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
2014 model year · 200 miles · Aug 26, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE THAT I HAD JUST PURCHASED AND BELIEVED THAT I HAD TURNED ON THE LIGHTS OF MY VEHICLE. IN REALITY I WAS DRIVING WITH THE TAILLIGHTS OFF BECAUSE THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS IN THE "DLR" POSITION. (THE LIGHT SWITCH IS BEHIND THE STEERI…

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I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE THAT I HAD JUST PURCHASED AND BELIEVED THAT I HAD TURNED ON THE LIGHTS OF MY VEHICLE. IN REALITY I WAS DRIVING WITH THE TAILLIGHTS OFF BECAUSE THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS IN THE "DLR" POSITION. (THE LIGHT SWITCH IS BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL WITH SMALL LETTERS THAT CAN'T BE READ IN THE DARK). THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE TAILLIGHTS ARE OFF WHEN THE SWITCH IS IN THIS POSITION. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AS WELL AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION. SINCE THEN I HAVE SEEN THE SAME VEHICLE / MODEL YEAR DRIVING WITHOUT TAILLIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN APPROXIMATELY 5 OCCASIONS. I BELIEVE THAT SOONER OR LATER THIS DESIGN FLAW WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628537

2009 model year · 48,000 miles · Aug 8, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

1. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 25 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER; I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 2 MPH INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION. THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS NOT ON, BUT THE ORANGE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER 5 MINUTES, THE EMPLOYEE WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND I DROVE ONE MILE TO MY HOME. MY REPAIR MECHANIC DID A COMPUTER SCAN INDICATING …

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1. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 25 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER; I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 2 MPH INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION. THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS NOT ON, BUT THE ORANGE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER 5 MINUTES, THE EMPLOYEE WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND I DROVE ONE MILE TO MY HOME. MY REPAIR MECHANIC DID A COMPUTER SCAN INDICATING POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH A SWITCH AND SUGGESTED THAT I DRIVE AROUND FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE RETURNING. 2. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED 10 DAYS LATER. I GLIDED INTO A PARKING LOT, WAITED 10 MIN., AND THE CAR RESUMED AT REGULAR SPEED. 3. ON 8/7/14, I DROVE 2 MI. BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AT A REGULAR SPEED. A SECOND SCAN COULD NOT BE COMPLETED BECAUSE THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP'S COMPUTER. AT THIS POINT THE CAR IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND MUST BE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. I WAS ADVISED THAT I MAY NEED A NEW COMPUTER. MY 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS ABOUT 48,000 MILES ON IT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPUTER FAILURE IS NORMAL WITHIN THE AGE AND MILEAGE RANGE OF THIS CAR. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10620998

2014 model year · 7,000 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure

TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WENT FROM A SINGLE CLEAR COVER ANGLED TOWARDS THE FRONT TO 2 SEPARATE INSTRUMENT COVERS ANGLED TOWARDS THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE DESIGN OF THESE COVERS RESULTS IN EXTREME REFLECTIONS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER DURING MORNIN…

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TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WENT FROM A SINGLE CLEAR COVER ANGLED TOWARDS THE FRONT TO 2 SEPARATE INSTRUMENT COVERS ANGLED TOWARDS THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE DESIGN OF THESE COVERS RESULTS IN EXTREME REFLECTIONS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER DURING MORNING AND AFTERNOON HOURS WHEN THE SUN ENTERS THE VEHICLE FROM THE SIDE. THE REFLECTIONS UNDER THESE CONDITIONS ARE SO EXTREME THAT I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE. TINTING THE WINDOWS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. ON JULY, 03, 2014 I HAD TO GUESS MY SPEED BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER WAS UNREADABLE. I RECEIVED A SPEEDING TICKET SAYING THAT I WAS GOING AT A SPEED WHICH WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAVE DRIVEN OVER 20 DIFFERENT CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD A SITUATION WHERE I WAS NOT ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER, EVEN IN MY 1968 OLDSMOBILE. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, A CAR MANUFACTURER HAS TO DESIGN THE SPEEDOMETER THE WAY THAT IT CAN BE READ UNDER ANY CONDITIONS WHICH IS POSSIBLE. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA'S ENGINEERS TOTALLY NEGLECTED THE PROBLEM OF SUNLIGHT REFLECTIONS WHEN DESIGNING THE 2014 COROLLA INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619002

