2003 Toyota Corolla Complaint Log

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

1. 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE SEATBELT STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS INSERTING INTO THE LOCK AT 90K MILES OR MY 6TH YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED IT 2. OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME 3. NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE, CAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA TRANSMISSION WENT OUT JUST LIKE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS MODEL. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. TO REPLACE IT WILL COST OVER $3000.00. I HAVE OWNED 2 TOYOTAS PREVIOUS AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. *TR

THE BOLT HOLDING THE PULLEY FOR THE BELTS SNAPPED AND WEDGED IN THE ENGINE - SO FAR 2 1/2 DAYS BY THE DEALER AND THEY STILL CANNOT REMOVE THE BOLT. I THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE BOLT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILING AND LEAKING OIL. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO AND NOW IT HAD FAILED AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1200. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REITERATE THAT THIS FAILURE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE P195 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER ALSO NOTICED DEBRIS COMING FROM THE TIRE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED. IN ADDITION, THE SHIELD THAT COVERS THE WHEEL WELL WAS DISINTEGRATED. THE DRIVER REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO TWO LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC WAS PROVIDED FOR THE TIRE BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE TIRE BE SHIPPED TO THEM FOR INSPECTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INFORM HER OF THEIR DECISION. THE FIRESTONE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST HER WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,994 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,203. UPDATED 03/23/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/23/09.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENOR NEEDED TO BE RESET OR THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,774.

I RECENTLY TRADED IN A FORD EXPLORER ON A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA.. 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TENSIONER STARTED TO SQUEAL AND GOT WORSE PROGRESSIVELY. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE BELT WAS WORN AND GOT A NEW ONE,WENT TO REPLACE IT AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE TENSIONER HAD SNAPPED OFF DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF IT. I WAS JUST NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA THAT I HAD TO BUY THE NEW(CORRECTLY )DESIGNED TENSIONER AT AN ADDITIONAL COST TO ME OF $180.00 PLUS THE LABOR TO DO IT WHICH INVOLVES UNBOLTING THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND JACKING THE ENGINE UP!I AM A CONTRACTOR AND IF I DO SOMETHING WRONG OR SOMETHING THE CUSTOMER DOESN'T LIKE I EAT THE COST. SHOULDN'T TOYOTA'S BAD DESIGN BE PAID FOR BY TOYOTA. I WAS GOING TO TRADE IN MY FORD TRUCK ON A NEW TOYOTA TRUCK BUT AFTER THIS LITTLE EXPERIENCE I THINK I WILL STICK WITH FORD. *TR

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN EXITING ONE HIGHWAY TO ENTER ANOTHER. IN ADDITION, A LOUD SOUND STARTED TO COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MOVED VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND DROVE VERY SLOWLY. PRIOR TO FAILURE THERE WERE SOME SOUNDS FROM THE TRANSMISSION BUT NO LOSS OF POWER OR TROUBLE GETTING THE VEHICLE INTO TO GEAR. CONSIDERED IT LUCKY THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SEIZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SLOWLY, TO A REPAIR FACILITY BEFORE SOME OF THE GEARS BECAME INOPERABLE. MECHANIC IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES FOR 2003 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ON THE INTERNET, ESPECIALLY IN CANADA. MOST FAILURES ARE OCCURRING AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES BUT UNDER 100,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC IS SAVING THE OLD TRANSMISSION. *TR

RECALL ID # 75947 - VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW IS FALLING OUT PLACE AGAIN. PREVIOUS RECALL WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME ISSUE WAS IN 2008. SUMMARY: TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND POSSIBLY RATTLING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN OPERATING THE POWER WINDOWS. *TR

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 HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE USING CRUISE ON HIGHWAY. *TR

