MYRModel Year Report

1997 Toyota Corolla

● Typical for this model
1997 Toyota Corolla
RENDERED 2026-09-17T02:46:23.597Z

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: 73 complaints 1992: 65 complaints 1992 1993: 134 complaints 1994: 184 complaints 1995: 176 complaints 1996: 129 complaints 1997: 135 complaints 1997 1998: 225 complaints 1998 1999: 155 complaints 2000: 145 complaints 2001: 133 complaints 2002: 117 complaints 2003: 720 complaints 2004: 477 complaints 2004 2005: 853 complaints 2006: 839 complaints 2007: 836 complaints 2008: 314 complaints 2009: 1459 complaints 2010: 1244 complaints 2010 2011: 584 complaints 2012: 445 complaints 2013: 201 complaints 2014: 268 complaints 2015: 219 complaints 2016: 214 complaints 2016 2017: 178 complaints 2018: 133 complaints 2019: 201 complaints 2020: 304 complaints 2021: 185 complaints 2022: 98 complaints 2022 2023: 73 complaints 2024: 63 complaints 2025: 31 complaints 2026: 15 complaints 2026
1997: 135 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19813
19825
19831
19846
19853
19863
198714
198826
198923
199027
199173
199265
1993134
1994184
1995176
1996129
1997135
1998225
1999155
2000145
2001133
2002117
2003720
2004477
2005853
2006839
2007836
2008314
20091459
20101244
2011584
2012445
2013201
2014268
2015219
2016214
2017178
2018133
2019201
2020304
2021185
202298
202373
202463
202531
202615

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

SEAT BELTS 28%

28% of complaints: seat belts — 38 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing retractor and anchorage.

FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT COME OUT OF HOLDER OFTEN, MUST PULL REPEATEDLY TO GET UNIT TO RELEASE. ONCE YOU GET THE SEAT BELT ON IT LOCKS OFTEN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN TO SEE REAR TRAFFIC. ?

NHTSA ODI report, 20040315

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

AIR BAGS 21%

21% of complaints: air bags — 29 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal.

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

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7%

7% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 9 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing linkages.

CRASH INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES 7%

7% of complaints: service brakes — 9 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

DRIVING ON SH 79 FREEHOLD BORO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP AND MAKE TURN PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130720

POWER TRAIN 5%

5% of complaints: power train — 7 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and axle shaft.

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 (38 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (29 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (9 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

▲ 2025 ▲ 2024 ▲ 1992

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, accounting for 28% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1997 Toyota Corolla have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-16 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.