EXHUAST FROM CAR COMES INTO CAR A SULFUR SMELL WHICH MAKES PASSENGERS ILL. TOYOTA BLAMES GAS AND WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK
2004 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 2004 record →
I DRIVE A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WITH APPROXIMATELY 900 MILES AND REAR ENDED AT 1993 HONDA ACCORD. UPON IMPACT NO DAMAGE WAS VISIBLE OR NOTED ON THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE DRIVER DROVE AWAY WITHOUT PROBLEM. MY 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED WITH REPAIR COSTS EXCEEDING $10,000. THE TWO AIR BAGS BOTH DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT AND ASSOCIATED DAMAGE OCCURRED. IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OPINIONS AND COMMENTS.
MANUFACTURING DATE OF VEHICLE POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE IS WRONG. *LA (NAR) *CB
STRONG SULFUR SMELL WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. *JB
2004 TOYOTA COROLLA SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AGAINST THE WILL AND CONDUCT OF THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS - TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY IGNORES ISSUE REPEATEDLY. ODI CASES 1431208 AND 10051102 ARE INVITED TO CONTACT ME ([XXX]) AT [XXX] TO DISCUSS SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FOUL EGG/SULFUR SMELL WHILE CAR IS OPERATING. SMELL IS NOTICEABLE IN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF CAR. AT TIMES, THIS SMELL IS SO STRONG THAT I BEGIN TO FEEL ILL. RETURNED TO DEALER. DEALER INSTRUCTED ME TO TRY DIFFERENT GASOLINES. THIS DID NOT WORK. RETURNED TO DEALER. REPEATEDLY SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER, ETC. THE SUGGESTION TO CHANGE GASOLINE WAS ALL THE DEALER COULD OFFER. THIS HAS NOT WORKED AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THE SULFUR SMELL MAY BE CAUSING A HEALTH PROBLEM.
2004 COROLLA CE HAS HORRIBLE ROTTEN EGG SMELL CAR HAS ONLY 550 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAY TO SWITCH GAS BRANDS. I DID AND IT IS STILL OVERWHELMING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR.
2004 TOYOTA COROLLA, CLOSE TO 3,500 MILES. PURCHASED IN JULY '03. WHEN I RUN THE HEAT INSIDE THE CAR, A VERY STRONG SULFUR ODOR IS EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE GAS, NOT THE CAR, BY BOTH DEALER AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I DO NOT GET THIS SMELL IN ANY OTHER CAR I RIDE IN, INCLUDING THE '96 COROLLA I TRADED IN. THIS RELEASE OF SULFUR OXIDE INTO THE CAR INTERIOR IS A SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERN THAT TOYOTA SEEMS TO REFUSE TO TAKE AN INTEREST IN. *LA
2004 TOYOTA COROLLA, CLOSE TO 3,500 MILES. PURCHASED IN JULY '03. WHEN I RUN THE HEAT INSIDE THE CAR, A VERY STRONG SULFUR ODOR IS EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE GAS, NOT THE CAR, BY BOTH DEALER AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I DO NOT GET THIS SMELL IN ANY OTHER CAR I RIDE IN, INCLUDING THE '96 COROLLA I TRADED IN. THIS RELEASE OF SULFUR OXIDE INTO THE CAR INTERIOR IS A SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERN THAT TOYOTA SEEMS TO REFUSE TO TAKE AN INTEREST IN. *LA
WHEN CAR IS RUNNING EXHAUST PRODUCES ROTTEN EGG SMELL WHICH WHEN VENT IS ON COMES INTO CAR. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD CONDITION IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL AND WOULD NOT CORRECT UNDER WARRANTY. I FIND THIS ANSWER UNACCEPTABLE THAT I SHOULD DRIVE A NEW CAR THAT EMITS ROTTEN EGG SMELL AS NORMAL.*AK
UNEXPECTED AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE CAR IS IN DRIVE AND STOPPED IN TRAFFIC OR AT RED LIGHT, ENGINE IDLE SPEED INCREASES WHEN COMPRESSOR FROM HEATING/AIR CONDITIONER UNIT ENGAGES (WHEN HEATER/DEFROSTER OR AIR CONDITIONER ARE IN USE) RESULTING CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD. IF HARD AND CONSTANT PRESSURE IS NOT APPLIED AT ALL TIMES ON BRAKE PEDAL WHILE STOPPED, CAR COULD LUNGE FORWARD RESULTING IN; REAR-END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR; AUTO/PEDESTRIAN MISHAP WHILE STOPPED AT A CROSSWALK OR HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE BOARD SIDE IF AT A FOUR-WAY STOP. THIS DESIGN DEFECT NEEDS IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AND IF FOUND VALID, REQUIRE TOYOTA TO RECALL AND REPAIR ALL 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA LES AT NO COST TO CAR OWNER. *LA
I BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA IN JULY OF 2003, NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR I AM HAVING A PROBLEM. IN SEPTEMBER WHEN I STARTED TO USE MY HEAT, I SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG/SULFUR SMELL. IT IS TERRIBLE!!!....I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME TO SWITCH GAS, SO I SWITCHED GAS. THREE GAS STATIONS LATER AND 2 MONTHS LATER I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HEALTH REGULATIONS OR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY LAWS ARE AGAINST SULFUR BEING EMITTED INTO SOMEONE'S LUNGS AND THE AIR. OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING IS WRONG AND IT IS ONLY GOING TO SNOWBALL. I HAVE CALLED EVERY DEALERSHIP IN WESTERN NEW YORK AND TRIED TO GET AN ANSWER. MY ANSWER WAS "DEAL WITH IT" FROM JIM CALLAGHAN, IN WILLIAMSVILLE NY. THERE SHOULD BE A HUGE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. OTHERWISE A HUGE LAWSUIT WILL BE COMING FROM ME IF I DON'T GET ANY ACTION FROM TOYOTA ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK
I BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA IN JULY OF 2003, NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR I AM HAVING A PROBLEM. IN SEPTEMBER WHEN I STARTED TO USE MY HEAT, I SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG/SULFER SMELL. IT IS TERRIBLE!!!..I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME TO SWITCH GAS, SO I SWITCHED GAS. THREE GAS STATIONS LATER AND 2 MONTS LATER I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KONW WHAT THE HEALTH REGULATIONS ARE TO BREATHING IN SULFIDE, BUT IT CAN'T BE GOOD FOR SOMEONE. THE EPA MUST HAVE SOME ACTION AGAINST EMITING SULFER INTO THE AIR, THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE CADALITIC CONVERTERS. IF THE CONVERTER IS A DEFECT ON THE CAR, IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING. I HAVE CALLED EVERY DEALERSHIP IN WESTERN NY AND TRIED TO GET AN ANSWER OR SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. MY ANSWER WAS "DEAL WITH IT" FROM JIM CULLIGAN IN WILLIAMSVILLE NY. I ALSO GOT DRIVE 20 MILES TO THE INDIAN RESERVATION FOR YOUR GAS. IF TOYOTA CAN NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR THERE ACTION, THEN ACTION NEEDS TO BE BROUGH TO THEM.IF I DON'T GET SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. TOYOTA WILL BE RECIEVING A LAWSUIT FROM ME.*AK
THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN ANALYSIS AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. THE BRAKES SCREECHED, BANGED AND PULLED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. *SCC *JB
THE FRAME ALONG THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OBSTRUCTS VISION, CAUSING THE DRIVER NOT TO SEE WELL. THE DRIVER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED FOR VEHICLES TO THE RIGHT, THE REAR SEAT HEADRESTS BLOCKED THE VIEW IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AS WELL AS WHEN LOOKING BACK TO CHANGE LANES OR BACK UP. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REMOVE THE REAR HEADRESTS TO AVOID PROBLEMS. WHEN THE REAR WINDOWS WERE OPENED 1/2 TO FULL, THERE WAS A TUNNEL TYPE OF SENSATION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN NEEDING TO TURN LEFT, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET A CLEAR VIEW OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WAS A SPAN OF TIME WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT AND DISTANCE OF THE SEAT POSITION, BUT WAS LIMITED DUE TO HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS. OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. (THE WIDTH OF THE PANEL/FRAME SEEMED TO BE A PART OF THE PROBLEM WHICH ALSO SEEMED TO BE A THE LATE MODEL ISSUE) *SCC *JB
2004 COROLLA: EMISSION OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM.*AK
2004 TOYOTA COROLLA: EMISSION OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM.*AK
STRONG SULFUR SMELL THAT SOMETIMES COMES INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT GAS AND SO FAR NO LUCK, THE SMELL PERSISTS. *LA
WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN VEHICLE WAS HIT IN FRONT END, AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, A BRUISED KNEE AND CUT EYE. THE CONSUMER IS NOW UNDERGOING PHYSICAL THERAPY. *NLM
SUN VISOR ON DRIVER SIDE INTERFERES WITH REAR VIEW MIRROR. WHEN VISOR IS PULLED DOWN, IT HITS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, CAUSING THE MIRROR TO MOVE UP OR DOWN. ON SUNNY DAYS WHEN CONSTANTLY MOVING VISOR, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM NEEDING READJUSTMENT AND CAUSING DRIVER TO TAKE EYES OFF THE ROAD.*AK
2004 COROLLA CE HAS HORRIBLE ROTTEN EGG SMELL CAR HAS ONLY 550 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAY TO SWITCH GAS BRANDS. I DID AND IT IS STILL OVERWHELMING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. *LA
