2003 Toyota Corolla Complaint Log

CONSUMER STATED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED, WHICH POSED A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN UTILIZING THE WASHINGTON STATE FERRY. FERRY REGULATIONS REQUIRED HEAD LIGHTS TO BE DISENGAGED WHILE RIDING. TS THE VEHICLE HAD NO OFF SWITCH TO DISENGAGE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. *TT *JB

CONSUMER STATED HAD PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR. DUE TO ITS LOCATION AND/OR DESIGN THE VISOR MOVED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FROM THE ADJUSTED POSITION WHENEVER MOVED. CONSUMER CAN NOT PROPERLY ADJUST REAR VIEW MIRROR WHEN VISOR IS DOWN. TS CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF WHICH IS REQUIRED BY LAW WHEN BOARDING OR DEBARKING THE WASHINGTON STATE FERRY. ALSO WHEN DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT IS REMOVED FROM THE MOVABLE HOOKS, DIRT AND DEBRIS IS SPILLED ONTO THE CARPET. *TT

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

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BEING IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 25 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO STATED THAT DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND HAS DECLINED TO GIVE ANY SERVICE TO THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT HAS SPOKEN TO THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY ARE GIVING HIM THE RUN AROUND. TS

BRAKE FAILURE ! TRAVELIN APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL. TAP BRAKE TO RELEASE CRUISE. BEGIN COASTING. APPROACHING 4 WAY RED FLASHER. BEGIN BRAKING. NOTICE NOT SLOWING DOWN AS USUAL. BEGIN BRAKING HARDER. REALIZE NOT SLOWING DOWN. ATTEMPT TO STEER THROUGH INTERSECTION, BUT HIT TRAILER OF CROSSING VEHICLE.*AK

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

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

WHILE AT A STOP, WITH THE ENGINE IDLING,THE VEHICLE WILL MOMENTARILY SURGE FORWARD. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER SENT A RECALL LETTER FOR THE FIRESTONE TIRES FR690. CONSUMER WAS TOLD TIRES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. TS

(1) ROTTEN-EGG SMELL FROM DAY 1 (PURCHASED 9/2002) W/ COOLING OR HEATING SYSTEM FUNCTION. DEALER TOLD ME TO SWITCH OCTANE AND DO NOT USE RECIRCULATION - NO IMPROVEMENT. (2) IN 11/2003, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT, DRAINED BATTERY. DEALER SAID TSB HAD BEEN RELEASED - PART ORDERED & INSTALLED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. (3) IN 1/2004, LEAKING OIL FROM UNDER CAR, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE - DEALER SAID RIGHT FRONT STRUT LEAKING & "COMPLETELY BLOWN." HAD TO BE REPLACED & CAR REQUIRED SUBSEQUENT ALIGNMENT. *JB

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

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

WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, OUR 2003 COROLLA WAS INVOLVED IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE BRAKES FAILED, BOTH OF WHICH RESULTED IN COLLISIONS. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (JUNE 12, 2002), WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE (OVER WHICH THE DRIVER NO LONGER HAD CONTROL) COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE IN FRONT. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THIS COLLISION RESULTED IN INJURIES TO THE DRIVER OF THE COROLLA, AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE COROLLA. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT (AUGUST 29, 2002), THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR. THIS COLLISION ALSO RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE COROLLA.*AK

ROTTEN EGG SMELL- POOR GAS MILEAGE (29 MPG- MOSTLY HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE) WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A ROTTEN EGG SMELL. WE HAVE COMPLAINED AND WERE TOLD THE FOLLOWING: 1) THERE'S NOTHING WRONG- IT OPERATING CORRECTLY. 2) YOU'RE RUNNING THE WRONG TYPE OF GAS (WE'VE TRIED ALL TYPES) 3) YOU NEED TO RUN THE CAR ON RECIRCULATION ALL THE TIME SO THAT YOU WON'T SMELL IT.

BAD SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN RUNNING ENGINE

MFR CASE #200209030112; DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR WILL STRIKE REARVIEW MIRROR, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW. THIS IS A DESIGN FEATURE THAT NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED. *AK *YH

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS INCLUDING THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS GOES OUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHCILE BUT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH REAR BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURIES.*JB

MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY OF 2002 HAS HAD SEVERAL DASHBOARD AND RADIO ISSUES. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWHICH MY RADIO NO LONGER WAS FLUSH WITH DASH, THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL CONTACTED TOYOTA DIRECTLY, THEY SENT A MANFACTURING REP WHOM FIXED THE RADIO HOWEVER CREATED A BIGGER GAP B/W RADIO AND REST OF CONSOLE. TOYOTA IS CONSIDERING THIS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN NOT A DEFECT. WAS TOLD WOULD "ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL" IN ORDER TO FIX. NOW DASH IS FALLING APART AGAIN AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE FRONT CONSOLE. LOOKS AS THOUGH WAS GLUED TOGETHER.*AK

ENGINE - SULFUR SMELL CONTINUOUS SINCE PURCHASE OF '03 TOYOTA, COROLLA. MOSTLY WHEN STOPPED AND ENGINE COOL, BUT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN WARM. HAVE GONE 17,000 SINCE PURCHASE IN JULY, 2002 AND SMELL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. DEALER HAS SO FAR NOT BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE EMMISSIONS PROBLEM.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF WHICH WAS A RESULT OF A DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED BATTERY, AND BATTERY WENT DEAD AGAIN, REPLACED A RELAY SWITCH. PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. SOMETHING WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. DEALER CONTACTED. CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE PROBLEM IS . WHEN I START MY CAR I "MUST" PRESS ON THE CLUTCH VERY HARD ( ALL THE WAY INWARDS ) IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS.*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

