaints 2001: 133 complaints 2002: 117 complaints 2003: 720 complaints 2004: 477 complaints 2004 2005: 853 complaints 2006: 839 complaints 2007: 836 complaints 2008: 313 complaints 2009: 1459 complaints 2010: 1240 complaints 2010 2011: 584 complaints 2012: 445 complaints 2013: 201 complaints 2014: 267 complaints 2015: 218 complaints 2016: 211 complaints 2016 2017: 176 complaints 2018: 133 complaints 2019: 199 complaints 2020: 300 complaints 2021: 182 complaints 2022: 94 complaints 2022 2023: 71 complaints 2024: 59 complaints 2025: 25 complaints 2026: 11 complaints 2026
1997: 135 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19813
19825
19831
19846
19853
19863
198714
198826
198923
199027
199171
199263
1993130
1994172
1995176
1996129
1997135
1998225
1999155
2000144
2001133
2002117
2003720
2004477
2005853
2006839
2007836
2008313
20091459
20101240
2011584
2012445
2013201
2014267
2015218
2016211
2017176
2018133
2019199
2020300
2021182
202294
202371
202459
202525
202611

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SEAT BELTS 17%

17% of complaints: seat belts — 23 distinct reports on file.

AIR BAGS 16%

16% of complaints: air bags — 21 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CRASHED, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20030422

AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME FILLED WITH SMOKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970210

AIR BAGS 6%

6% of complaints: air bags — 8 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED FROM THE REAR AND LATER SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20150303

I WAS SCANNING MY VEHICLE WITH AN OBD2 SCANNER AND LEARNED THAT MY CAR, WHICH I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAS HAD RECALLS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN RECTIFIED. ATTACHED ARE SCREENSHOTS OF THE RECALL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180524

TOYOTA COROLLA DX 1997 THE CAR WAS SOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER IN ST LOUIS MISSOURI WHILE I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL. THE CAR HAS BEEN NOW IN FLORIDA FOR THE LAST TEN YEAR IN A WARM, EXTREMELY HUMID CLIMATE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20140629

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5%

5% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 7 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
SEAT BELTS 4%

4% of complaints: seat belts — 6 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

THE FRONT SEAT BELT WIRES PART OF RUBBED TOGETHER UNTILL THE SEAT BELT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE SEAT BELT HAS A DEFECT IN IT. THIS REPORT IS FROM A FIRE FIGHTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970203

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19970407 — air bags

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 T

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AIR BAG COMPUTER.

Campaign 97V043001 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20081217 — exterior lighting

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH

Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Campaign 08E050000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20100315 — suspension

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE

Remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

Campaign 10E002000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1997 Toyota Corolla — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for seat belts issues (23 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (21 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (8 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 97V043001 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 10E002000 (suspension) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2024 ▲ 1992 ▲ 2023

WORST YEARS

■ 2009 ■ 2010 ■ 2005

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1997 Toyota Corolla reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Toyota Corolla is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Toyota Corolla?

The most-reported component is seat belts:front:retractor, accounting for 17% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1997 Toyota Corolla have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.