1998 Toyota Corolla problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1998 Toyota Corolla have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 1998 Toyota Corolla. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Q: What gas mileage does the 1998 Toyota Corolla get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 1998 Toyota Corolla at about 28 mpg combined (25 city / 32 highway).

Q: How much is a 1998 Toyota Corolla worth?

Comparable 1998 Toyota Corolla listings run roughly $600–$1,800, typically around $1,103 (from 54 vehicles).

1998 Toyota Corolla at a glance

Safety recalls4

Owner complaints248

Combined28 mpg

Typical price$1,103

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

1998 Toyota Corolla recalls 4

Exterior Lighting:headlights NHTSA Campaign #08E050000 · 11/08/2008

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."

Fix: 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.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #09E012000 · 07/04/2009

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.

Fix: 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.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E065000 · 17/07/2006

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.

Fix: 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.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E026000 · 23/03/2006

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.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

1998 Toyota Corolla common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 248 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Engine

Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Vehicle Speed Control

Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.

Seat Belts

Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Structure

Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

1998 Toyota Corolla MPG & running costs

Combined28 mpg

City25 mpg

Highway32 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$2,200

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 1998 Toyota Corolla worth?

Low

$600

Typical price

$1,103

High

$1,800

From 54 comparable 1998 Toyota Corolla listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1998 Toyota Corolla costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,000

Depreciation (5 yrs)$350

Total$11,350

Per mile$0.15

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($1,103) with the same model 4 model-years older ($843), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1998 Toyota Corolla trims & engines on record

Trims

LE · CE · VE

Engines

1.8L 4-cyl

1998 Toyota Corolla vehicles on record

1998 Toyota Corolla VE1NXBR12EXWZ096195

1998 Toyota Corolla CE2T1BR12E8WC071250

1998 Toyota Corolla CE1NXBR12E2WZ013021

1998 Toyota Corolla LE1NXBR18E7WZ095903

1998 Toyota Corolla CE1NXBR12E3WZ016641 1998 Toyota Corolla CE1NXBR12E5WZ082771

1998 Toyota Corolla CE2T1BR12E6WC093022

1998 Toyota Corolla VE1NXBR12EXWZ073144

1998 Toyota Corolla VE1NXBR12E9WZ066556 1998 Toyota Corolla LE1NXBR18E5WZ056999 1998 Toyota Corolla LE2T1BR18E1WC050554 1998 Toyota Corolla LE2T1BR18E2WC096832

1998 Toyota Corolla LE2T1BR18E0WC049654 1998 Toyota Corolla LE1NXBR18E0WZ066551

1998 Toyota Corolla LE1NXBR18E9WZ055645

1998 Toyota Corolla LE2T1BR18E3WC100306 1998 Toyota Corolla CE2T1BR12E7WC010293

1998 Toyota Corolla VE2T1BR12EXWC039898 1998 Toyota Corolla CE1NXBR12E6WZ107709

1998 Toyota Corolla LE1NXBR18E9WZ044516

1998 Toyota Corolla CE1NXBR12E4WZ008595 1998 Toyota Corolla CE1NXBR18E4WZ044360

1998 Toyota Corolla VE2T1BR12E4WC099675

1998 Toyota Corolla LE1NXBR18E0WZ025644

Other Toyota Corolla model years

1998 Toyota Corolla — frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Toyota Corolla have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 1998 Toyota Corolla. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Toyota Corolla?

Based on 248 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, engine, electrical system.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Toyota Corolla get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 1998 Toyota Corolla at about 28 mpg combined (25 city / 32 highway).

How much is a 1998 Toyota Corolla worth?

Comparable 1998 Toyota Corolla listings run roughly $600–$1,800, typically around $1,103 (from 54 vehicles).

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