I have a 2000 LE and it's there, you just have to get pretty low on fuel.
You should see it when starting the car. The only time I ever saw the light was the day I drove the car off the used car lot.

In the event you don't have one of the light is out, use the fuel level indicator.

 

Could be a burned out bulb on the gauge cluster or possible electrical issue.

Double check by closely observing the power on test that the gauges cycle through when you first turn the key to ON. All the lights on the gauges should light up - you are looking for the gas pump symbol.

If that doesn't light up - possible the bulb is burned out and/or the fuel sender unit is bad (its inside the tank, may not get low enough to trigger the low fuel warning).

 

Usually cars will chime when the fuel light turns on. Does this car chime as well? If it does, then it's not simply just the bulb being out. Or the car simply isn't low enough. It's right on the E line of the gauge though so I'd imagine it's pretty close.

 

Unfortunately, no chime on the 8th gen Corolla. Look at the gauge when you first cycle the key to run. That will let you know if the bulb is out or not - as all the warning lamps will briefly flash on as part of a power one self-test.

As for how low you need to be to pop the light on, I don't usually see the low fuel lamp come on unless I get the gauge to read much lower. Light isn't an instant on - mine sort of glows a bit until the tank level drops enough to really illuminate. Fuel slosh can cause the light to not show immediately as well. My personal pet peeve is the nonlinear behavior of the gauge. Can drive 100 miles and the needle won't even move, after that, the needle will drop like a stone. The amount of fuel left in the tank can be significant. With an indicated E - I'll still have 3 gallons or so of gas left in the tank. Once the low fuel light comes on, I'll still have plenty of fuel left. Most I've every pumped in was 12.5 gallons of gas - that was driving with the low fuel light was illuminated for almost 100 miles.

 

I'm pretty sure my 1999 low fuel indicator chimes but I could be wrong. I don't drive too often with the fuel past a quarter tank but going up steep hills or around sharp corners can make it start glowing or come on when it's that low.

I've determined there is intentionally a few gallons of fuel left when the guage hits "E", probably to save the fuel pump.

Normally, you have approximately 3 gallons of fuel left when the light comes on and stays on if you are on level ground.

 

Huh, weird. Guess the bulb is out then. Thanks a lot for the info guys By the way it was quite low. I filled it up until it actually pooled a tad in the neck to the point that I could see it. Took 48.85L in a 50L tank, so it was pretty low. Bulb replacement it is!
Yea, good to always have some gas in there so the pump doesn't burn out. I don't know about her but I've only let it get that low the once to make sure it's not working

 

My 00 CE has a light, no chime, but it does not come one when you first start the car, you have to run low on gas to see if it works. Mine gets below E before it comes one. Then it slowly flashes on and off fore a few miles before staying on.

 

The gas light will not come on whith the key on the on position, like the poster before me said it takes plenty low for the light to come on.

 

Weird, low lamp indicator lights up for me on key turn - must be something with the trim level or region the car is sold? Mine is a 2002 S trim, manufacture date in June 2011, Cambridge plant (2T VIN number).

As mentioned above - you will see it when you get low on fuel - have to get it past E in most cases. Doesn't illuminate fully, takes a few seconds before it lights up. Fill up with 48.85L (12.9gal) - you definitely should have see the low fuel lamp come on.

To the OP - when you fuel up, you are not topping off correct? Should see fuel pool up at the neck unless the vent is clogged. Overfilling will ruin your vapor canister in a hurry - they changed the location of the EVAP canister on the 9th gen to make it less likely to be damaged when accidentally overfilled.

 

Could be a dirty fuel sending unit. What Techron Concentrate Plus is famous for cleaning/fixing. Suggest 2 bottles to 2 consecutive tanks.

 

^^^^ Techron works wonders for anything Fuel related so does MMO.