Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Toyota Corolla. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Seat Heater Electrical Wiring
- Summary
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- Consequence
- If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (23)
23 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 23 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 21.7% |
| Power train | 4 | 17.4% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 13% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 13% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 8.7% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 8.7% |
| Seats | 2 | 8.7% |
| Tires | 2 | 8.7% |
| Structure | 1 | 4.3% |
How 1989 compares with other Corolla years
Best and worst Corolla years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | 14 | 0 |
| 1988 | 26 | 0 |
| 1989 | 23 | 1 |
| 1990 | 27 | 0 |
| 1991 | 71 | 0 |
| 1992 | 63 | 1 |
| 1993 | 130 | 2 |
| 1994 | 172 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 28 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 317 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 28 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 28 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 28 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 28 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 26 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 26 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1989 Corolla for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1989 Toyota Corolla FAQ
How many recalls does the 1989 Toyota Corolla have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 16V396000 (seat). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1989 Toyota Corolla problems?
Owners filed 23 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (5), Power train (4), Electrical system (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1989 Toyota Corolla get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 26 city, 32 highway and 28 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1989 Corolla compare with other years?
Among the 1985–1994 Toyota Corolla model years at least five years old, the 1985 drew the fewest complaints (3) and the 1994 the most (172). The 1989 drew 23. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.