Model year guide

1989 Toyota Corolla

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1989 Toyota Corolla is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 134 on record.

1989 Toyota Corolla — representative photo
Representative photo

1989 Toyota Corolla at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints29
Combined22–28 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1989 Toyota Corolla recalls 2

Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler NHTSA Campaign #16V396000 · manufacturer #SET16B · 02/06/2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heat…

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

Suspension NHTSA Campaign #10E002000 · 11/02/2010

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.

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1989 Toyota Corolla common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

1989 Toyota Corolla MPG & running costs

Combined22–28 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,725
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
Transmission3 options
Passenger volume84 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$1,625 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1989 Toyota Corolla costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,625
Fuel only$13,625
Per mile$0.18

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
170.5–172.4 in
Width
65.4–65.7 in
Height
49.6–56.7 in
Wheelbase
95.7 in
Curb weight
2,213–2,288 lb
Front track
56.3–56.7 in
Rear track
54.3–55.5 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1989 Toyota Corolla — ranges cover the 4 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 19

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 19.

TSB: 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 requests meet the crit…

Bulletin TSB003220 · Air Bags, Vehicle Speed Control, Equipment · Aug 2023

POL: 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 customer that requests it.…

Bulletin Toyota PRO19-02 · Tires, Wheels, Equipment · Jan 2022

TSB: 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 requests meet the crit…

Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 Rev · Equipment · Feb 2021

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 Obs · Equipment · Apr 2020

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulleti…

Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 · Equipment · Apr 2020

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin PG004-97-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin PG006-01-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018

TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information cont…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jul 2018

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-9…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jan 2018

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE November 21, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin T-SB-0144-08_Obs · Equipment · Nov 2017

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the COROLLA. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a series of compact cars manufactured and marketed globally by the Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation since 1966. Since 1997, the Corolla has remained the best-selling automobile nameplate of all time, surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle. Toyota reached the milestone of 50 million Corollas sold over twelve generations in 2021, and has sold over 54 million units as of early 2026.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1989 Toyota Corolla trims & engines on record

Engines
1.8L

1989 Toyota Corolla vehicles on record

Other Toyota Corolla model years

1989 Toyota Corolla — frequently asked questions

Does the 1989 Toyota Corolla have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1989 Toyota Corolla. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Toyota Corolla?

Across all 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine and engine cooling, power train, vehicle speed control.

What gas mileage does the 1989 Toyota Corolla get?

The 1989 Toyota Corolla has U.S. EPA estimates of 22–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.