1993 Toyota Corolla: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 130 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (35% of complaints); the 1991 and 1992 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2010
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“According to you, I have been driving a killer car since 2013. Contacting my local toyota dealer, several times and bring in my vehicle for repair has failed. You regret any inconvenience? Does that cover injury or death? I will never buy another toyota vehicle. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2013
“Car was perfect just came home from picking my mother up..son came home a few minutes later, less than five mins. And told me my horn was making a funny sound and car lights were flashing, I then went outside to see and noticed lights were on , and when I went to see if I left them on, I opened the door and noticed there was a fire in the front drivers side of the car. As I ran inside the house to get water to put fire out, I had my wife call the fire dept. And within a few minutes I came outside and saw the vehicle interior completely engulfed. The car was completely on fire. The weather was cold and snowing with salt on the ground . *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2010
“Dt: 1993 toyota corola. The consumer tookv ehicle to a mechanic because the air conditioner would not work. The mechanic took a wire through the vehicle and attached it to the secondary fuse box. The vehicle will not start. Everything stopped working on the vehicle on 7-17-05. *ajk”Owner report · Equipment · Jul 2005
Show 7 more owner reports
“I have replaced the exhaust manifold three time,the material use to manufacture this part was cheap causing it to crack. *nm”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jul 2005
“Tl* 1993 toyota corolla. When the driver attempted to move the vehicle from one parking space to another, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a tree. The frontal air bag deployed causing internal injuries that killed the driver on impact. The manufacturer sent an investigator to diagnose the failure. The investigation concluded that the vehicles sudden acceleration mileage was 18 mph when it crashed into the tree. The current and failure mileages were 40,000. A police report was filed. Updated 03/14/10 *bf updated04/16/10. *lj document written in spanish. Updated 10/12/10 updated 9/21/2011*cw”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2004
“While driving in inclement weather windshield wipers failed. This caused poor visibility to the driver. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle , and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that windshield wiper motor needed to be replaced. *ak”Owner report · Visibility · Jun 2004
“I own toyota carolla (1994 model) and my wife was involved in an accident - front impact. She must be travelling between 20-25 mph when the accident occur and still the driver and passenger side airbag didn't inflate. Because of this she had bruised her jaw and broke the bone on her side face. No changes have been made in order to avoid any repeition like this. I would expect the driver side airbags to inflate on frontal impact.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2004
“While driving 55 mph srs light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the clock spring needed to be replaced. *ak”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2004
“While driving 20 mph driver applied the brake pedal and vehicle failed to stop. It collided into the vehicle in front. Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Driver was able to drive the vehicle to a garage for inspection. The cause ha not been determined. *ak”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Oct 2003
“I purchased my 93 toyota corolla in 94 and my clear coat is coming off on the doors and bumpers. I`ve talked to the local dealership months back and they said that year was a bad type of clear coat. I was wondering what I should do about it? I can`t afford a brand new paint job. But I want some type of closure out of this. The clear coat chips off like its a very thin piece of ice on it. It just looks terrible. *ak”Owner report · Structure · Aug 2003
When filing, owners marked a crash in 39 of these complaints and injuries in 35 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
AN UNUSED HARNESS CONNECTOR FOR POWER WINDOWS, POWER DOOR LOCKS AND SUNROOF WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED UNDER THE FLOOR CARPET IN THE LEFT KICK PANEL. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHERE LARGE AMOUNTS OF ROAD SALTS ARE USED, THE SALT WATER OR SNOW CARRIED INTO THE VEHICLE BY THE DRIVER'S SHOES CAN PENETRATE THE CARPET AND DRIP ONTO THE CONNECTOR RESULTING IN THE FORMATION OF A SALT BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TERMINALS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE UNUSED HARNESS CONNECTOR.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
IF LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE BOX AREA, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND STAY "ON" DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO PREVENT POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY THE SPILLING OF LIQUID SUBSTANCES ON THE SENSOR. AIR BAG SENSORS DAMAGED BY PREVIOUS LIQUID SPILLAGE WILL BE REPLACED.
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.
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.
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."
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1993 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Corolla by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1993 Toyota Corolla reliable?
NHTSA has 130 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 1993 Toyota Corolla. The most complained-about area is air bags (35% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1993 Toyota Corolla problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 101,000 miles or less.
Does the 1993 Toyota Corolla have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:wiring. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.