NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Toyota Corolla. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH; BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, INSTEAD IT LOST CONTROL AND WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
TRAVELING ON STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD. REAR DRIVER SIDE AXLE SHEARED IN HALF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER.*AK
2001 TOYOTA COROLLA WOULD NOT STOP WAS GOING BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO HOUSE. NOV 12. 2009. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF HALFWAY THROUGH THE TRAVEL FROM POINT A TO POINT B. *TR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP, AIRBAG ALSO FAILED, BRAKES FADE TO THE FLOOR, RESULTED IN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN.
DRIVER WAS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR, THUS THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING AT VERY LOW SPEED. CAR SUDDENLY SURGED AFTER THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE. CAR WENT OVER THE CEMENT TIRE STOPPER, UP A SMALL HILL, HIT A WALL, AND STOPPED. THIS CANNOT POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE DRIVER HITTING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WE WILL CONTACT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON JULY 16, 2001. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE CONSUMER NOTICED A NOISE. DEPRESSED BRAKES AND NOISE GOT LOUDER. THEN VEHICLE ACCLERATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO WALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ACCELERATION TOOK PLACE WHILE SHE WAS SWITCHING INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE, EVEN THOUGH BRAKE WAS PRESSED, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK, CONSUMER WAS SLIGHTLY BRUISED AND BUMPED DUE TO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. *SLC
TIRE BLOW OUT FROM SIDEWALL. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE. CHARGED $70.00 PER TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 185 65 14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185 65 14 )
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT. SHE HEARD A NOISE, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDERS. GOODYEAR, INTEGRITY, P175/65R14, DOT M68JC9032200. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, TO REPLACE RIMS. *AK TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACED. *YH
DT: THE DASHBOARD HAS A BLACK BACKGROUND AND THE LETTERS ARE RED, AND WITH CERTAIN LIGHTING IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. CAN'T SEE QUICKLY. HAS TO CONCENTRATE AND STUDY, WHICH TAKES THE CONSUMER'S EYES OFF THE ROAD. CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, ON 2005 MODELS THEY HAVE CHANGED IT BACK TO WHITE.*AK *JB
AFTER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I CAME INTO TOWN GOING 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE A "JET ENGINE TAKING OFF" ALL THE LIGHTS WENT ON THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND DIED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED AN "UNMOVEABLE OBJECT HAD BEEN HIT CAUSING A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW UP. THIS WAS CLEARLY A HOLE CREATED BY SOMETHING INSIDE CRASHING THROUGH THE OIL PAN.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A WHOLE IN OIL PAN. *AK
CONSUMER'S CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER DRIVER AT ABOUT 10 MPH, AND NONE OF FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER CHECKED, BUT FOUND NOTHING. ON FEBRUARY 17, 2001 DEALER DIS COVERED THAT FUEL HOSES HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED AT FACTORY. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE CUT OFF, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK
IGNITION FUSE ISSUES. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED AND TRIED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM WITH STARTING VEHICLE.*AK
IGNITION FUSE IS ALL THEY CAN GUESS. I WIGGLE THE FUSE WHEN THE CAR WON'T FIRE AND IT WORKS EVERY TIME. SINCE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY ARE AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO HELP ON A NEW CAR. RIGHT?!
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH APPLIED ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PASS, AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RETURN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY TAKE OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SWITCH OFF VEHICLE, AND COACH ONTO THE SIDE OF ROAD. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45 - 50 MPH, A FLATBED TRAILER WAS SIDEWAY IN THE DARK ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF HIGHWAY. VEHICLE DID NOT SEE THE FLATBED TRUCK AND HIT IT.WENT UNDER THE TRUCK WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, CRUSHED THE RADIATOR, WINDSHIELD, ETC. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANST IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM INSTALLING AND PROPERLY SECURING CAR SEATS IN AUTOMOBILES. HOWEVER, SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE DEALERSHIP, MYSELF NOR MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO GET A CAR SEAT INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE PROPERLY AFTER FOLLOWING THE INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS OF BOTH THE CAR SEAT AND THE VEHICLE. ANY OF THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT SECURE A CAR SEAT. WE EVEN BOUGHT A NEW CAR SEAT TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ONCE THE SEAT BELT IS AS TIGHT AS IT COULD POSSIBLY EVER BE, YOU CAN STILL LIFT THE CAR SEAT OFF OF THE SEAT BY ABOUT 12 INCHES AND THE CAR SEAT DOES NOT FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS EVEN HOOKED INTO THE SEAT BELT. I STOPPED BY THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE AUTOMOBILE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE CAR SEAT SECURED EITHER. IF THE CAR SEAT CAN'T BE SECURED PROPERLY, HOW IS IT THAT A PERSON IS SAFE WITH THE SEAT BELT? IS THIS A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW COROLLA'S? MY DAUGHTER HAS A 1995 TOYOTA COROLLA AND THE CAR SEATS IN HER VEHICLE CAN'T BE BUDGED! IS THIS A DEFECT WITH MY CAR ONLY? I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. HOW DO I KNOW THAT MY FAMILY IS SAFE IN THIS CAR AND THAT THE SAFETY RESTRAINTS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY? PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY AND MY OWN SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN THE HIGH-BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED, THEY SHINE A BEAM OF LIGHT VERTICALLY FROM BOTH LENSES. THE BEAMS FORMSAN "X" THAT CROSSES DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS FIELD OF VISION- IT IS SO PRONOUNCED THAT IT LIGHTS UP TREES ABOVE THE CAR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA SERVICE AND ASKED IF IT WAS A LENS PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE- THEY SAID THEY HAVE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS BEFORE BUT HAVE NO PLANS TO REDESIGN HEADLIGHT LENSES. THIS SITUATION IS A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER, AND AFFECTS VISABILITY - ESPECIALLY IN RAIN OR HAZE WHEN LIGHT BEAM BOUNCES OFF AND OBSCURES FORWARD VISION.