APPROXIMATELY 45 DAYS AGO (AUG. 27, 2003) I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRAY SOLARA. THE AUTO IS EQUIPPED WITH A LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM. ON DAY ONE, THE SYSTEM ALERTED ME OF LOW TIRE PRESSURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT IT WAS FIXED. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I NOTICED MOISTURE CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE. I TURNED ON THE AC AND IT DISAPPEARED. FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE LOW PRESSURE INDICATOR WAS ON AND I AGAIN RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED THE TIRES, INFORMED ME THAT ALL THE TIRES MUST HAVE THE SAME PRESSURE, AND SHOWED ME THE RESET SWITCH UNDER THE DASH. A WEEK LATER, AFTER A RAIN STORM, THE CAR CARPETS WERE WET. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND AFTER A DAY, THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND I WAS ADMONISHED TO ENSURE THAT I DIDN'T LEAVE THE CAR WINDOWS OPEN. AT THE END OF THAT WEEK, THERE WAS ANOTHER HEAVY RAIN STORM AND MY CAR REMAINED PARKED FOR THAT ENTIRE WEEKEND, "WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED." ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, I ENTERED THE CAR AND ONCE AGAIN, THE FLOOR MATS WERE SOAKED AND THERE WAS A MUSTY/MOLDY SMELL IN THE CAR. ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY (9/15) I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME, AFTER A DAY, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A REPORTED PROBLEM OF WATER LEAKING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO RETURN THE CAR LATER IN THE WEEK TO HAVE THE DASHBOARD REMOVED AND THE LEAKING PART REPLACED/REPAIRED. AND, ONCE AGAIN, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR WAS ON. MY CAR IS STILL NOT TOTALLY REPAIR
2004 COROLLA BOUGHT 32 DAYS AGO WITH 92 MILES. NOTICED SULFUR SMELL WHEN EXITING VEHICLE ONLY AFTER FIRST REFILL -- NOT NOTICED WITH FUEL THAT CAME WITH IT. DEALER SAID TO TRY DIFFERENT GAS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT MY ENTIRE TANK IS EMPTY BEFORE FILLING. BASICALLY RECOMMENDING THAT I WAIT. (THEY DID SAY TO FILL THE TANK -- NOT JUST PUT IN A COUPLE GALLONS) AFTER THE SECOND REFILL (AND ABOUT 16 DAYS SINCE PURCHASE) I NOTICED THAT THE SMELL WASN'T AS BAD, BUT A FRIEND REMINDED ME THAT IT WAS PARTICULARLY WINDY. I LATER NOTICED THE SMELL WHEN THE WIND CALMED DOWN. NO LUCK WITH THE THIRD REFILL EITHER. ALL OF THESE ARE AT DIFFERENT STATIONS. CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I NOW TRY THE HIGHER-OCTANE FUEL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE DAYS ARE SLOWLY PASSING. AFTER TALKING WITH SALES DEPT AND THE SERVICE DEPT ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE, THEY AGREED TO TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AS SOON AS THEY LEARNED THAT I SMELLED THIS FROM INSIDE THE CAR WHEN DRIVING. I SENSE THAT IT IS A MORE-SERIOUS MATTER IF IT GETS INSIDE YOUR CAR. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER FOR THE DAY -- ANOTHER COROLLA LE, WHICH ALSO SMELLED OF SULFUR. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT HE DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING AT ALL WHEN HE DROVE MY CAR, BUT HE SAID THAT MY "AIR-FRESHENER OVERWHELMED" HIM. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS EITHER LYING TO ME (YOU CAN'T MISTAKE THE SMELL OF SULFUR GAS) OR HE HAS BECOME DESENSITIZED TO ITS ODOR. I HAVE READ THAT SULFUR CAN WEAKEN YOUR ABILITY TO SMELL SULFUR FOR SOME TIME. I DON'T
CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE PEDAL WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE CONSUMER'S FOOT ALSO PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK (SHAWN T. HEBLEY 08/20/03) *SCC *JB
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA IN MAY THIS YEAR. A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY AND THE NEW CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. I TRIED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, IT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. I WAS DRIVING AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. FINALLY I HAVE TO EXIT THE FREE WAY AND THE CAR HIT THE DIVIDER AND GOT TOTALLY CRASHED.*AK
STEERING WHEEL IS NOT IN PROPER POSITION. IT IS TURNED TO THE LEFT. WHEN I TRY TO TURN IT INTO A STRAIGHT POSITION THE CAR BEGINS TO DRIVE TO THE RIGHT.*AK
METALIC RATTLE COMES OUT OF THE DASHBOARD OF 2004 COROLLA LE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 15 MILES ON IT.*AK
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 2004 Toyota Corolla → · Every Corolla year → · How the figures are calculated →