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HAVE DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT RECALLS FOR AIR BAGS ON HIS VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION WHICH STARTLED EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. THEY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT NO ONE COULD DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE EXPLOSION. HOWEVER AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 YARDS, A SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURRED AND WHEN THE CONSUMER LOOKED OVER, HE NOTICED THE AIR BAG HAD DEPLOYED IN AN ABNORMAL WAY OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DID NOT FULLY EXPAND, BUT SIMPLY POPPED OUT. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED SMOKE AND A STRONG ODOR. THE CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAD ALSO DEPLOYED. *JB THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 06/17/13

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED A MERGING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, WHICH CONCERNED THE CONTACT. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL LOT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAS NOT DETERMINED THE DAMAGE/LOSS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE DOME LIGHT WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY ON HER VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. SHE HEARD A BUZZING OR HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY NEAR THE REAR AXLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. SHE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V074001 (POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY); HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,577 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,200.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER WAS NOT INCREASING. HE INITIATED THE TRIP ODOMETER BUT, AFTER TRAVELING 250 MILES, THE ODOMETER STILL DID NOT INCREASE. THE ODOMETER WILL NOT EXCEED 299,999 MILES. THE FAILURE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE SAME MILEAGE AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING A REMEDY. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 299,999. UPDATED 06/03/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/30/08

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. CAR ENGINE RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I CANNOT DRIVE CAR BECAUSE I CANT PASS SMOG EITHER (DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT). I HAVE FILED TWO FORMAL COMPLAINTS WITH TOYOTA. TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANUFACTURING. DEFECT. I AM EXPECTED TO PAY OVER $2000 TO REPLACE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE. (EXCERPT FROM ONE COMPLAINT I FILED) THERE WAS A RECALL ON MATRIX AND COROLLA: TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2005 TO 2008 MODEL YEAR COROLLA'S AND MATRIXES, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE. THE RECALL NOTICES STATES THAT AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CAN DEVELOP A CRACK IN ITS CIRCUITRY, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, HARSH SHIFTING, AND STALLING AND/OR FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TO START. I HAVE A 2003 MATRIX XRS WITH A 2ZZ-GE ENGINE WITH A CONTINUOUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, HARSH SHIFTING, STALLING AND RANDOM FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TO START. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS DONE ON THE VEHICLE TO PASS SMOG INSPECTION OVER THE PAST 5 OR 6 YEAR AND HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THE LIGHT STAYS OFF JUST LONG ENOUGH TO PASS THE SMOG TEST AND IS THEN RETURNED TO ME WITH THE LIGHT STILL ON. I HAVE PAID A TOYOTA DEALER $95 TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC ALSO. THEY SAID THE ECM IS CORRUPT AND CAN'T BE FLASHED AND THE CAT HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER 2K! I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION FROM YOU'RE QUALITY DEPARTMENT AS TO WHY TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE ECM BEING REPLACED ON THE ENGINES STATED IN YOUR RECALL NOTICE AND NOT ON MY TYPE OF ENGINE. WHICH HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DETAILED IN THE RECALL LISTED ON YOUR SITE. TOYOTA STATED AFTER BOTH COMPLAINTS THAT THEY CANNOT HELP ME OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I MUST PAY FOR SOLUTION MYSELF. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE IN A CRASH BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED? *JB

CHROME ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES IS COMING OFF CREATING A CUT HAZARD. *TR

I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2003 COROLLA AND THE BELT SQUEAK A LOT. I WORK AT TOYOTA MYSELF AND I KNOW THAT EVERY TOYOTA COROLLA BELT SQUEAKS. IT'S NOT DUE TO THE FACT ON THE DRIVE BELT BUT THE BELT TENSIONER. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDER THE WARRANTY WILL BE REPLACE BUT THAT'S A OUTRAGE. TOYOTA ALREADY KNEW THAT THE BELT TENSIONER WAS A BAD DESIGN AND THEY MADE A NEW VERSION TO REPLACE THE 1ST DESIGN. I SPENT 140 BUCKS TO BUY THE PART AND THE SQUEAK WEAK AWAY. EVERY 9TH GENERATION COROLLA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS BELT TENSIONER THING BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SLIPPING AND LOSING HORSEPOWER. I KEPT THE OLD PART IN CASE YOU WANT ME TO SHIP IT TO YOU. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW WAS ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, THE GLASS SHATTERED WHILE THE WINDOW WAS IN OPERATION. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT AND DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR GLASS BOLTS DETACHED FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS AT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

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 BOUGHT MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, TOOK IT HOME, AND IT BEGAN STINKING LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME TO BUY MORE EXPENSIVE GAS THAT CONTAINS LESS SULFUR. FOUR YEARS OF BUYING EXPENSIVE GASOLINE, AND I FIND OUT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BURNED UP AND I NEED A NEW ONE FOR $1200. I FOUND OUT THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS CAN BE DAMAGED IF FUEL IS BEING MIXED TO RICHLY, EVIDENT BY A SULFUR SMELL. I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS AND FOUND A TOYOTA TECHNICAL BULLETIN (HTTP://WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG/TOYOTA%2003-04%20COROLLA%20CATALYST.PDF) THAT STATES MY SPECIFIC MODEL 2003 COROLLA HAD A MANUFACTURERS ERROR ALL ALONG. THE ECM WAS SET INCORRECTLY TO MIX FUEL TOO RICHLY, AND THAT IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS OF AN EXCESSIVE SULFUR SMELL, THE ECM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY! THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED WHILE I WAS STILL UNDER A 60,000MILES WARRANTY, HOWEVER I WAS ON VACATION IN CALIFORNIA, AND CALLED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY TOLD ME MY WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE SYSTEM, SO I WAITED TO GET IT FIXED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER RETURNING TO COLORADO, AND DIDN'T COME BACK ON FOR 15,000 MILES. AT 85,000 MILES, I FINALLY TOOK MY CAR TO BE FIXED BY A DEALERSHIP IN DENVER. AFTERWARD, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TOYOTA BULLETIN, AND AN "EMISSIONS WARRANTY" THAT WOULD HAVE COVERED THE PROBLEM UP TO 8YRS OR 80,000 MILES. NOW, TOYOTA REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE WORK TO FIX THE REAL ECM PROBLEM, BECAUSE I FOUND OUT 5000 MILES AFTER THIS SECRET WARRANTY RAN OUT THAT THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS LYING TO ME OR INCOMPETENT! IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE, THERE IS A PLETHORA OF OTHER TOYOTA CONSUMERS WHOM WERE LIED TO ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM! THIS EXCESSIVELY RICH MIXING OF FUEL LEADS TO DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *TR

THE FUDAL CARAT ASSURO TIRES BLOWOUT ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE TIRE IS ONLY 15 MONTHS OLD WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. *TR

MY CHECK LIGHT WENT ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PIPE SUB-ASSY, FU. THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK DETECTED. EVAP MALFUNCTION. *TR

I OWN AN '03 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. AT THE 45,000 MILE MARK MY REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH ON A NEWLY PAVED CITY STREET - THERE WERE NO POTHOLES OR OBSTRUCTIONS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO BE "CLIMATE BUT NO EXCUSES." THE REAR SUSPENSION HAD "ROTTED" (RUSTED) OUT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT ALL COMMON. I JUST SPOKE TO A TOYOTA MECHANIC WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE - HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BUT SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE. HE ALSO QUESTIONED WHETHER THE UNDERBODY HAD BEEN PROPERLY TREATED ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE. HE WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN IN SUCH A YOUNG CAR - MORE LIKELY WITH A 10 YEAR OLD CAR. I DID NOT GET TO VISUALLY SEE THE BROKEN, ROTTED PARTS. TOYOTA REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE - $604 - AND THEY RECENTLY OFFERED ME A SETTLEMENT FOR $301. THE PARTS REPLACED WERE THE REAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS. THIS ISSUE ALSO RAISES CONCERN FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TR