2004 model year · 180,000 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

OUR AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AIRBAG SERVICE OF UTAH. THEY FOUND THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE, SO A NEW PART WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED. TOYOTA RECALLED VEHICLES WITH THE SAME SPIRAL CABLE ISSUE, BUT ONLY BEGINNING WITH MODEL YEAR 2005. OURS IS A 2004 MODEL, AND WE FEEL THAT THE EXPENSES WE PUT INT…

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OUR AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AIRBAG SERVICE OF UTAH. THEY FOUND THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE, SO A NEW PART WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED. TOYOTA RECALLED VEHICLES WITH THE SAME SPIRAL CABLE ISSUE, BUT ONLY BEGINNING WITH MODEL YEAR 2005. OURS IS A 2004 MODEL, AND WE FEEL THAT THE EXPENSES WE PUT INTO REPLACING THIS PART SHOULD BE REIMBURSED AS PART OF THE RECALL ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619118

2009 model year · 47,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY CHECK BATTERY LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TEMP INDICATED VEHICLE WAS HOT. PULLED OVER AS SOON AS ABLE TO SAFELY DO SO. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617186

2009 model year · 8,500 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesStructure

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE WATER PUMP GO OUT THE BRAKES THE ALTERNATOR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES THE AIR BAG HAS HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED THE GAS LEVER STOPPED WORKING AND NOW THE TRUNK RELEASE WON'T WORK I HAVE REPLACED NOW 5 TIRES BECAUSE ONE BLOW RIGHT AFTER I GOT THE CAR AND NOW MY CAR HAS JUST 85 THOUSAND MILE…

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THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE WATER PUMP GO OUT THE BRAKES THE ALTERNATOR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES THE AIR BAG HAS HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED THE GAS LEVER STOPPED WORKING AND NOW THE TRUNK RELEASE WON'T WORK I HAVE REPLACED NOW 5 TIRES BECAUSE ONE BLOW RIGHT AFTER I GOT THE CAR AND NOW MY CAR HAS JUST 85 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I HAVE HEARD SO MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT TOYOTA BUT THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWN I WILL NEVER BUY OR ADVISE ANYONE TO BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616049

2007 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

EXPERIENCING AIR BAG LIGHT ON. WAS TOLD AT DEALER I NEEDED THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE REPLACED INSIDE STEERING COLUMN. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL THE THE SPIRAL CABLE ON CERTAIN TOYOTA MODELS. I QUESTION IF THE 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608951

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2014
Electrical System

VEHICLE MILEAGE DOES NOT MATCH CARFAX REPORT. LIKELY ODOMETER TAMPERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604553

2006 model year · 68,000 miles · Jun 17, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering

OUR TOYOTA COROLLA 2006 HAD A SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COME ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER?S AIRBAG MODULE IS ATTACHED TO A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS THAT HAVE BECOME DAMAGED FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DAMAGE TO THE SPINAL WIRE CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING …

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OUR TOYOTA COROLLA 2006 HAD A SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COME ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER?S AIRBAG MODULE IS ATTACHED TO A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS THAT HAVE BECOME DAMAGED FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DAMAGE TO THE SPINAL WIRE CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP TO ILLUMINATE WHICH MEANS THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SPINAL CORD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A SIMILAR ISSUE ON OTHER COROLLAS I BELIEVE THEY ARE YEARS 2009 AND 2010 AND SO I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO SINCE IT IS HAPPENING ON OUR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598856

2008 model year · 77,236 miles · Jun 12, 2014
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER, NO POWER BRAKES,STEERING ,ALL THE GAUGES LOOKED AS IF THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STARTED. IT RESTARTED BY ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS WHICH WAS A GOOD THING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR FROM THE M…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER, NO POWER BRAKES,STEERING ,ALL THE GAUGES LOOKED AS IF THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STARTED. IT RESTARTED BY ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS WHICH WAS A GOOD THING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE SHOULDER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH VERY LIMITED STEERING AND BRAKE AND DECELERATING RAPIDLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597813

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.===