2003 Toyota Corolla complaints

WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THE IDLE POSITION. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *SCC *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING . DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED, TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS A GASOLINE PROBLEM. *AK

PURCHASED 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA IN OCTOBER 2002. CAR IS EMITTING A VERY NOTICEABLE SULFUR ODOR ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS PARTICULARLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE GASOLINE I PURCHASE. ACCORDING TO MY DEALER, SOME GAS STATIONS PUT AN ADDITIVE IN THE GAS THAT CREATES THIS SMELL. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR.

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST FROM DAY 1. *MR THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE OUT BY 15K MILES. (THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS. *SCC *JB

MY BRAKES AND ROTORS WENT OUT AT 15,000 MILES ON MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOU EMAIL ME AT [email protected]. *JB

WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH OUR TOYOTA COROLLA (2003) CREATING A "ROTTEN EGG" SMELL. WE HAVE COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES TO TOYOTA, INCLUDING FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THEIR NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD 1)THE SMELL IS NORMAL, 2) WE'RE USING THE WRONG TYPE OF GAS (WE HAVE TRIED ALL KINDS) AND 3) WE NEED TO RUN THE CAR WITH THE AIR RECIRCULATING AT ALL TIMES. WE ALSO DO NOT GET THE GAS MILEAGE AS EXPECTED. WE ARE GENERALLY GETTING 29 MPG WITH MOSTLY INTERSTATE DRIVING. THE TWO MAY BE RELATED. THIS STARTED LAST FALL SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. THE PURCHASE DATE IS LISTED BELOW. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE AT A COMPLETE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE ACCELERATED CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE RESULTING INTO A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

MY WIFE PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. SHE PURCHASED IT BECAUSE OF ITS IMPLIED ECONOMY. BUT DESPITE THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLAIMS THAT THE CAR CAN USE 1987 OCTANE OR HIGHER, SUCH IS NOT THE CASE. IN TWO WORDS, ROTTEN EGGS. IN TWO OTHER WORDS, HYDROGEN SULFIDE.AS WE DECELERATE FOR ANY REASON, IF THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN, OR IF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS SET TO INTAKE OUTSIDE AIR, THE ODOR OF ROTTEN EGGS IS OVERPOWERING. (NOTE THAT IF THE AIRFLOW PATTERN CONTROL IS TURNED TO EITHER PARTIAL OR TOTAL WINDSHIELD DEFROST, THE CONTROL WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENFORCE FRESH, OUTSIDE AIR INTAKE.) WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER DIDN'T BAT AN EYELASH. JUST OPENED A DRAWER AND PULLED OUT A SHEET OF PAPER WHICH STATES THAT TMC ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM, AND WILL DO NOTHING TO REMEDY IT. THE PAPER FURTHER SUGGESTS THAT I SHOULD CHANGE BRANDS OF GASOLINE (WE HAD ALREADY TRIED THAT) OR CHANGE TO A HIGHER GRADE OF GASOLINE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO WRITE UP THE PROBLEM ON A REPORT. SEARCHING THE WEB, I TRIPPED INTO AN EDMUNDS.COM WEB SITE. SPECIFICALLY - HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/[email protected]@.EF0A161!MAKE=TOYOTA&MODEL=ALL&ED_MAKEINDEX=.EF0A161 - WHICH WILL GET YOU INTO A DISCUSSION. (TO FOLLOW THE PATH FROM THEIR HOME PAGE, CHOOSE THE CAR DISCUSSIONS TAB, THEN TOYOTA > COROLLA > COROLLA & MATRIX PROBLEMS.) Y' GOTTA READ THE MOANING ON THIS VERY SUBJECT. SEARCH THIS DISCUSSION (BOTTOM OF THE PAGE) FOR ROTTEN EGG OR HYDROGEN TO BRING THEM UP. PLEASE HELP!

ROTTEN EGG SMELL WHEN IDLING.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT REGARDS THE TERRIBLE SMELL EMITTED BY MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE VERY STRONG SMELL FILLS THE ENTIRE CAR, AND OFTEN LASTS SEVERAL MINUTES. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE SMELL IS HARMFUL OR NOT, BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT TOYOTA CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FROM NOWHERE A VERY TINY GRAVEL HIT WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED IT. CONSUMER FOUND THE WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM TOP TO THE BOTTOM. DEALER WON'T REPLACE. *AK

THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WAS VERY HARD TO USE AND SEE WHILE DRIVING. *AK *CB *JB

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM ,AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED IN THE REAR WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. DRIVER WAS THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD. *AK *CB *NLM

WHEN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE AND BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING GEARS, AND THE RMPS SURGE UP TO 4000. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

6853 MILES NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION

8856 MILES BLEW THE DRIVE SIDE FRONT TIRE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH 2 PARKED CARS

8856 MILES DURING A 30MPH COLLISION WITH 2 PARKED CARS, THE FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *AK

7301 MILES FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) TIRE BLEW

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THERE WAS LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.*AK

RE: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE MODEL LEASED ON 7/21/03. DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR, WHEN LOWERED, WILL BLOCK A GREAT PART OF THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THIS IMPAIRS VISIBILITY ON THE VEHICLE'S REAR, LEFT SIDE AND CREATES A HUGE BLIND SPOT.