VERY EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE PAD WEAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS 5 TIMES IN 16000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE PROPORTIONING VALVE WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED AND ADJUSTED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE "CRUISE" LIGHT APPEARS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED ON, BUT NOT ACTIVATED. WHEN THE CONTROL IS ACTIVATED, AND CONTROLING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE INFORMATION IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO THE DRIVER WHEN THE CONTROL IS ACTIVE, CONTROLING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. PERHAPS THE "CRUISE" LIGHT SHOULD ONLY BE ON WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVE. OR, AN ADDITIONAL LIGHT TO TELL THE DRIVER THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVE. *AK
I VISITED SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS BECAUSE I AM HELPING A FRIEND IN BYING A NEW COROLLA. DESPITE I ADVISE HER TO INCLUDE THE SAFETY FETAURES: SIDE AIRBAGS AND ABS NO DEALEAR MAKE THEM AVAILABLE IF NOT INCREASING THE LEASE BY 50% (WHILE THE INCREASE IN VALUE IS ABOUT 10%) AND ASKING TO WAIT 3 MONTHS. MAKING SO PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THEM. SOME DEALERS REACHED THE POINT TO SAY THAT THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON THE COROLLA. SUCH A BEHAVIOUR IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE THE SENSIBILITY TOWARD SAFETY NOT TO BOYCOTT IT.
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO IT. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND ANTI- LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T KICK IN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
CURIOUS ABOUT THE INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE ON MY VEHICLE, ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAT IN THE TRUNK TO SEE IF HE COULD GET HIMSELF OUT. TO OUR SURPRISE, HE COULDN'T BECAUSE THE HANDLE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO GLOW IN THE DARK DIDN'T BECAUSE IT IS ALMOST NEVER EXPOSED TO NATURAL LIGHT. I THINK THE GLOW IN THE DARK TRUNK RELEASE HANDLES ARE AN EXCELLENT IDEA AND A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT WITHOUT A METHOD TO KEEP THEM GLOWING (PERHAPS AN ELECTRIC LIGHT WHICH TURNS ON WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING), THEY ARE USELESS TO A PERSON TRAPPED INSIDE A TRUNK. YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT PHS11@CORNELL.EDU. *AK
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAM SHOOT UP INTO THE SKY IN THE DIRECT VISION OF THE DRIVER, DISTRACTING DRIVER, TOYOTA SAYS IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING DOWN HILL WITH THE DEALER INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE WILL CHUG AS IF IT IS LOSING POWER OR OUT OF GAS. ALSO, WHEN IT'S RAINING. WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON AN INCLINE, TIRES WILL SPIN. CRUISE CONTROL WILL DECELERATE.*AK CONSUMER STATES HEADLIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED TOO LOW, HESISTATION FEELING WHEN TRAVELING SLIGHTLY DOWN HILL, DEALER ADJUSTED THROTTLE CABLE BUT CONDITION STILL EXSISTS.*YD
BRIGHT BEAMS REFLECTED FROM EACH HEADLIGHT FORM AN "X" RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW OR FOG. THE BEAMS ARE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO CREATE A REAL DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER.*AK
THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN GOING 60 MPH. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION OF THIS DEFECT IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS CHOPPED AND THE OTHERS HAD TREAD WHICH WAS WORN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED. (P175 65 R14 AMERI* G4S 81S BSW) *JG *JB
STEERING SYSTEM HAS A FAILURE THAT CAUSES VEHICLE TO CONTINUOUSLY PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE DRIVING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 55/65 MPH THE DRIVER WAS SUDDENLY UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. IT WA SDETERMINED THAT THE STANDARD CLUTCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK