There are 6 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 1998 Toyota Corollain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
SAFETY ISSUE!!! THE LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE HAS A STRANGE ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SEEMS UNABLE TO REPAIR! 139000.0 MILES THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY REFUSE TO START. T THE KEY UNLOCKS BUT ONLY SO FAR IT REFUSES TO ENGAGE THE STARTER OR ALLOW THE AUTO GEAR SELECTOR TO WORK! STRANDS MY WIFE IN THE BAD PARTS OF TOWN AND CAUSES DISTRESS AND DANGER BECAUSE OF THE STRANDED VEHICLE CONDITION! NO CODES GENERATED AND TWICE TOYOTA HAS HAD FOR TWO DAYS AND NO FIX! CORPORATION HAS CASE OR INCIDENT REPORT OPEN BUT NOT FIXED. SO FAR IGNITION REPLACED BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE FOLLOWING COULD BE ISSUE? 1. IGNITION KEY CYLINDER 2. IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND OR RELAY, 3. TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SWITCH, 4. GEAR SHIFT LEVER BUTTON? GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT TO ENSURE CAR IS IN PARK PROPERLY FOR INTERLOCK SWITCH TO WORK. EACH TIME IT COSTS OVER $200.00 AND A NEW $200.00 OR MORE WORTH OF PARTS! WOULD THIS NOT BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE WITH GEARSHIFT NEUTRAL INTERLOCK OR SOMETHING? MY ALTERNATIVE IS TO KEEP DRIVING A GAS HOG SUV THAT IS AT LEAST SOMEWHAT RELIABLE? SO MUCH FOR SAVING FUEL OR THE ENVIRONMENT IF A CAR IS NOT RELIABLE OR ACCORDING TO TOYOTA FIXABLE WITHOUT THROWING CASH AT MECHANICS OR DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX WITHOUT JUST GUESSING AT RANDOM PARTS REPLACEMENTS? THE VEHICLE IS AT REST AFTER DRIVING AND IS IN PARK WITH KEY ENGAGED PROPERLY WITH BRAKE ENGAGED PROPERLY TO START THE IGNITION PROCESS THAT INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGES SOLUTIONS ... MAKE A NEW KEY?, REPLACE KEY AND CYLINDER OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS? NEVER A RENTAL OR LOANER SO LOJACK NOT AN ISSUE, NO BLUETOOTH, NO GPS DISABLER TO MY KNOWLEDGE IF ONE EXISTS IT IS A CRIMINAL ACT TARGETING MY WIFE OR MYSELF. *TR
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STILL IN THE DRIVE GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL POP OUT OF 5 TH GEAR INTO NEUTRAL INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
THE CAR SLOWS OR RUNS FASTER THAN WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS. YH
WHILE DRIVING AND WHENEVER VEHICLE IS ON A UPGRADE OR HILL THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE VEHICLE IS SET IN DRIVE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER. NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS CONSIDERED A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION--PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE REVED UP BUT VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026