Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Corona.
The 1981 Toyota Corona represents a remarkably stable entry in the nameplate's lineage, characterized by its mechanical steadfastness across its body and powertrain configurations. The vehicle's statistical footprint underscores this durability, with a mere single owner complaint logged—specifically targeting the powertrain—and zero recalls issued. Consequently, this model year sits at a high point in the Corona's reliability history, meaning researchers can view this iteration as a fundamentally sound vehicle that delivered exceptionally trouble-free operation.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 176.8 in |
| Overall width | 65.4 in |
| Overall height | 53.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 99.2 in |
| Curb weight | 2621 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Corona of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Luxury Edition 5-door Liftback 2.2L I-4 | 12.00 sec | 18.90 sec | 90 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1981 Toyota Corona dominate in one area — the power train, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB003220 | 2023-08-17 | Air Bags | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or… |
| Toyota PRO19-02 | 2022-01-12 | Tires | POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all… |
| T-SB-0032-20 Rev | 2021-02-03 | Equipment | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or… |
| T-SB-0304-17 Obs | 2020-04-07 | Equipment | TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see… |
| T-SB-0032-20 | 2020-04-06 | Equipment | TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.