COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Toyota Corolla electrical problems

878 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.

Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

52 crash reports78 fire reports24 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

539 reports with mileage · 339 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

878 reports
2009 model year · 78,000 miles · Nov 15, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

AFTER REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR IN MY 2009 COROLLA IN JULY 2015. MY TIMING CHAINS AND WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS UNAWARE AND SO WAS THE MECHANIC THAT THE TIMING BELTS WERE DAMAGED UNTIL AFTER THE WATER PUMP AND SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. DUE TO TIMING ISSUES FROM THE PREVIOUS MALFUNCTIONS, I A…

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AFTER REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR IN MY 2009 COROLLA IN JULY 2015. MY TIMING CHAINS AND WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS UNAWARE AND SO WAS THE MECHANIC THAT THE TIMING BELTS WERE DAMAGED UNTIL AFTER THE WATER PUMP AND SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. DUE TO TIMING ISSUES FROM THE PREVIOUS MALFUNCTIONS, I AM NOW IN NEED OF A NEW MOTOR. MY VEHICLE HAS ALL REQUIRED REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED AND MY VEHICLE HAS NOT EVEN MADE IT TO 80,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10790451

2013 model year · 10,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Electrical System

WHEN I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE RADIO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTS IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY. THE RADIO/NAVIGATION ALSO FREEZES AND YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO UNFREEZE IT. IT DOES THIS ON ALL TYPE OF ROADS, SMOOTH OR ROUGH, STRAIGHT OR CURVED. TOOK CA…

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WHEN I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE RADIO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM TURNS OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTS IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY. THE RADIO/NAVIGATION ALSO FREEZES AND YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO UNFREEZE IT. IT DOES THIS ON ALL TYPE OF ROADS, SMOOTH OR ROUGH, STRAIGHT OR CURVED. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR A FIX FROM TOYOTA USA. AFTER THE THIRD COMPLAINT THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE HEAD UNIT AND IN A WEEK THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I SUSPECT ITS A PROBLEM IN THE WIRING HARNESS.

NHTSA ODI #10790062

2009 model year · 60,500 miles · Nov 10, 2015
Electrical System

7.5Y OLD COROLLA LE WITH 61,000 MILES OF GENTLE DRIVING/EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND THE CAR STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, THROWING ME INTO PANIC. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A BANK PARKING LOT AT CHASE BANK ON 161 W SPRING CREEK PKWY, PLANO. MY PREVIOUS CAR WAS 1995 COROLLA, HAD SAME EXPERIENCE. I WO…

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7.5Y OLD COROLLA LE WITH 61,000 MILES OF GENTLE DRIVING/EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND THE CAR STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED, THROWING ME INTO PANIC. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A BANK PARKING LOT AT CHASE BANK ON 161 W SPRING CREEK PKWY, PLANO. MY PREVIOUS CAR WAS 1995 COROLLA, HAD SAME EXPERIENCE. I WOULD NEVER FEEL SAFE IN THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL THESE DENSO ALTERNATORS MAY BE DEFECTIVE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND GENTLE USE. ANYONE ELSE HAVE SIMILAR ISSUE WITH DENSO ALTERNATOR [MODEL 104210-5480]?

NHTSA ODI #10789453

2005 model year · 71,431 miles · Oct 28, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS STAY ON WHEN DRIVING, REGARDLESS OF WHERE TO DRIVE. HAVING THE VEHICLE CHECKED AT TOYOTA DEALER IN CONCORD, CA. THEY FOUND SPIRAL CABLE, LOCATED ON OR AT STEERING COLUMN, DEFECTIVE. AND IF LEFT UNFIXED, ACCORDING TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE POTENTIALLY UNEXPECTED DEPLOYED OR WONT DEPLOY A…

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AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS STAY ON WHEN DRIVING, REGARDLESS OF WHERE TO DRIVE. HAVING THE VEHICLE CHECKED AT TOYOTA DEALER IN CONCORD, CA. THEY FOUND SPIRAL CABLE, LOCATED ON OR AT STEERING COLUMN, DEFECTIVE. AND IF LEFT UNFIXED, ACCORDING TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE POTENTIALLY UNEXPECTED DEPLOYED OR WONT DEPLOY AT ALL AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SCARY SAFETY CONCERN TO ME, COSTLY BUT IT NEED TO BE FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HOPE TOYOTA WILL COVER OR SHARE THE COST WITH ME, ~$500 AT ESTIMATE.

