Model year record

1990 Toyota Corolla recalls & problems

The 1990 Toyota Corolla has 1 safety recall and 27 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (8 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints27filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SuspensionFeb 11, 2010

Suspension

Recall 10E00200012,657 vehicles

Problem: 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. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
Risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1990 Toyota Corolla 4-DR

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Corolla

26mpg combined

City / highway	24 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Corolla Wagon

26mpg combined

City / highway	24 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Corolla

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Corolla

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,300/year to fuel

Corolla

24mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Corolla Wagon

24mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Corolla

23mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Corolla All-Trac Wagon

23mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Corolla

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Corolla All-Trac Wagon

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; Engine › Gasoline	8	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Clutch assembly	6	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt; Bead	6	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Buckle assembly	4	1	1	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	1	1	1	—
Steering	1	1	0	—
StructureBody › Door	1	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield	1	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	1	0	0	—
Interior lighting	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
CONSUMER NOT HAPPY WITH SERVICE. *NM THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A CUSTOM HANGAR FOR HER MUFFLER. THE CONSUMER FELT LIKE THE SERVICE WAS RENDERED IN A FALSE AND MISLEADING MANNER. *TC
Dec 1, 2004
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA COROLLA. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT (WHICH ATTACHED TO THE DOOR) DOES NOT RETRACT AT ALL. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR SOME TIME AND WOULD NOT PROTECT ME IN AN ACCIDENT. I THINK THIS SORT OF SEAT BELT DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO!*AK
Apr 30, 2004 · 75,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS DEFECTIVE, DRIVER CAN SMELL CARBON MONOXIDE IN CAB OF VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE 4TH MANIFOLD, EACH ONE HAD CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE.*SLC
Jan 18, 1999
Power train › Automatic transmission
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAR JERKED. THEN IT JERKED AGAIN, AND SOON AS CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD, TRANSMISSION LOCKED AND VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. *AK
Aug 25, 2000
Tires › Bead
SUDDEN BLOW OUT, THREAD DAMAGE BUT SUSTAINED TWO SECTIONS OF WALL DAMAGE AND HAD CRACKED INWALL AT BEAD AREA, SECOND TIRE CRACKS IN BEAD AREA
Oct 21, 1998
Power train › Automatic transmission
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE ,TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CAR SKIDDED TO HALT ON ROADWAY. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL RUNNING OUT OF FLUID. THE DIP STICK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOWED FULL. THERE WAS NO DIP STICK FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL. SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO CHECK THE FLUID, IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK *ML
Dec 19, 1999
Unknown or other
NO SUMMARY
Nov 11, 1999
Tires
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A TIRE BLOWOUT. DEALER STATED ALL THE TIRES WERE DRY ROT. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WAS A SAFETY DEFECT. HAD TIRES INSTALLED TWO YEARS AGO. GOODYEAR TIRES STATED TIRES WERE DRY ROT SINCE BEING INSTALLED, AND THE TIRES WERE SITTING IN THE WAREHOUSE FOR TWO YEARS AND BECAME DRY ROT. *AK
Jan 12, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.