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1971 Toyota Corolla

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1971 Corolla.

The 1971 Toyota Corolla Overview documents the debut of a model that has been tracked for complaint data from 1990 through 2026. Over that span the vehicle experienced its peak reporting in 2009 with 1,533 complaints and its nadir in 2026 with only 11, marking a long‑term shift toward greater reliability. Consequently, the 1971 introduction represents the starting point of a lineage that has progressively become more dependable.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020191971

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length153.5 in
Overall width58.7 in
Overall height52 in
Wheelbase92.5 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.

11.4–12.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.40 sec — 1971 1600 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
19711600 Coupe 1.6L I-411.40 sec18.20 sec102 hpRWD
19711600 Coupe 1.6L I-412.00 sec18.50 sec102 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.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
4
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
0
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’90’91’92’93’94’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

No owner complaints on record with NHTSA for this vehicle.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

71V084000Unknown Or OtherReported 19/05/1971

Remedy:

72V014000Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission ControlReported 18/01/1972

Remedy:

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.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codes

Frequently asked

Does the 1971 Corolla have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.