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 · 27,000 miles · Aug 14, 2015
Electrical System

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THEM DO RECOMMENDED SERVICE, ETC. AND HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. IN JULY 2014 MY CAR WAS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND AND I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. AT THAT TIME IT BARELY TURNED OVER AND STARTED, ALTHOU…

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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THEM DO RECOMMENDED SERVICE, ETC. AND HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. IN JULY 2014 MY CAR WAS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND AND I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. AT THAT TIME IT BARELY TURNED OVER AND STARTED, ALTHOUGH I HAD REPLACED THE BATTERY IN 2013. THE CAR HAD A FAULTY ALTERNATOR AND WHEN THEY WERE DOING SERVICE THEY ALSO DISCOVERED A BROKEN WATER PUMP. THE CAR ONLY HAD APPRX. 27,000 MILES AT THAT TIME. ON 8-9-15 THE CAR BARELY STARTED AND AS I BACKED OUT THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM WAS ANOTHER DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR! THE CAR ONLY HAS LESS THAN 32,000 MILES AND ANOTHER ALTERNATOR. ALTHOUGH THE PART WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP COVERED THE PART, BUT I HAD TO PAY 132.00 LABOR AND GO WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS. MY FAMILY AND I ALWAYS OWN TOYOTAS AND HAVE EXCELLENT SERVICE FROM THE CARS. THIS ONE, NOT SO MUCH! NOW I'M WONDERING WHAT WILL GO NEXT. I THINK THIS WILL BE MY LAST TOYOTA.

NHTSA ODI #10748690

2005 model year · 150,000 miles · Aug 13, 2015
Electrical SystemStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH BECAME INOPERABLE. AS A RESULT, THE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE TRUNK FAILED TO UNLATCH FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH BECAME INOPERABLE. AS A RESULT, THE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE TRUNK FAILED TO UNLATCH FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10748518

2010 model year · 168,000 miles · Aug 12, 2015
Electrical SystemService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN STATIONARY IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN STATIONARY IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ODI #10748200

2009 model year · 90,000 miles · Aug 10, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON A HILL, THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON A HILL, THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10747471

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

THIS FORM REQUIRED I ENTER AN INCIDENT DATE . THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT.I ENTERED THE INCIDENT DATE OF THE DATE OF MY RECALL NOTIFICATION.AFTER 6 MONTHS AND SEVERAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO MY DEALER, TOYOTA HAS STILL NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THEIR RECALL NOTIFICATION. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~…

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THIS FORM REQUIRED I ENTER AN INCIDENT DATE . THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT.I ENTERED THE INCIDENT DATE OF THE DATE OF MY RECALL NOTIFICATION.AFTER 6 MONTHS AND SEVERAL TELEPHONE CALLS TO MY DEALER, TOYOTA HAS STILL NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THEIR RECALL NOTIFICATION. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SAFETY RECALL NHTSA #15V043. MANUF.RECALL #D3B RECALL DATE JAN. 27 2015. I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA IN APPROX FEB 2015( I AM MEDICALLY DISABLED) AND THEN CALLED IN FEB 2015 MY LOCAL STADIUM TOYOTA TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL MAINTENANCE.ALWAYS THEY HAVE BEEN EXCEEDINGLY COURTEOUS AND COMPETENT WHEN I'VE USED THEM FOR OIL CHANGES AND ANOTHER RECALL SERVICE.THEY TOOK MY NAME/TELE NUMBER AND SAID THEY WILL CALL ME BACK WHEN THE SPECIFIC PARTS COME IN ......WHICH IS GENERALLY WHAT THE LETTER DOES SAY.("..WE WILL SEND ANOTHER NOTIFICATION ONCE PREPARATIONS ARE COMPLETE") I CALLED BACK STADIUM TOYOTA MAY 18 2015.THEY SAID THEY"WILL CALL ME TO SCHEDULE.... I CALLED BACK AGAIN JUNE 22 2105.THEY SAID THEY"WILL CALL ME TO SCHEDULE.... I WAS CALLED BY A GAL FROM STADIUM TOYOTA DO GENERAL MAINTENANCE THE WEEK OF JULY 23 2015 & TOLD HER I WAS ONLY INTERESTED IN THIS PARTICULAR RECALL ISSUE.( I SERVICE MY CAR ELSEWHERE BECAUSE,UNFORTUNATELY, STADIUM IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MY SSDI BUDGET) SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD HAVE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALL ME CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. JULY 27,2015, I DID TRY TO LEAVE A COMPLAINT VIA THE TELEPHONE COMPLAINT NUMBER BUT HUNG UP AFTER "HEAVY VOLUME" .NOW I AM LEAVING THIS COMPLAINT ON YOUR INTRANET.I DID VERIFY THAT THIS PARTICULAR RECALL IS THE ONLY OPEN RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE.WHAT A GREAT WEB SITE THIS IS !!!

