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1996 Toyota Corolla Base 5MT

The 1996 Toyota Corolla Base 5MT is a 100-hp 1.6-liter inline-4 sedan with a 5-speed manual w/overdrive and front-wheel drive. It starts at $12,728 MSRP.

It makes 100 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 105 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm, spinning to a 6,300 rpm redline. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.

The Corolla measures 172.0 inches long on a 97.0-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 2,315 lb.

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypeSedan
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$12,728 ($26,365 *)
Engine
Engine Type1.6-liter, inline 4-cylinder (4A-FE)
Displacement1.6 L
Horsepower100 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Torque105 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
Redline6,300 rpm
ValvetrainDOHC, 16-valve
Bore and Stroke81.0 x 77.0 mm
Compression Ratio9.5:1
Drivetrain
Drive TypeFWD
Transmission
Transmission5-speed manual w/overdrive
1st Gear3.545 (33 mph **)
2nd Gear1.904 (61 mph **)
3rd Gear1.31 (88 mph **)
4th Gear0.969 (119 mph **)
5th Gear0.815 (142 mph **)
Reverse3.25
Final Drive3.722
Fuel Economy
City26 MPG
Highway32 MPG
Tank Capacity13.2 gal
Suspension
Front SuspensionMacPherson strut
Rear SuspensionMacPherson strut
Brakes
Front Brake CalipersVentilated disc
Front Brake DiscVentilated disc
Rear Brake DiscDrum
Tires & Wheels
Wheels Front14 in. Steel
Wheels Rear14 in. Steel
Tires FrontP175/65R14
Tires RearP175/65R14
Dimensions & Weight
Length172 in
Width66.3 in
Height53.5 in
Wheelbase97 in
Front Track57.5 in
Rear Track57.1 in
Cargo Volume12.7 ft³
Curb Weight2,315 lbs
Interior
Headroom Front38.8 in
Headroom Rear37.1 in
Legroom Front42.4 in
Legroom Rear33 in
Shoulder Room Front54.1 in
Shoulder Room Rear53.5 in
Hip Room Front51.3 in
Hip Room Rear54.3 in
* Amount adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars
** Theoretical max speed per gear at redline

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Overall Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated
Frontal – driver ★★★★★
Frontal – passenger ★★★★★
Side crash Not rated
Rollover Not rated
Tested variant: 1996 Toyota Corolla 4-DR.

Recalls

6 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 1996 Toyota COROLLA. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Feb 11, 2010 · SUSPENSION

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

Consequence: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

NHTSA campaign 10E002000

May 11, 2009 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

NHTSA campaign 09E025000

Apr 7, 2009 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

NHTSA campaign 09E012000

Aug 11, 2008 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

NHTSA campaign 08E050000

Mar 23, 2006 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

NHTSA campaign 06E026000

Jan 3, 1996 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THESE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL TO HOLD THE SPEED SET BY THE DRIVER AND CAN ACCELERATE ABOVE THE INTENDED SET SPEED.

Consequence: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLIES.

NHTSA campaign 96E001000

133 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 1996 Toyota COROLLA

Owner Complaints

133 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Toyota COROLLA (31 mention a crash, 13 a fire, 21 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Air Bags29
Seat Belts19
Service Brakes14
Hydraulic13
Electrical System12
Exterior Lighting11
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
Oct 1, 2019 · Vehicle Speed Control Crash
“LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTRY - VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DRIVER REPORTS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP HIS VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. INDEPENDENT WITNESS APPEARS TO VERIFY DRIVER'S…”
Jun 14, 2017 · Air Bags
“FEB 14, 2012, WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON PANEL. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO CAPITOL AUTO SERVICE, 94-422 UKEE STREET, WAIPAHU, HI 96797 AND SPOKE WITH OWNER, MR. FOX TO ASK WHAT PROBLEM WAS.(CONTACT PH-(808)…”
May 25, 2015 · Seat Belts
“DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FOR TOYOTA COROLLA '96 MODEL IS DEFECTIVE: THIS BELT HAS PULLED OUT AND WILL NOT RETRACT.”
Apr 16, 2015 · Suspension, Electrical System, Service Brakes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE AND THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN…”
Apr 1, 2011 · Steering, Vehicle Speed Control
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ABNORMALLY…”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

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