Motor Almanac

Toyota / Corolla / 1999

1999 Toyota Corolla

Family: Corolla · filed with NHTSA as COROLLA

Summary

  • In its first three years the 1999 Corolla drew 56 complaints — 1.0× the median of its generation (1998–2002). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
  • These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
  • Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Wheels & Tires, holds 15% of the 149 that name a component.
  • 4 recalls filed for this model year.
  • No federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints
155
Recalls
4
Investigations
0
NCAP overall
Not rated
Combined MPG
26–30
Annual fuel cost
$2,100–$2,400
Median mileage at complaint
66,900 mi (n = 53)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths
24 / 5 / 20 / 0

What owners report

Wheels & Tires

22 complaints · 15% of complaints that name a component · median 79,128 mi (n = 6)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN DEFENDER TIRES, SIZE: 185/65/R14 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER…
Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA, EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK H727 TIRES, SIZE: 185/65/R14. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES BECAME FLAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES AND STATED THAT SOMETHING HAD NOT ALLOWED IT TO S…

Engine

21 complaints · 14% of complaints that name a component · median 64,000 mi (n = 10)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND DRIVING AN ADDITIONAL 800 MILES, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE …
Owner report ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FROM TIME TO TIME ON ITS ON DUE TO FAILURES OF THE CHARCOAL CANISTER/EVAPORATIVE SOLENOIDS. THE CHARCOAL CANISTER SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT. THE CAR WILL RUN JUST FINE (DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF FAILURE), BUT IF YOU HAVE EMISSIONS TESTING, THE CAR WILL FAIL. MANY TOYOTA OWNERS SEEM TO BE HAVI…

Airbags

19 complaints · 13% of complaints that name a component · median 79,000 mi (n = 5)

Owner report I was T boned at a 4 way stop.The force pushed me thru the intersection. Airbag did not deploy.
Owner report I KEEP GETTING RECALL NOTICES, DEALER SAYS NO FIX AVAILABLE. WITH ALL THE RECALL NOTICES MY WIFE AND I FELL WE ARE DRIVING A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE, IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

4% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (1998–2002)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 56.

Model yearAll complaintsFirst three yearsNote
1998225102most complaints
199915556
200014546not compared
200113350
200211743not compared

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

09E012000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2009-04-07 · 16,270 vehicles

Defect: 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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

08E050000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 2008-08-11 · 1,921 vehicles

Defect: 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 THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

06E065000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-07-17 · 3,593 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

06E026000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-03-23 · 61,944 vehicles

Defect: 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 SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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.

Federal investigations

None on file.

Engines and fuel economy

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyCombinedFuel cost / yr
Corolla1.8L 4cylAutomatic 3-spdFront-Wheel Drive243026$2400
Corolla1.8L 4cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive253328$2250
Corolla1.8L 4cylManual 5-spdFront-Wheel Drive273430$2100

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

VariantOverallFrontalSideRollover
1999 Toyota Corolla 4-DR.Not RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated
1999 Toyota Corolla 4-DR. w/SABNot RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated

Service bulletins

Toyota issued 69 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about equipment.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

DateComponentSummary
2024-01-22EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUALOBSOLETE NOTICE January 22, 2024: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0057-18.
2023-08-17VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the re…
2022-03-17BACK OVER PREVENTIONTT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
2022-01-12TIRESPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any custom…
2021-03-17AIR BAGSToyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
2021-03-12SERVICE BRAKESTT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
2021-02-03EQUIPMENTTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the re…
2020-12-14SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICTT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
2020-12-14SERVICE BRAKESTT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
2020-04-07EQUIPMENTTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Corolla, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Toyota Corolla model page.

Sources

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.