Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Air Bags (37.2% of complaints) — is covered by 5 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Air Bags complaints here are 4.4× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
3 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 3 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 543 · 37.2% | Recalled | Recall 19V741000 · Recall 18V024000 · Recall 17V006000 · Recall 14V168000 · Recall 16V340000 |
| Steering | 379 · 26% | Investigation closed | PE10008 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 170 · 11.7% | Recalled | Recall 10V023000 · Recall 10V017000 |
| Engine | 91 · 6.2% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 82 · 5.6% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 60 · 4.1% | Recalled | Recall 09V338000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 1,459 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 19V741000 · 2019 · reported 10/17/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 18V024000 · 2018 · reported 01/09/2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 17V006000 · 2017 · reported 01/09/2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 15V689000 · 2015 · reported 10/22/2015
If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 14V168000 · 2014 · reported 04/09/2014
If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 16V396000 · 2016 · reported 06/02/2016
If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 16V340000 · 2016 · reported 05/23/2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 12V491000 · 2012 · reported 10/10/2012
If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 10V035000 · 2010 · reported 02/03/2010
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 09V338000 · 2009 · reported 08/27/2009
THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 10V036000 · 2010 · reported 02/03/2010
A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 10V023000 · 2010 · reported 01/27/2010
A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 10V017000 · 2010 · reported 01/21/2010
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“FIRST - MY 2009 COROLLA FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T GRIP THE ROAD. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND IT FEELS LIKE I'M DRIVING ON ICE WHEN…”NHTSA complaint 10302537 — filed 01/27/2010 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION EVEN AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE SPEED COULD BE CONTROLLED BY BREAKING AND NORMAL DRIVING RESUMED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF…”NHTSA complaint 10302525 — filed 01/27/2010 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“2009 TOYOTA COROLLA - GAS PEDAL STICKING PROBLEM WHILE ON THE FAMILY DRIVEWAY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR, CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AFTER…”NHTSA complaint 10302877 — filed 01/27/2010 · UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Air bags issues are the most-reported category, cited in 543 of 1,459 NHTSA complaints (37.2%), followed by steering (379), vehicle speed control (170), engine (91). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
1,459 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 186 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, and 110 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.
Yes — 13 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 19V741000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
3 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