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

THIS MODEL IS A 2003 BOUGHT IN MARCH 2002. THERE A STRONG SMELL OF SULPHUR/ROTTEN EGG WHEN ENGINE COLD OR CAR CLIMBS A HILL. DURATION ABOUT 5 MINUTES. TOYOTA'S EXPLANATION: IT IS CAUSED BY THE SULPHUR IN GAS , PROBLEM WILL VANISH OVER TIME, NO REMEDY EXISTS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUILD AS PER SPECS AND STANDARDS. THE SMELL PERSISTS TODAY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER. ANY TECHNICAL REASONS YOU KNOW , ANYTHING THAT TOYOTA COULD DO AND IS NOT DOING ? THANKS

BRAKES FAILED-BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME IN BUSY FREEWAY CONDITIONS. I FEARED FOR MY LIFE AS I STRUGGLED TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. THANK GOD I DID. THAT 2003 COROLLA ALMOST KILLED ME. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND EXCHANGED ME INTO ANOTHER COROLLA.*AK

SUNVISOR MOVES DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WHILE TRAVELING. CONSUMER WILL FILL IN FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I BROUGHT A 1999 TOYOTA COROLA IN 2000, IN 2001 32,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISION FAILED, TOYOTA REPLACED THE TRANSMISION WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. THIS MONTH MAY 2003 41,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISION FAILED AGAIN SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA I'M NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY AND I HAVE TO PAY 4,396.71 FOR THE REPAIR COST. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS, IF THE TRANSMISION KEEP FAILING EVERY 30,000 TO 40,000 MILES OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA AND FROM DAY ONE IT HAS HAD A HORRID ODOR IN COLD WEATHER MONTHS, A SMELL LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP REPEATEDLY AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, THAT IT IS THE GAS. NOT TRUE! THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT AT TIMES I CANNOT STAND TO RUN THE HEATER, AND PEOPLE DRIVING BEHIND ME CAN SMELL IT TOO. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOTALLY IGNORED ALL COMPLAINTS. *LA

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WITH ONLY 120,000 MILES NEEDS NEW MANUAL TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $3800 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS MAKING LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING AND HAVING CONVULSIONS WHICH FORCED US TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS "WARNING SIGNS" THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. ALL WARRANTY MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT UP TO DATE ON THIS VEHICLE AT THE RIGHT TIME. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS SINCE THEY NOW SEEM TO BE MORE AND MORE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST THIS PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR COROLLA. *TR

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDOW IS NOT BALANCED WITH THE TRACKS FOR THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH WHICH MAKES THE WINDOW GO UP AND DOWN. *KB THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IF THE BOLTS WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, THEN IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *JB

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HEATING SYSTEM EMITS A ROTTEN ODOR WHEN ACTIVATED.*MR SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE WHEN THE HEATING SYSTEM IS ON THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT SULFUR (ROTTEN EGG) ODOR EMITTED. CONSUMER STATED, THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BURN OFF, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. WAS TOLD BY DEALERS TO CHANGE GASOLINE, BUT THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *BF *NM

WHEN SNAPPING THE DRIVER SIDE BACK TO NORMAL, UPRIGHT POSITION, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE LATCH WAS NOT CENTERED IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT. *PH ALSO, THE SEAT CAN BE PULLED ON THE SIDE WITHOUT THE LATCH AND THE SEAT EASILY MOVES OUT. *LA

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SURGED,WHICH FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO STOP. *PH TOYOTA FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

VEHICLE LOSES CONTROL WHEN BEING DRIVEN ABOVE 50 MPH. THIS MAINLY OCCURS WHEN BEING DRIVEN OVER A BRIDGE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEM. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR KNOCKED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THIS OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE DRIVER PULLED THE VISOR DOWN OR PUSHED IT BACK UP. *LA THE CONSUMER LEARNED THAT THE ORIGINAL REAR VIEW MIRROR IS REMOVED AT THE PORT AND REPLACED WITH A LARGER AFTER MARKET MIRROR THAT HAS BUILT IN MAP LIGHTS. *NM

CONSUMER DISCOVERED A WATER LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. *PH WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, WHICH WAS A 2004 COROLLA, SHE DISCOVERED MOLDING AT THE BASE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. *JB *NM

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *AK

THE GAS USED IN THE STATE CONSUMER LIVED IN CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCUMULATE SULFUR. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SULFUR. WHICH INDICATED THAT EXHAUST WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE EXHAUST GETTING CAUGHT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER/ DEALERSHIP WERE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE A REMEDY HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. THERE WAS A TSB ON ON THIS ISSUE, NOT FOUND IN ARTEMIS.*AK

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

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

BRAKE SHOES, ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR.*AK *TS *NLM

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

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

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING DURING THE DAY, HE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE DASH INDICATOR DUE TO SUN LIGHT. *AK DUE TO EXTREME GLARE, IT REDUCED THE CONSUMERS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. INSTRUMENT PANEL BECOMES UNREADABLE. *PH *JB

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