PURCHASED A USED 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA IN 2006, WHICH HAD [UNKNOWN TO ME] A TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY IN FORCE. ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER, AT APPROXIMATELY 67,000 MILES, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A "ROD KNOCK" AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, BY ATKINSON TOYOTA IN BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION TEXAS. COST $6000. THE DEALER COULD NOT FILE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR US SINCE WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND SO DID NOT FILE FOR TRANSFER. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME, AND REPORTED SIMPLY THAT THE LOW OIL INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NO WARNING INDICATORS REGARDING OIL LEVEL OR LIFE [AS DOES GM AND OTHERS], SO THAT THE 'WORD ON THE STREET' IS THAT IF THE OIL INDICATOR COMES ON, YOUR ENGINE IS ALREADY RUINED. MY SON AND I CHANGED THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE, AND IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 4,000 MILES SINCE THE PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT DISENGAGED. AS OF OCTOBER 2, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS A FAILED BOLT THAT HELD THE ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

FALURE OF CHARCOAL EMMISION CANNISTER IN MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 4 YEARS THAT THIS PART HAS FAILED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER.

MY TOYOTA COROLLA STARTED MAKING A HAMMERING NOISE WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR I WAS GOING DOWNHILL ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST TOWN AND CALLED TOYOTA WHO INFORMED ME I HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK AND GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I DID SO, AND THE NEXT DAY WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS IT HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. I WAS SURPRISED SINCE MY CAR'S LAST SERVICE WAS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE JUST A MONTH AND TWO WEEKS BEFORE. AT THAT TIME THEY DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR AND SAID MY CAR WAS OK. MY CAR HAS 49,500 MILES AND I AM NOW FACING A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (CHANGE ALL THE INTERNAL MOTOR PARTS) SINCE MY CAR'S 5 YEAR/60,000 WARRANTY EXPIRED JUST LAST MONTH. *JB

IN 9/2007 THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH WENT OUT ON MY MANUAL 2003 COROLLA. CONVENIENTLY, IT WAS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF $ REPAIRING. AGAIN, IN MARCH 2015 THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH ARE GOING OUT ON MY MANUAL VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND NUMEROUS OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE 2003 MANUAL COROLLA THAT WAS APPARENTLY FIXED IN THE 2004 VERSION. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WILL DO NOTHING. THEY TOLD ME TO EMAIL THE NHTSA AND YOUR AGENCY WOULD DETERMINE A RECALL. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE RECALL LIST. I (AND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS) HAVE BEEN STRANDED ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND IT IS NOT SAFE! *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA COROLLA AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THEY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. IN AUGUST OF 2007, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WEEKS AFTER A MINOR CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. IN JUNE OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OR LESS OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND HAS REMAINED LIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 09/11/08*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HOSE TOUCHED THE FREON LINE AND CAUSED THE AIR-CONDITIONER TO SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FREON LINE HOSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE DEALER DID NOT QUESTION THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND WROTE UP THE REPAIR ORDER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,450 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,400.

OK , ONCE I DID REPLACED ON RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. I'VE PAID AND FIXED, IT WAS ITSELF WHEN I WAS USING DOWN THE WINDOW MACHINE BUT IT SHATTERED WOW! UNEXPECTED HAPPENED. *TR

THIS CAR WAS GIVEN TO A JUNK YARD FOR ITS PARTS. I AM TRYING TO GET MY NAME OFF OF THE RECALL LIST. WE JUST RECEIVED THE 9TH NOTICE CERTIFIED MAIL AND EACH TIME I WRITE ON IT-RETURN TO SENDER (CAR WAS WRECKED). COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE MY NAME OFF YOU YOUR RECALL SYSTEM. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. IT WAS NOTICEABLE BEGINNING AT 20 MPH AND LEVEL OF NOISE INCREASED WITH SPEED. RESEARCHED INTERNET FOR RECALL PROBLEMS AND FOUND RECALL #02V074001 FOR HUB AND AXLE DEFECT. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL;, ONLY A SERVICE ADVISORY. WE PAID FOR REPAIRS. OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO THE VIN ALTHOUGH DEALER INSISTED HE COULD NOT FIND RECALL INFORMATION. . I HAVE ANOTHER TOYOTA COROLLA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FELT THAT THESE CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE IT SEEME D TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG COROLLA USERS.*AK

