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Toyota CorollaModel year report

1987 Toyota Corolla Problems

Complaints
14filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
10,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
26 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1987 Toyota Corolla (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1987 Toyota Corolla. The part named most often is seat belts, with 3 complaints (21% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (3) and exterior lighting (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 10,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 17 technical service bulletins for this model year. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “I am not looking for damages and had never officially reported this, but about 23 years ago I bought a new Toyota Corolla that suddenly accelerated up to 90-100 MPH like resent complaints about Toyota vehicles are doing. In spite of standing on the brake, trying to get the car into neutral and putting my toe underneath the gas pedal to see if it was stuck I was in danger of running under the rear of a semi. My 15 year old son reached over and turned off the engine. I had enough momentum going to get off the road. …”

NHTSA complaint #10319423, filed 2010-03, 10,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “This is a complaint about the oncoming, bright headlights of other parties' auto. I've been distracted by oncoming bright headlights and from my rearview mirror in the evening.”

NHTSA complaint #762430, filed 2002-05

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 10,000 miles.

0%0–10100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 10,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

199541996199719981999200020022010
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1987 Toyota Corolla version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Corolla FWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual263329$2,300
Corolla FWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic243227$2,500
Corolla FWD1.6L 4-cyl3-speed automatic242926$2,600
Corolla FX FWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic212824$2,800
Corolla FX FWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual222724$2,800
Corolla Sport RWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual243027$2,500
Corolla Sport RWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic233026$2,600
Corolla Sport RWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual232925$2,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1987 Toyota Corolla in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 17 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 17 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Corolla

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026188241534—Too new
2025318,0000534Too new to compareToo new
20246615,8582535Too new to compareToo new
20237462,500353516 · FewerToo new
202210221,30005334 · FewerRising
202118839,200153316 · FewerRising
202031110,000353366 · MoreRising
201920412,400553257 · TypicalStable
201813617,000353241 · TypicalFalling
201717813,500353246 · TypicalFalling
201621525,000153240 · TypicalFalling
201522030,000153234 · FewerFalling
201427035,000253240 · TypicalFalling
201320125,500542956 · TypicalFalling
201244636,509542953 · TypicalFalling
201158431,000932981 · MoreFalling
20101,2446,00017—29100 · MoreFalling
20091,45923,00013—30100 · MoreFalling
200831439,6946—3168 · MoreStable
200783646,9006—31Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200684056,4147—29Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200585469,8896—29Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200447760,0009—31Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200372186,0009—31Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200211762,0000—30Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200113362,5000—30Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200014569,7500—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199915566,9000—28Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199822577,8000—28Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199713599,0001—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199612980,0000—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995176150,0002—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1994172120,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1993130101,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19926398,0001—25Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199171100,2520—25Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19902775,0000—25Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198923—1—26—Stable
19882665,0000—25Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19871410,0000—26—Not enough data
1984650,0002—27—Not enough data
198251900———Not enough data

All Toyota Corolla model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1987 Toyota Corolla have?

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1987 Toyota Corolla as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1987 Toyota Corolla is reported most often?

Seat belts is named most often, in 3 complaints (21% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 3.

Has the 1987 Toyota Corolla been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1987 Toyota Corolla get?

The EPA rates the 1987 Toyota Corolla (Corolla, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 26 mpg combined, 24 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1987 Toyota Corolla reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 10,000 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 10,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.