PURCHASED NEW 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA ON 05-27-03 -- VEHICLE DELIVERED WITH METALLIC RATTLE IN DASH -- BROUGHT INTO DEALER SERVICE ON 07/11/03 -- INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS -- TOYOTA HAS TO COME UP WITH A NEW PART BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT FIT INTO THE BODY CORRECTLY - WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A PART IS AVAILABLE -- THERE IS NOT ONE AT THIS TIME. *JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED SMELLED STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

IN OUR 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, EXHAST FUMES WITH A SULFUROUS SMELL OFTEN VENT INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GASOLINE, NOT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THE CAR IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, IT IS SUPPOSED TO DRAW EXHAUST INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, IT IS JUST NOT SUPPOSED TO BE NOTICEABLE. THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT AGREES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED SENDING THE VEHICLE OF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

STRONG SULFUR SMELL WHILE DRIVING CAR. HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO THIS AUGUST. DEALER SAID HAD TO DO WITH ADDITIVES IN GASOLINE AND SHOULD STOP, BUT HASN'T STOPPED. ESPECIALLY STRONG IN THE MORNINGS AFTER CAR HAS SAT OVER NIGHT. *NLM

BAD ROTTEN EGG SMELL EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAY IT'S MY GAS, BUT I'VE HAD TWO OTHER TOYOTA'S THAT HAVE NEVER DONE THIS AND I'VE USED THE SAME GAS IN THEM. THIS IS GETTING ON MY NERVES THAT I PURCHASED A NEW CAR AND HAVE TO CONTINUALLY SMELL THIS ODOR AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

UNIROYAL 185/65R 15 86S M/S DOT RADIAL TUBELESS STANDARD LOAD 500 TRAC A. TIRES HAVE A SLOW LEAK, CONSUMER CAN HEAR AIR ESCAPING.

PROBLEMS WITH SEATBELTS. *MR THE DRIVER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP WHICH IMPAIRED THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMERS DRIVING. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE BELT IS TOO SENSITIVE FOR LOCKING ITSELF. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 2-3 MONTHS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THE DEALER TO FIX THE BELT TO A HIGHER DECELERATION FACTOR OR RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR FULL CREDIT OF ALL COSTS. *SCC

AFTER I HAD BEGUN DRIVING MY 2003 COROLLA I SMELLED A TERRIBLE ODOR IN THE CAR. THIS CONTINUED (AND STILL DOES) BUT, I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ODOR...EGGS/SULFUR. IT ONLY BEGINS TO FADE AFTER A FEW MILES. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA WHO REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. KOONS SAID IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. SOMETHING TO DO WITH EMISSIONS. I DROVE A 2003 HIGHLANDER AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS. ALSO, AN AWFUL DRAFT COMES THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL (POWER WINDOWS/LOCKS) PANEL. I'VE ALSO NOTICED A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THANKS

MY 2003 COROLLA HAS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM STOPPED, AND IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID TO CHANGE GAS AND IT WOULD PROBABLY WEAR OFF, BUT IT HASN'T AND I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, SO I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. ALSO, WHEN I AM STOPPED, SOMETIMES THE COROLLA WILL SURGE FORWARD. I READ WHERE SOMEONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT THIS, TOO. I AM READY TO TRADE THIS CAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T BUY A BRAND NEW CAR TO SMELL THIS CONTINUALLY. IT IS VERY DISTURBING AND MAY BE UNSAFE SMELLING THE EMISSIONS FROM THIS. *JB

THE SEAT BELT IN MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE, PURCHASED IN APRIL 2002 IS LOCKING ME UP IN MY DRIVER SEAT AT EVERY, EVEN VERY LIGHT DECELERATION OF THE CAR. I HAVE TO STOP MY CAR BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, RELEASE THE LOCKED SEAT BELT AND FOLLOW SLOWLY TO THE INTERSECTION LINE, BEING ABLE TO MOVE IN MY SEAT AND OBSERVE THE INTERSECTION SITUATION. IF INSTEAD OF OBSERVING THE TRAFFIC I HAVE TO WORK WITH RELEASING MY SEAT BELT THE SITUATION IMPAIRS THE SAFETY OF MY DRIVING. *JB

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA ARE UNSAFE ON THE DIM SETTING. THE HIGH BEAMS ARE GREAT, BUT I CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT. THERE HAS TO BE SOME CORRECTION TO MY LIGHTS BEFORE I RUN INTO SOMETHING AND MAYBE HURT SOMEONE OR MYSELF. WHAT CAN I DO. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE COMPLAINT DEPT. TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS, PLEASE HAVE THIS CORRECTED.*JB

TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HAS SUDDENLY DROPPED OUT OF OVERDRIVE WHILE COASTING ON FLAT ROAD OR GOING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE MAKES AN UNUSUAL AND VERY LOUD 'TINGY' OR HIGH PITCHED REVING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING, WHICH DISAPPEARS WHEN AT CRUISING SPEED. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND WAS FOLLOWED BY THE INABILITY TO GO ABOVE 15 MPH. THIS PERSISTED DESPITE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR FULLY TO THE FLOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS WAS TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT INCITENT ONLY INVOLVED DROPPING OUT OF OVERDRIVE. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND HAS TRIED TO FIND PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED.

