Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: it scores well across the board with no single weak engine.
Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 1988 Toyota Corolla, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 6 | 21% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 11% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 11% |
| Structure | 3 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 11% |
| Power train | 2 | 7% |
| Seats | 2 | 7% |
| Engine | 1 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VEHICLE DOES NOT PASS COLORADO EMISSIONS DUE TO HIGH CO (CARBON MONOXIDE). VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY TOYOTA SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGNS N03 & NA3 WHICH DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF VEHICLE FAILING EMISSIONS TEST DUE TO HIGH
NHTSA complaint: Engine
1988 TOYOTA COROLLA ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0051-91 UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10 *BF
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DT: 88 TOYOTA, SAFETY BELT PLASTIC COVER CAME OFF ON DRIVERS' SIDE ,AND WHEN CLIPPED IT WON'T COME OFF UNLESS CONSUMER JABBED A SHARP OBJECT INTO IT TO GET IT TO OPEN. ( IT TAKES ABOUT 2 MINUTES). *AK *SB *NM
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
MUFFLER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR HAVING A HOLE IN IT. ALSO, ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DRIVING ON TURNPIKE 60MPH HEARD A NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION. VEHICLE SKIDDED, FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. CONTACT DEALER THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE 60MPH HEARD A NOISE LIKE AN EXPLOSION. VEHICLE SKIDDED THEN CAME TO A STOP. CONTACT DEALER, FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD EXPLODED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. *AK *ML
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE RELEASE BUTTON HAD GOTTEN JAMMED,NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO GET FREE OF SEATBELT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND SAID SEAT BELT NEEDS REPLACING. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SITTING AT STOP LIGHT AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. UPON IMPACT, SEAT BROKE AND NECK REST BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL, AND FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO AN INTERSECTION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seats
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1988 Toyota Corolla. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
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
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.
| Reliability | 95 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 90 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 90 | excellent |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 6 of them (21%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 95/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 90/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1988 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: buy, because it scores well across the board with no single weak engine. Its overall ownership score is 82/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.