NHTSA ODI #10744062

2005 model year · 125,000 miles · Jul 21, 2015
Electrical System

ALL THE SUDDEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT STOP ALL TOGETHER AND IT WILL NOT START UP AGAIN. I HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE CHECK FROM ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, FUSES ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO CABLES, ECT BUT NO LUCK AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #10735383

2009 model year · 126,000 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #10734690

2015 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

FILING A COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF OUR INSURED/POLICYHOLDER. SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE AND FOOT APPLIED ON BRAKE, AT THIS TIME THE ACCELERATOR BEGAN SURGING AND THE VEHICLE WHILE IN REVERSE AND BRAKE BEING PRESSED WENT UP IN SPEED TO POSSIBLY 35 MILES PER HOUR AND ACROSS THE STREET, HIT CURB AND JUMPED CURB, AND TH…

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FILING A COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF OUR INSURED/POLICYHOLDER. SHE WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE AND FOOT APPLIED ON BRAKE, AT THIS TIME THE ACCELERATOR BEGAN SURGING AND THE VEHICLE WHILE IN REVERSE AND BRAKE BEING PRESSED WENT UP IN SPEED TO POSSIBLY 35 MILES PER HOUR AND ACROSS THE STREET, HIT CURB AND JUMPED CURB, AND THE REAR END ULTIMATELY STRUCK A TREE AND CAME TO A REST IN THE OPPOSING HOME'S YARD. RESEARCH ONLINE SUCH AS THE LATIMES.COM SHOWS THAT THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF ACCELERATOR SURGING OCCURRING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI #10734509

2010 model year · 89,000 miles · Jul 6, 2015
Electrical System

I'M NOT 100% SURE IF THE MASTER SWITCH WINDOW IS PART OF THE RECALL BUT MY MASTER SWITCH WAS SMOKING AND I FELT LIKE IF I CONTINUED DRIVING EARLIER IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I COULD'VE LOST CONTROL BECAUSE MY SWITCH WAS LITERALLY SMOKING NON STOP. I WAS AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED, LUCKILY I WAS ON THE FIRST LIN…

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I'M NOT 100% SURE IF THE MASTER SWITCH WINDOW IS PART OF THE RECALL BUT MY MASTER SWITCH WAS SMOKING AND I FELT LIKE IF I CONTINUED DRIVING EARLIER IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I COULD'VE LOST CONTROL BECAUSE MY SWITCH WAS LITERALLY SMOKING NON STOP. I WAS AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED, LUCKILY I WAS ON THE FIRST LINE, I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE WINDOW SWITCH WITH MY ELBOW AND IT STARTED TO SMOKE. I WASN'T FEELING SAFE SO I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND I ASKED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO BRING MY CAR TO S NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER, I KEPT ASKING TOYOTA DEALER IF THIS WAS PART OF THE RECALL BUT THEY CANNOT ANSWER ME. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THIS. I MIGHT SWITCH MY CAR WITH SOME OTHER BRANDS OF I KEEP GETTING THIS KIND OF INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10732325

2010 model year · 89,000 miles · Jul 6, 2015
Electrical System

I'M NOT 100% SURE IF THE MASTER SWITCH WINDOW IS PART OF THE RECALL BUT MY MASTER SWITCH WAS SMOKING AND I FELT LIKE IF I CONTINUED DRIVING EARLIER IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I COULD'VE LOST CONTROL BECAUSE MY SWITCH WAS LITERALLY SMOKING NON STOP. I WAS AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED, LUCKILY I WAS ON THE FIRST LIN…

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I'M NOT 100% SURE IF THE MASTER SWITCH WINDOW IS PART OF THE RECALL BUT MY MASTER SWITCH WAS SMOKING AND I FELT LIKE IF I CONTINUED DRIVING EARLIER IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I COULD'VE LOST CONTROL BECAUSE MY SWITCH WAS LITERALLY SMOKING NON STOP. I WAS AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED, LUCKILY I WAS ON THE FIRST LINE, I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE WINDOW SWITCH WITH MY ELBOW AND IT STARTED TO SMOKE. I WASN'T FEELING SAFE SO I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND I ASKED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO BRING MY CAR TO S NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER, I KEPT ASKING TOYOTA DEALER IF THIS WAS PART OF THE RECALL BUT THEY CANNOT ANSWER ME. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THIS. I MIGHT SWITCH MY CAR WITH SOME OTHER BRANDS OF I KEEP GETTING THIS KIND OF INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10732324

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.===