TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON JULY 21, 2008 WHEN A VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE ALSO CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM AND WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK AND OTHER INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. UPDATED 07/26/10. *LJ
2003 Toyota Corolla complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE THE RPMS BEGAN INCREASING EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE HER ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND CONTINUE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THERE WAS SMOKE PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE AS IT BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED TO 15 MPH. SINCE THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE THEN JUMPED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE AS THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED AND PLOWED INTO A SNOW BANK BEFORE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL BODY DAMAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED DUE TO HER SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL GEAR FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA WAS SCHEDULED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATOR COULD FIND NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR A WINDOW REPLACEMENT AFTER IT BLEW OUT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. *TGW THE CONSUMER SENT IN THE RECALL NOTIFICATION.
MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2003 HAD A ACCELERATION PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO THE OAKBROOK TOYOTA WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD AND MOREOVER THE ELECTRONICS FOR THIS FUNCTION WAS FACTORY INSTALLED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THE DEALER COULD DO WITH IT. THIS WAS THE LAST TIME I WENT TO THIS DEALER.THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE FROM 500 RPM TO 2000 RPM IN IDLE THIS WOULD LURCH THE CAR FORWARD AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD DRIVE THIS CAR WAS TO CHANGE THE CERAMICS BRAKE PADS EVERY 10000 MILES. IN 2007 THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND BROKE THE REAR BUMPER OF A HYUNDAI SANTAS FE AND CRACKED MY BUMPER TOO I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THE POLICE OFFICER THAT I WAS STOPPED AND SUDDENLY THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, IT DID NOT HELP I WAS GIVEN A TICKET AND TOLD TO TELL MY STORY TO THE JUDGE, LUCKILY THE LADY I HIT DID NOT SHOW UP IN COURT AND I WAS DISCHARGED BUT THAT DID NOT MAKE MY INSURANCE COMPANY ALL STATE FROM RAISING MY PREMIUM AND I STILL HAVE THE CAR AND STILL HAS THE HIGHEST PREMIUM. THE CAR IS USED FOR RUNNING ERRANDS LOCALLY. *TR
MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA AND LOCKED UP. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ALREADY AND IT IS MY SECOND TRANSMISSION AND IS MY SECOND INCIDENT. IT LOCKS UP AND COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF: ALL INDICATORS IN THE DASHBOARD TURNED OFF/WENT TO ZERO AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF ACCELERATING. I HAD TO SOMEHOW PULL OVER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WHEN FINALLY ON THE SIDE LANE THE ENGINE JUST TURNED BACK ON. MY HUSBAND WOULD NOT BELIEVE THIS BUT WE NOW FOUND AN ARTICLE ON WWW.SPIEGEL.DE THAT RELATED TO THIS. HENCE MY REPORTING IT NOW. *TR
I HAD A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA THAT STALLED REPEATEDLY WHILE THE CAR WAS AT HIGH SPEEDS. HAMER TOYOTA NEVER SAID ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. THIS WAS JUST ONE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR. THIS WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS INCIDENTS. I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR FOR THE REASON IT KEPT BREAKING DOWN, AND I FELT UNSAFE AND FEARED FOR MY DAUGHTER AT THE TIME WHO DROVE WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING. *TR
OUR 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS TWICE MYSTERIOUSLY ACCELERATED. FIRST IN '07 CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO AUTO AND PROPERTY. DEALER DIDN'T TAKE SERIOUSLY AND CLAIMED DRIVER ERROR THAT HE HAD FOOT ON ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF BRAKE. CAR WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED. ON 1/11/10 IT ACCELERATED A SECOND TIME WHILE I WAS GOING DOWNHILL WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. STOPPED CAR BY THROWING INTO NEUTRAL. TOYOTA WAS NOTIFIED AND GIVEN CASE NUMBER [XXX] . DEALER CHECKED CAR ON 1/15/10 AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. HAVE DOCUMENTATION BUT ARE UNABLE TO CONTACT TOYOTA FOR FOLLOW-UP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE SLIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AS THE ENGINE BECAME LOUDER THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE CONTACT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE UP HILL, CRASHING INTO A TREE AND IMMEDIATELY ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES FROM THE FORCE OF IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE WAS STILL EXHIBITING HIGH RPMS AND THE UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 45,000.
I HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON TOYOTA COROLLA 2003 LE MODEL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME TWO TIMES DURING ONE YEAR OF 30,000 MILES DRIVE. I SUSPECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) PURCHASED 2003, TOYOTA, COROLLA, VIN: [XXX] WITH DAUGHTER. VEH WAS PURCHASED FROM TOYOTA OF ORANGE IN CA. TWO DAYS LATER A HIT AND RUN DRIVER FORCED VEH TO SKID ACROSS FIVE LANES ON INTERSTATE 10 IN ONTARIO, CA, AND LANDED ATOP CENTER DIVIDER. THE VEHICLE WAS SENT TO REPAIR SHOP AND "REPAIRED" AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5-8 MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS NEVER PROPERLY REPAIRED, AND I COMPLAINED TO BOTH TOYOTA , AND TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, ALLSTATE, BUT TOYOTA ADAMANTLY STATED THE VEH WAS WITHOUT PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE BRAKES. EVENTUALLY THE CARPET CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR TO BECOME STUCK AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS FORCED TO REACH DOWN WHILE THE CAR MOVING AND PULL THE CARPET WITH BOTH HANDS TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR. STEPPING ON THE BRAKES DID NOT HELP. NEITHER TOYOTA REPAIR NOR ALLSTATE WOULD HELP RESOLVE OUR COMPLAINTS SINCE 2003, WE WERE SIMPLY TOLD THAT THE VEH WAS FINE. ADDITIONALLY I BELIEVE THE FRAME IS BENT, LACK OF INTERLOCKING BRAKES CAUSING SKIDS, BRAKES ARE SOFT AND DROP TO FLOOR, AND POOR STEERING COLUMN. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT INVOLVING NEAR MISS ACCIDENT EPISODES. THE CAR SKIDS IF GOING AS LITTLE AS 5-10 MILES PER HOUR. I OFFERED TO GIVE THE CAR AWAY TO ANYONE WHO WAS WILLING TO INVESTIGATE MY COMPLAINTS, ALL TO NO AVAIL. I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED THAT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I HEARD IN THE BRAND NEW CAR WAS
ON JULY 9, 2005, I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR COLLISION DRIVING A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA TYPE S, IN WHICH THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
I HAD A 2003 COROLLA THAT I PURCHASED IN 2002, ONE OF THE FIRST DELIVERED TO A WORCESTER MA DEALERSHIP. IN 2003 WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY GOING UP A HILL THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. FIRST I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON BUT I HADN'T. I WAS PROBABLY GOING AT LEAST 65MPH WHEN IT STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I HAD TO KEEP HITTING THE BRAKES TO MAKE IT STOP ACCELERATING. *TR
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP. DESPITE PUSHING THE BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. DRIVER LOST CONTROL DUE TO SPEED AND WENT OFF THE ROAD ROLLING THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
IN NOVEMBER OF 2009 I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 93 FROM ANDOVER IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC WHEN I SUDDENLY FOUND THAT MY CAR, A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, WAS ACCELERATING DESPITE MY USING ALL MY ENERGY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. FOR SOME SCARY MOMENTS I WAS CERTAIN THAT I WAS GOING TO COLLIDE WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. JUST AS SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED TO BRAKE. HOWEVER, THERE HAD BEEN THE POSSIBILITY OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL INVOLVED. I HAD NOT HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAR BEFORE AND HAVE NOT HAD ONE SINCE. *TR
MY CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A ROTARY AND RESULTED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A GUARD RAIL. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER IT HIT THE FIRST GUARD RAIL AND CAUSED ME TO HIT A SECOND GUARD RAIL. THIS CRASH RESULTED IN INJURIES AND COMPLETELY TOTALED MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AS WELL AS AN ACCIDENT REPORT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MASSACHUSETTS RMV AND INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE DRIVER STATED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND APPROACHED A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE WHEN SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TO COAST TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT FAILURE CAUSED HER AXLE TO BREAK. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE AROUND 90,000.
I PURCHASED A USED 2003 COROLLA. VEHICLE CAME WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS AND IT HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I ALSO CHECKED ALL FLUIDS. MILEAGE WAS 133,065 AT THE TIME I PURCHASED IT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOOD BECAUSE TOYOTAS ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST FOREVER, RIGHT? A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS OUT. I HAVE TO PUT 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL IN MY CAR EVERY 7-8 DAYS. IT DOES NOT LEAK, IT BURNS IT. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE EMISSIONS LIGHT STAYS ON AND I HAVE ALSO LOST A HUBCAP COVER. I'VE NOTICED THAT EVERY OTHER 03 COROLLA I PASS ON ROAD IS ALSO MISSING AT LEAST ONE. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE, I AM VERY CONCERNED AND KNOW I WILL NEVER BY TOYOTA AGAIN. *TR
MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA THAT WE GOT HER A YEAR AGO. SINCE SHE HAS HAD IT SHE HAS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES TO HER FATHER AND ME THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES. WE TOOK IT IN TO OUR MECHANICS WHEN IT WAS IN FOR AND OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATING BUT THEY COULD NOT SIMULATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, NOW WE SEE THAT IT IS A PROBLEM FOR THE 2009 AND 2010 COROLLAS IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THE SAME DEFECT COULD BE CAUSING HER STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4 DOOR. FIRST TIME INCIDENT. WESTBOUND HIGHWAY 401 NEAR WOODSTOCK ONTARIO WITH CRUISE CONTROL @ 100 KMH IN RIGHT LANE AND SLIGHTLY ACCELERATED TO MIDDLE LANE TO AVOID MERGING INCOMING TRAFFIC FROM ROADSIDE GAS STATION. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT DRIVER ASSISTANCE. STRONG BRAKING DID NOT STOP CAR. STOMPING ON ACCELERATOR DID NOT STOP CAR. TURNING OFF CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT STOP CAR. FASTEST SPEED WAS 150KMH @ 7500 RPM. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WHEN SPEED AT 120KMH @ 4000 RPM, THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING. SLOWED AND PULLED OFF ONTO SHOULDER AND PARKED THE CAR. TWO MINUTES LATER, STILL IN PARK, IDLED AT 1900 RPM. ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK. OVER THE PHONE, DAN FROM COMPETITION TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT PROBABLY THE THROTTLE BOX OR THROTTLE CABLE HAD BECOME GUMMED UP AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEANED AS PART OF THE TOYOTA 60,000KM MAINTENANCE. I HAVE NOT USED TOYOTA DEALER TO SERVICE THE CAR DUE TO AFFORDABILITY. I DO HAVE A REGULAR MECHANIC WHO SERVICES THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT INTO COMPETITION TOYOTA AND PROBLEM WAS A DIRTY THROTTLE PLATE WHICH WAS CLEANED AT A COST OF $70. DEALER ALSO DID A RECALL REPAIR ON A WINDOW AND SAID THERE WERE TOO MANY MATS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH SHOULD BE REMOVED. I TOLD DAN THAT DRIVER MATS WERE NOT THE CAUSE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO TOYOTA EMPLOYEES, I SHOWED HIM PHOTOS THAT I TOOK OF THE DASHBOARD JUST AFTER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I ASKED IF THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, HE SAID YES, AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVI
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE, 48,000 MILES, ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO LACK OF OIL CIRCULATION IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. RESULT WAS A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THE OIL CHANGED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. *TR
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW TOYOTA COROLLA 2003 MODEL IN NOV 2002. AROUND A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, IT STARTED PRODUCING AN UNUSUAL SOUND WHENEVER I HIT THE BRAKES. IT HAS SINCE PROGRESSED FROM A BARELY AUDIBLE (EXCEPT TO THE DRIVER) "KNOCKING" SOUND TO,AT SOME POINT, A VERY NERVE-WRACKING "THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK APART" KIND OF SOUND WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO CHECK IF IT WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF A SIMILAR CASE. I ALSO ASKED A FORMER TOYOTA MECHANIC, NOW RUNNING HIS OWN PRIVATE SHOP, TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM; HIS ONLY ANSWER WAS THAT IT WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR COROLLAS FROM 2003, SINCE THEY RE-DESIGNED THE CAR THAT YEAR. EVEN HIS OWN ASSISTANT MECHANIC HAD A LATER TOYOTA COROLLA WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE GIVEN UP TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS ASSESS THE SOUND, OPEN UP THE BRAKES, RECOMMEND AND CHANGED PADS, EVEN ROTORS. THE SOUND DISAPPEARS WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN NEWLY "OPENED" AND TAKEN DOWN FOR CLEANING, BUT AFTER A WEEK OR SO, THE SOUNDS RETURN, ALTHOUGH THE MECHANICS HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR BRAKES WORK WELL AND ARE SAFE. BUT DON'T THE SOUNDS INDICATE A PROBLEM IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM MAYBE? I ONLY WRITE NOW BECAUSE OF A NEWS ITEM THIS MORNING THAT SAID TOYOTA PLANS TO RECALL COROLLAS FOR A BRAKE-RELATED PROBLEM. *TR
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE USING CRUISE ON HIGHWAY. *TR
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA THIS MORNING WHEN SHE REPORTED THAT THE CARS BRAKES DIDN'T APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS RESULTED IN A PROPERTY DAMAGE CRASH INTO A GUARDRAIL. IT WAS A FRONTAL CRASH INTO A GUARDRAIL AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEED, THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
ACCELERATOR PEDAL PROBLEM ON TOYOTA COROLLA 2003. THE FLOORS MATS USED TO COME ON TOP OF THE ACCELERATOR AND MAKE DRIVING UNSAFE. I CHANGED THEM TO BUY DIFFERENT BRANDS OF FLOOR MATS AND FINALLY I STOPPED USING THE FLOOR MATS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I SEE NO MENTION OF THE 2003 COROLLA IN THE RECALLS AND SURPRISED BY IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED HIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND AS HE TURNED THE IGNITION ON WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT FENDERWAS BADLY DAMAGED.THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS INJURED BUT DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL.THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED BEFORE TOWING THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE TO A BODY REPAIR CENTER. AT THAT TIME OF THE COMPLAINT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER.THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THERE WAS ONLY NORMAL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,479 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 116,000.
THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY WIFE'S 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS ACTED UP ON OCCASION WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. WHEN USING "RESUME" THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE WELL PAST THE PREVIOUS SET POINT. MOSTLY THIS WAS A MINOR ANNOYANCE AS THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE A BIG ENOUGH ENGINE TO TAKE OFF LIKE A ROCKET, AND SWITCHING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND RESTARTING IT SEEMS TO CURE THE PROBLEM. I NEVER WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE SEQUENCE THAT WOULD RELIABLY REPEAT THE PROBLEM AND PRETTY MUCH FIGURED WE'D LIVE WITH IT. (SHE DOESN'T USE CRUISE CONTROL AND I USE IT WHEN WE ARE TAKING TRIPS.) WITH THE RECENTLY IDENTIFIED CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS ON THE NEWER COROLLAS, I'M SUSPICIOUS THAT THE PROBLEM MAY GO BACK FURTHER THAN REPORTED. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS TIMES OVER THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS(WHILE WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR), SO THE DATE INDICATED BELOW IS A DUMMY DATE TO GET TOT THE NEXT SCREEN. *TR
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. OCCURRED ONLY ONCE. *TR
ON 4/26/2006 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA INTO A PARKING SPOT AT HER EMPLOYMENT. THE CAR DID NOT STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. SHE PRESSED THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO LEAVE TIRE TRACKS ON THE CONCRETE AND DUG THROUGH GROUND AFTER JUMPING THE CURB. THE CAR DID FINALLY STOP AFTER HITTING A SMALL TREE AND BARELY MISSING A LIGHT POLE. AT THE TIME WE BELIEVED THAT THE FLOOR MATS\HAD GOT TANGLED UP AND THE HARDER SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES THE CAR WENT FASTER. WITH ALL THE MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH STUCK GAS PEDALS AND FLOOR MATS . WE ARE NOT SURE THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. *TR
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005, I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, AT CERTAIN TIMES IT IS DIFFICULT TO STAY IN THE LANE BECAUSE OF THE STEERING. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE CAR IS BEING PUSHED BY WIND, EVEN IF THERE IS NO WIND. I NOTICED AN ARTICLE ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT IN 2009-2010 TOYOTA COROLLA'S HOWEVER, I HAVE NOTICED IT FOR YEARS WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. *TR
I DROVE MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA IN HIGHWAY YESTERDAY, WHEN I TOOK BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, THE CAR ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF STOP, AND LOST THE CONTROL TO HIT RIGHT SIDE OTHER CAR, AND THEN DROVE TO SNOW PILE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME EVENT, BUT THIS TIME MY CAR GOT CRASH, MY CAR WAS PICK UP TO INSURANCE DESIGN REPAIR STORE. *TR
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A DEFECT BUT I JUST WANT TO FILE A COMMENT I HAVE WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA S MADE IN 7/2002. THE THING I HAVE EXPERIENCING AND STILL AM IS THAT MY VEHICLE WILL LURCH WHEN IT COMES TO A STOP AND ENGINE IDLE SPEED CHANGES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS WITH OTHER CARS I HAVE DRIVEN. I ALSO DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT OR NOT BACK THEN UNTIL I START READING THE NEWS ABOUT THE RECALL AND OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM MY MODEL THAT IS NOT DUE TO THE CURRENT RECALL. HERE IS THE LINK TO THE NEWS I HAVE READ ABOUT: HTTP://WWW.CNBC.COM/ID/35269950 THERE IS A QUOTE FROM SOMEONE THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING AS I DID BUT DID NOT STATE THE YEAR AND MODEL. *CN
CHECK CRUISE CONTROL WIRING/ELECTRONICS TOYOTAS!! I HAD FAILED CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING RPM 7,000-8,000; COULD NOT SHUT OFF; STOMPED ON BRAKES TO SHUT CRUISE OFF. PULLED PARKING BRAKE; DOWNSHIFTED TO NEUTRAL; TURNED CAR OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON WHEN RECOVERED FROM HYSTERIA AND CRUISE HAD ROTATIONS GOING INTO RED ZONE, THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PULLED UP AND CAR WASN'T GOING FORWARD - IT WAS GUNNING ENGINE. TURNED CRUISE OFF. TURNED CAR OFF/ON/OFF/ON. FINALLY STOPPED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER. THEY HAD ADDED TOYOTA CRUISE TO 2003 NEW MODEL COROLLA, 5 SPEED MANUAL AFTER FACTORY. DEALERS WEREN'T AUTHORIZED TO DO IT - TOYOTA WANTED CRUISE CONTROL ONLY ADDED AT FACTORY. BUT DEALER GOT AHOLD OF ONE - THEY PROBABLY WEREN'T SURE HOW TO WIRE AND CONNECT IT IN. TOOK IT BACK. DEMANDED NEW ONE BE INSTALLED. HAS BEEN OKAY. STILL DRIVING 2003, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. BUT IT WAS FRIGHTENING TO HAVE CRUISE STUCK ON WIDE OPEN LIKE GAS PEDAL WAS DOWN STOCK. IT WOULDN'T STOP HITTING BRAKES OR ANYTHING. CHECK THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING AND ELECTRONICS ON THESE RECALL TOYOTAS!!!!!!! *TR
