ToyotaCorolla1986Overview/toyota/corolla/1986/base/

1986 Toyota Corolla

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Corolla.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1986 Toyota Corolla specifies a 3.2-quart engine oil capacity using 15W-40, 20W-40, or 20W-50 API SL viscosity grades, sending power through a three-speed automatic transmission while carrying EPA ratings of 24/30/26 mpg. Reliability data shows zero recalls and only three total owner complaints, with seat belts identified as the primary concern area. This places the 1986 model below even the lowest-complaint year in the subsequent 1990–2026 historical range—2026, with eleven complaints—establishing it as a low-water mark for reported issues in the model's documented history.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020191986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SLOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/30/26 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length168.9 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase94.5 in
Curb weight2264 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 30 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume87 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

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.

9.2–14.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.20 sec — 1987 FX16 GT-S 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1987FX16 GT-S 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-49.20 sec17.00 sec112 hpFWD
1987FX16 GT-S 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-49.80 sec17.10 sec112 hpFWD
1988Sedan 1.6L I-411.30 sec18.20 sec102 hpFWD
1982SR-5 3-door Hatchback Coupe 1.8L I-413.40 sec19.00 sec75 hpRWD
1980Deluxe Sport Coupe 1.8L I-412.00 sec19.00 sec75 hpRWD
1993DX Wagon 1.8L I-410.30 sec17.80 sec105 hpFWD
1976SR-5 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-414.80 sec19.70 sec75 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.2 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SL engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.5 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case FluidDEXRON

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
At 30,000 miThrottle Position Sensor (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 40,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

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 for this generation begins in 1990, so the 1986 Corolla predates the earliest year-by-year data in the dataset; however, the target-year-specific figures show just 3 total complaints—2 for Seat Belts and 1 for Visibility—with zero crash or fire complaints recorded. The earliest years in the available record (1990–1992) show modest complaint volumes of 30, 87, and 106 respectively, with recalls holding at 1–2 per year and no investigations, suggesting the generation's early years carried relatively low regulatory burden before complaints climbed sharply mid-decade (peaking at 202 complaints and 8 recalls in 1994). The 1986 model year sits well before this upward arc, and its near-absence from the federal database implies it was not a focal point of NHTSA scrutiny. The data does not specify root causes for the seat belt or visibility complaints. With only three recorded complaints and no crashes or fires, the 1986 Corolla appears to be a low-risk model year from a federal-safety standpoint, making it a reasonable buy—provided the usual used-vehicle due diligence is performed, as the age of the car means the federal record is sparse rather than comprehensive.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
17
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Seat Belts2
Visibility1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 17 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

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
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Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 Corolla take?

3.2 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SL, ABOVE -10 degrees F 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SL, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Corolla have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Corolla get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 30 highway / 26 combined mpg.