THE WINDOW TABS ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW BROKE & THE WINDOW CAME OFF THE TRACKS. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. I SUBMITTED MY PAID RECEIPTS & THEY ADVISED MY REPAIRS DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL 80! (SSC 80A). *TR

THE METAL ON THE DOOR HANDLES STARTED PEELING OFF. IT IS VERY SHARP AND WILL SLICE OPEN SKIN IF NOT CAREFUL. FRONT TWO DOORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW BACK DOORS ARE STARTING TO PEEL AND ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE PLASTIC UNDERNEATH IS VERY UGLY AND CHEAP LOOKING...SO HAVE TO PAY TO BE REPLACED. *TR

THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 2003 COROLLA HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND HAD BEEN ADJUSTED. STILL WHEN YOU BRAKE, IT STILL MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. PADS HAVE BEEN CHANGE SEVERAL TIMES AND TEMPORARILY THE GRINDING NOISE WILL GO AWAY AND AFTER ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS IT RETURNS. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO SOMEONE FIXED THE PROBLEM, NOW ITS BACK AGAIN. *TR

SULFUR ODOR/CATALYTIC CONVERTER; ORIGINAL CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED BY TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN MARYLAND AT 69308 MILES COVERED BY WARRANTY ON 4/8/05. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN ON 5/30/07, WENT OFF BY ITSELF ON 5/31/07. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA ON 6/4/07 FOR SERVICE. CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AGAIN AT 134939 MILES. ANNUAL INSPECTION AND EMISSIONS DUE BY OCTOBER 2007, AND REPAIR QUOTE FOR THE THIRD CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS OVER $1200.00. CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT COST OF THE REPAIR, BUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA TO NEED ANOTHER CATALYTIC CONVERTER. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, AND IT WAS USED MOSTLY FOR ERRANDS AND COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK. *AK

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

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. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 21,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED AND ACCELERATED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE ENGINE RESET ITSELF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MATS WERE PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT PULLED THE MATS AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED SINCE. SHE ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN JANUARY 2010 AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. UPDATED 09/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/23/10*JB

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA PURCHASED IN 2002 WAS TOLD TODAY I NEED A BRAND NEW ENGINE. MY CAR HAS 102,000 NOT OLD AT ALL WELL MAINTAINED GOT SERVICES WHEN NEEDED. NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY MY ENGINE HAS GONE BAD. I JUST WONDER HOW MANY OTHER ENGINES HAVE GONE BAD THIS SOON?? THE LAST TIME SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR IT ENDED UP BEING A RECALL A FEW MONTHS LATER HAD TO HAVE A REAR AXLE REPLACED. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS 105,000 MILE SERVICE. PART OF THE SERVICE WAS TO REPLACE THE OIL. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE SERVICE AND THE CAR WAS OK. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. IT SAT FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS AND WHEN I LEFT I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THEN THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING AND BANGING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THERE HAS BEEN NO OIL LEAK OR BLACK SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. I HAD AN OIL LEAK AROUND 96,000 MILES THAT I TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED. ALTHOUGH I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIX IT PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. I FEEL THERE HAS BEEN SOME ERROR ON THEIR PART AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO GET INTO THE ENGINE AND SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND JUST WANT ME TO REPLACE THE ENGINE NO QUESTIONS ASKED. *TR

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS LOOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID. I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY CANNOT FIND WHERE THE FLUID IS GOING TO, ITS NOT LEAKING EXTERNAL, INTO THE RADIATOR OR TO THE ENGINE BUT THEY CONFIRMED IT IS LOOSING FLUID TO SOMEWHERE. ANY IDEAS ON THIS ISSUE? *TR