PURCHASED NEW 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE IN 2003 AND NEW 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA LE IN 2006. FROM 2003 THRU 2006 SIX INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH VEHICLE STOPPED AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHERE ENGINE RACED AS IF CRUISE CONTROL KICKED INTO "RESUME" AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. BY REFLEX, I SHIFTED INTO PARK OR SHUT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I REPORTED THE INCIDENTS TO LASSEN TOYOTA, ALBANY OREGON NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE 2006 TOYOTA HAD THE SAME INCIDENT OCCUR ONCE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND EQUIPMENT AS THE 2003 MODEL I OWNED AND I REPORTED THE INCIDENT AGAIN TO LASSEN TOYOTA WITH NO RESPONSE. I AM ON MY GUARD NOW THAT I KNOW THIS OCCURS AND I DON'T PANIC AND KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT ANYONE WHO DOESN'T KEEP A CLEAR HEAD AND KNOW WHAT TO DO INSTINCTIVELY COULD BE IN TROUBLE. I AM SURE THIS IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT HAS SOME LINK TO THE ACCELERATION PROGRAM IN THE CRUISE CONTROL AREA EVEN WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF AND THE CAR IN DRIVE WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FOOT NO WHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN TWO DIFFERENT YEARS OF THE SAME MODEL TOYOTA. JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THIS DOES OCCUR RANDOMLY IN THESE CARS AND THAT COMPLAINTS ARE IGNORED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA . WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A POLE AND DAMAGED HIS VEHICLE. THE LICENSE PLATE ALSO CAME OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO HIS RESIDENCE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. A CLAIM WAS ALSO FILED WITH TOYOTA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT/ SIGN THE CAR WILL IDLE UP. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL JUMP FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS MORE WHEN IT IS RAINING OUT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I ASKED IF I COULD STOP IN WHEN IT IS RAINING SO THEY COULD LOOK AT IT THAN. THEY SAID YES. I STOPPED IN ON A RAINY DAY WHEN THE CAR WAS DOING IT. THE SERVICE AGENT SAID THAT CARS IDLE UP WHEN YOU USE THE DEFROSTER. THAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE DO IT AS TO TRY TO LEAP FORWARD. MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY DOES NOT DO IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU! *TR
TODAY, AS I WAS VERY SLOWLY PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK , IT FELT LIKE A "JET" ENGINE TOOK OFF AND MY CAR ACCELERATED INTO THE BUILDING. I WAS STUCK ON CEMENT PARKING BORDERS AND THE WHEELS WERE SPINING. I DID NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THIS. I DO HAVE WITNESES TO HIS.THE CARE WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA. *CN
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA CE SEDAN L-4-1.8L AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON DASHBOARD, MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A SHORT IN P/T SQUIB (LH) CIRCUIT AND THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. WARRANTY IS EXPIRED BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS OCCURRING ON SAME MODELS- THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE-TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF. *TR UPDATED 3/17/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND STOPPED, THE CAR WILL MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN. I APPLY MORE PRESSURE AND IT STOPS AGAIN. I NOW LEAVE EXCESSIVE SPACE BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS OCCURS VERY OFTEN. *TR
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE DIAGNOSTIC SAID IT WAS THE O2 SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. A MECHANIC CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I READ WHERE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS DON'T GO BAD BY THEMSELVES, THEREFORE THE PROBLEM HAS TO STEM FROM A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR CONTINUAL REPAIRS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE VALVE STEMS ARE INSTALLED ON A SET OF SUMOTOMO TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT DUE TO A FAULTY VALVE STEM. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A VALVE STEM RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A FREEWAY AT 50 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER SHE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,056. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2009. UPDATED EVOQ 03/25/11
WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LAST NIGHT AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR JUST STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN - IT DID IT 2 OR 3 TIMES WHEN I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE BEYOND THE SPEED THAT I HAD SET. I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THAT DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. NEXT, I TRIED BRAKING, WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN A LITTLE, THOUGH I NEEDED TO USE AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. ONCE I RELEASED THE BRAKE, THE CAR BEGAN TO SPEED UP AGAIN. I MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE BUT, EVENTUALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP. AT THIS POINT, I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED (I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAXIMUM RPM WAS, BUT I KNOW IT WAS WELL ABOVE NORMAL DRIVING RPM). I PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I TRIED TURNING THE IGNITION ON (MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL) BUT THE ENGINE REVVED UP SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF. OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES, I TRIED TURNING THE CAR ON A FEW MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULT. AFTER I HAD BEEN WAITING FOR 1-1.5 HOURS, A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THE DRIVER TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY; SOMEHOW THE PROBLEM HAD RESOLVED ITSELF SO WE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A RESIDENTIAL STREET (35 MPH) AND I WAS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, I BEGAN ACCELERATING UPHILL. ONCE I REACHED MY DESIRED SPEED OF 35 MPH, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN SPEED (I WAS STILL TRAVELING UPHILL). I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP, ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR; BASED ON THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE, I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT IT SURPASSED 4000 RPM. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND 15 MINUTES LATER I TURNED THE CAR ON ONLY TO MEET WITH THE SAME RESULTS. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED, HE NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLE VALVE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. A FEW DAYS LATER, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A KINK IN THE THROTTLE CABLE THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED IT TO GET STUCK. HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPEATABLE AND, THEREFORE, DID NOT REPLACE THE CABLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 6.5 YEARS AND THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED TWICE (THE OTHER TIME WAS IN EARLY 2008 AND OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY). IN LIGHT OF RECENT MEDIA REPORTS ON ACCELERATION PROBLEMS IN TOYOTAS, I MUST NOTE THAT I HAVE THE ORIGINAL FLOOR MATS AND THAT THEY ARE, AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, PROPERLY SECURED IN PLACE. I DID NOT NOTICE WHETHER OR NOT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE MAKING A U-TURN, HER VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO OVER 100 MPH. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE CRASHED INTO A DUMP TRUCK, AND THEN INTO A POLE. TWO OCCUPANTS RECEIVE MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. . HE HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 57,000.
TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. AFTER PROCEEDING FROM A STOP LIGHT AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH. EVEN AFTER BRAKE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT HER MODEL TYPE DOES NOT HAVE A DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT BETWEEN 2 TO 10 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED PAST THE LIGHT WITHOUT INTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IN MY 03 TOYOTA COROLLA COLLAPSED AND SHATTERED. THIS AFTER A RECALL WAS DONE A YEAR AGO FOR THE EXACT SAME THING (CAMPAIGN 08V162000). NEITHER THE DEALER NOR TOYOTA WOULD PAY TO REPAIR THE WINDOW SAYING THEY WOULDN'T PROVIDE WARRANTY ON THE RECALL SINCE IT HAD BEEN 13 MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. IN FACT THE DEALER WANTED $800 TO REPAIR THE WINDOW WHICH I HAD FIXED AT A GLASS SHOP FOR $130. FORTUNATELY, MY SON WHO WAS DRIVING WASN'T HURT. *TR
2003- TOYOTA COROLLA - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS RESET, JUST RECENTLY CAME ON IN APRIL 2009 AND NOT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY HAS 119,000 MILES ON IT AND NEEDS TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2003 Toyota Corolla → · Every Corolla year → · How the figures are calculated →