1998 Toyota Corolla electrical system problems
16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 1998 Toyota Corolla — 7% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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…”
filed Dec 29, 2016
“Starter did not stop cranking, although ignition was turned off and key was removed. Continued cranking until after large amount of black smoke billowed from engine. Eventually stopped before catching fire. Found main engine wire harness melted, charred:; starter charred: battery case melted…”
filed Aug 31, 2015
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Electrical System problems in other Corolla years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Corolla | 3 | 11% |
| 2024 Corolla | 7 | 11% |
| 2023 Corolla | 13 | 18% |
| 2022 Corolla | 19 | 20% |
| 2021 Corolla | 22 | 12% |
| 2020 Corolla | 29 | 10% |
| 2019 Corolla | 15 | 8% |
| 2018 Corolla | 12 | 9% |
| 2017 Corolla | 21 | 12% |
| 2016 Corolla | 14 | 7% |
| 2015 Corolla | 18 | 8% |
| 2014 Corolla | 51 | 19% |
Other reported problem areas on the 1998 Toyota Corolla
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.