STRONG SULFUR ODOR ENTERS VEHICLE, PRESUMABLY EXHAUST GASES.

REAR-END ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM INSUFFICIENT BRAKING ABILITY OF 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE, PURCHASED IN APRIL 2002. DURING A NORMAL MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK, I WAS INVOLVED IN A SLOW-SPEED ACCIDENT, IN WHICH I "REAR-ENDED" THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, WHEN TRAFFIC ABRUPTLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. PRIOR TO BRAKING, TRAFFIC IN MY LANE, WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AND I HAD ~2-2.5 "CAR LENGTHS SPACING BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE FRONT VEHICLE. WHEN THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED, I ALSO IMMEDIATELY APPLIED FULL PRESSURE ON MY BRAKE PEDAL. HOWEVER, THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PREVENT COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, RESULTING IN $2700 IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HIGHER INSURANCE RATES FOR MYSELF, FOR FAILING TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. SINCE I HAD TOYOTA REPAIR THE COROLLA, I ALSO REQUESTED THEY CHECK THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THEY STATED THAT ALL THE DAMAGE WAS STRICTLY COSMETIC AND THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES (AS I EXPECTED THEY WOULD). HOWEVER, EVEN AT LOWER SPEED OF 10-20 MPH, I FIND THAT MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA TAKES CONSIDERABLE LONGER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP (UNDER NORMAL BRAKING FORCE) THAN I'VE COME TO EXPECT FROM ANY PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN VEHICLE (DURING 24 YEARS AS A LICENSED DRIVER). NOTE: THE EXACT DATE OF THE ACCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE. *NLM

COMPLAINT CONCERNING ADDITIONAL FLOOR PADDING ADDED TO ALL 2003 COROLLA'S MANUFACTURED AFTER 1/03 TO IMPROVE CRASH TEST RATING. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL TO INSTALL THIS SAFETY PADDING ON ALL 2003 COROLLA'S. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ALL 2003 COROLLA OWNERS. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB *TS

SULFUR LIKE SMELL ENTERS THE CAR WHILE RUNNING, ESPECIALLY EVIDENT IN WET WEATHER. GARAGE SAYS TOYOTA HAS SENT OUT A TECHNICAL ADVISORY STATING THE GASOLINE IS THE PROBLEM. HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THE OTHER VEHICLES I DRIVE. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE MAY WELL BE THE PLACEMENT OF THE FRESH AIR INTAKE IN RELATION TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM (?). IT TENDS TO MAKE ONE HAVE HEADACHES WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR AT LEAST 4-5 MONTHS. 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, NEW. *JB

THE CAR HAS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. I'VE CALLED BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA A NUMBER OF TIMES. THEY TELL ME IT IS THE GAS - AND TO TRY DIFFERENT BRANDS OF GAS. I CALLED THE EPA AND SPOKE WITH JIM CALDWELL AND HE SAID IT WAS NOT THE GAS. I CALLED THE WI DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION AND JIM CHAJA SAID THAT ANOTHER LADY FROM APPLETON CALLED IN ON MONDAY ABOUT THE SAME THING. SHE WAS GETTING READY TO FILE UNDER THE LEMON LAW. SHE BOUGHT HERS FROM GUSTMAN, I BOUGHT MINE FROM KOLOSSO. TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY STAND BY THEIR RESEARCH AND BELIEVE THE EPA IS WRONG. *NLM

THERE IS A VERY FOUL SULFUR SMELL THAT REGULARLY ENTERS THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS OBSCURE THE HOOD, AFFECTING VISIBILITY. *AK

THERE WAS A SULFUR SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *JB

STRONG SULFUR SMELL WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC.*JB

VEHICLE LURCHES WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC.*JB

VEHICLE DROPS OUT OF OVER DRIVE WHILE GOING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL AND GENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO DOES IT WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAY, AT 60 MPH OR HIGHER AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WITH MEDIUM PRESSURE. DOES NOT RESUME OVER DRIVE FOR 1/2 MILE AFTER THAT.*JB

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, AFTER IT WAS STARTED.*JB

THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT AND DID HOLD IN IDLE, THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE NEW MODEL ENGINES.*JB

MY CAR IS A 2003 COROLLA, I BOUGHT IT IN DECEMBER, I HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD IN JANUARY AND NOW IT HAS BEEN A MONTH AND IT IS CRACKED AGAIN AND WILL NEED TO BE FIXED. MY BELIEF IS THAT THE WINDSHIELDS BEING MANUFACTURED FOR THE NEW COROLLA'S CANNOT STAND NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, AND CRACKS WHEN EVEN A SMALL ROCK HITS IT. THIS WILL BE MY SECOND WINDSHIELD AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 2 MONTHS.

WHEN THE HEAT WAS TURNED ON, THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS.*JB