NHTSA ODI #10786820

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), AND 15V286000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), AND 15V286000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10786131

2010 model year · 103,000 miles · Oct 22, 2015
Electrical System

HORN FAILED TO HONK WHEN NEEDED. IT DID NOT WORK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, IT DID NOT WORK ON A CITY STREET, IT DID NOT WORK PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE WIRE BECAME SEPARATED AND THERE WAS A VOID, THE WIRE COVER STAYED INTACT UNTIL I REMOVED THE CONNECTOR FROM THE HORN. I HAD TO CONNECT A NEW WIRE FROM THE EXIS…

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HORN FAILED TO HONK WHEN NEEDED. IT DID NOT WORK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, IT DID NOT WORK ON A CITY STREET, IT DID NOT WORK PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE WIRE BECAME SEPARATED AND THERE WAS A VOID, THE WIRE COVER STAYED INTACT UNTIL I REMOVED THE CONNECTOR FROM THE HORN. I HAD TO CONNECT A NEW WIRE FROM THE EXISTING WIRE AND RECONNECT TO THE HORN. ALL IS FINE NOW.

NHTSA ODI #10785448

2009 model year · 62,000 miles · Oct 21, 2015
Electrical System

DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH STARTED SMOKING AND I HAD TO TAKE IT OUT TO PREVENT A FIRE. ONE OF THE SWITCHES WOULD NOT OPERATE FREELY AND SEEMED TO GET STUCK. THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A FIRE AND WHEN I REMOVED IT I FOUND COMPONENTS MELTED. CANNOT OPERATE WINDOW AND IT IS IN OPEN POSITION. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT THE TIME AND…

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DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH STARTED SMOKING AND I HAD TO TAKE IT OUT TO PREVENT A FIRE. ONE OF THE SWITCHES WOULD NOT OPERATE FREELY AND SEEMED TO GET STUCK. THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A FIRE AND WHEN I REMOVED IT I FOUND COMPONENTS MELTED. CANNOT OPERATE WINDOW AND IT IS IN OPEN POSITION. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT THE TIME AND I HAD TO RETURN TO HOME AND PARK SINCE SWITCH WAS SMOKING.

NHTSA ODI #10785234

2004 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10785133

2015 model year · 17,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructureCrashInjury

ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AND EIGHTEEN WHEELER CAME OVER ON MY CAR AND HIT AND DRAGGED MY UNTIL MY DETACHED FROM THE TRUCK SPIN AROUND AND THE BACK OF MY CAR SLAMMED INTO THE MEDIAN WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 10/29/15*BF

NHTSA ODI #10782267

2007 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

ENGINE STALLED AND DOES NOT START!

NHTSA ODI #10780988

Related Official recalls

3

95V195001 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Oct 11, 1995

THE BATTERY CAN HAVE A DEFECTIVE WELD INSIDE THE POSITIVE AND/OR NEGATIVE TERMINAL ALLOWING THE CONNECTION INSIDE THE TERMINAL TO SEPARATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION, OR A BATTERY EXPLOSION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE BATTERIES.

94V220000 · Electrical System:wiring

Nov 8, 1994

AN UNUSED HARNESS CONNECTOR FOR POWER WINDOWS, POWER DOOR LOCKS AND SUNROOF WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED UNDER THE FLOOR CARPET IN THE LEFT KICK PANEL. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHERE LARGE AMOUNTS OF ROAD SALTS ARE USED, THE SALT WATER OR SNOW CARRIED INTO THE VEHICLE BY THE DRIVER'S SHOES CAN PENETRATE THE CARPET AND DRIP ONTO THE CONNECTOR RESULTING IN THE FORMATION OF A SALT BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TERMINALS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT INSIDE THE HARNESS, AND CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE UNUSED HARNESS CONNECTOR.

83V133000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

Dec 8, 1983

VOLTAGE REGULATOR WHICH CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF FLOW IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR, MAY HAVE MANUFACTURING ERRORS IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT. THE REGULATOR MAY OVERCHARGE THE BATTERY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AT NO CHARGE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

1

PE87057 · Igniter Assembly Failure

Opened Sep 10, 1987 · Closed Mar 30, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

SUMMARY: TOYOTA RECOVERED SOME FAILED IGNITION CONTROL MODULES FROM THEFIELD. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT A SOLDER JOINT IN THE POWER TRANSISTOROF THE MODULE WAS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. BECAUSE THE PART IS AN EMISSIONRELATED COMPONENT A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS CONDUCTED.THE PREDOMINANT MODE OF FAILURE IS AN INABILITY TO START THE ENGINE,ALTHOUGH A STALLED CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.SINCE THE REPORTED OCCURENCE OF ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IS SMALL, AND THEREPAIR IS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN, THELIKLEHOOD OF FURTHER ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IS REMOTE.===