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 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 23% |
| Tires | 6 | 20% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 13% |
| Power train | 4 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3% |
| Interior lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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 THI
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Tires
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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 I
NHTSA complaint: Tires
CONSUMER WAS SLOWING VEHICLE DOWN, THEN SUDDENLY COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL AND VEHICLE JUST WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 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 | 94 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 89 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 90 | excellent |
| Performance | 51 | average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 7 of them (23%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 94/100 (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 89/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 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.