ToyotaCorolla1977Overview/toyota/corolla/1977/base/

1977 Toyota Corolla

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1977 Corolla.

The 1977 Toyota Corolla recorded a single owner complaint, which was noted in the Engine & Engine Cooling area, and was subject to one recall. Across the broader Corolla complaint record from 1990 through 2026, the highest number of complaints occurred in 2009 with 1,533 reports, while the lowest appeared in 2026 with just 11. This places the 1977 model at the low‑end of the complaint spectrum, indicating a comparatively reliable entry in the nameplate’s history.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020191977

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length165 in
Overall width61.8 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase93.3 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Corolla of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

13.9–16.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 13.90 sec — 1975 SR-5 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1976SR-5 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-414.80 sec19.70 sec75 hpRWD
1975SR-5 Coupe 1.6L I-413.90 sec19.40 sec83 hpRWD
1975SR-5 Coupe 1.6L I-415.90 sec20.50 sec83 hpRWD
1975SR-5 Coupe 1.6L I-416.90 sec21.00 sec83 hpRWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record provided begins in 1990, so the 1977 Toyota Corolla is not listed among the yearly complaint and recall figures. In the target‑year data, the only documented issue is one complaint in the Engine & Engine Cooling area, while crash and fire complaints are both zero. The surrounding years in the dataset show increasing complaints and recalls from the early 1990s, peaking in the mid‑2000s, then declining, but the 1977 entry cannot be positioned within that arc. Consequently, the available evidence does not indicate a heightened safety risk for the 1977 Corolla, though the scarcity of historical data prevents a full assessment. **Takeaway:** Given its minimal complaint record, the 1977 Toyota Corolla does not appear to be a problematic year from a federal safety‑complaint standpoint, but buyers should verify mechanical condition and service history before purchase.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
4
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

80V028000Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)Reported 18/03/1980

THE LOCK NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED ENOUGH ON THE STEERING GEAR BOX WORM GEAR BEARING AND ADJUSTER. CONSEQUENTLY, THE WORM GEAR ADJUSTER MAY BECOME LOOSE DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE FROM HARD REPEATED STEERING. Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE STEERING GEAR BOX ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, SECURE THE STEERING GEAR BOX WORM GEAR BEARING AND ADJUSTER TO PREVENT STEERING INSTABILITY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
Safety Recall an2016-07-21EquipmentUpdate on Technician Certification Requirements.
T-PG007-012001-05-04EquipmentReplacement vin plates.
T-PG002-911991-01-18EquipmentProduct general information.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Corolla. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1977 Corolla have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.