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
2010 model year · 65,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Electrical System

I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. SEVERAL ENGINE LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, MY CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE VERY SLOWLY. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THE LIGHT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN COAST DOWNHILL TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF A 4-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY T…

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I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. SEVERAL ENGINE LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, MY CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE VERY SLOWLY. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THE LIGHT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN COAST DOWNHILL TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF A 4-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE HAD SHORT-CIRCUITED AND REPLACED IT IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS, THE PART # BEING 8966102F54. THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE NOW. I'M SCARED THOUGH, THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN, OR THAT IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED, OR THAT MY TEENAGE DAUGHTERS WOULD HAVE PANICKED IN THE SITUATION AND MAY HAVE BEEN HIT WHILE GOING THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576704

2009 model year · 25,975 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 18,000 MILES ON IT IN JULY OF 2010. AND I HAVE ALL SERVICE DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALER. AT 25,975 MILES, REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES, MACHINED ROTORS, BRAKE FLUID FLUSH, CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES(1/28/12). (BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT). AT 37,966 MILES , REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES AGAIN(12/21/12). PADS …

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 18,000 MILES ON IT IN JULY OF 2010. AND I HAVE ALL SERVICE DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALER. AT 25,975 MILES, REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES, MACHINED ROTORS, BRAKE FLUID FLUSH, CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES(1/28/12). (BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT). AT 37,966 MILES , REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES AGAIN(12/21/12). PADS LASTED 11,991 MILES! AT 55,662 MILES, REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES, MACHINED ROTORS AGAIN(2/20/2014). PADS LASTED 17,696 MILES! SINCE I DO MAINLY HIGHWAY DRIVING, I FEEL THAT THERE IS A DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT BRAKE ABNORMAL WEAR. ALSO, AT 50,548 REPLACED #2 STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. AT, 50,691 REPLACED ALTERNATOR. AT 55,662 REPLACED WATER PUMP, COOLANT AND DRIVE BELT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573336

2012 model year · 7,100 miles · Mar 5, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT A RODENT HAD BREACHED THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGED WIRES TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AB…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT A RODENT HAD BREACHED THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGED WIRES TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10567411

2006 model year · 54,500 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RANDOMLY 5 TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 MONTHS. FILED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA. ECM SEEMS TO BE ACTING UP, THEY THINK IT'S AN ISSUE WITH A MANIFOLD GASKET. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER THIS WEEK TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563682

2009 model year · 52,800 miles · Jan 28, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ABS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR, AND THE POWER ASSIST VACUUM SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ABS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR, AND THE POWER ASSIST VACUUM SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,800.

NHTSA ODI #10561760

2009 model year · 67,235 miles · Nov 16, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructureCrash

ON 10/21/2013 AT ABOUT 12 AM I WAS DROPPING OFF MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN FRONT OF OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX. I WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA 2009 COROLLA (VIN-[XXX]). THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN, ABRUPT AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT DID NOT STOP. IT WENT OVER A CURB IN THE PARKING LOT AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE …

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ON 10/21/2013 AT ABOUT 12 AM I WAS DROPPING OFF MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN FRONT OF OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX. I WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA 2009 COROLLA (VIN-[XXX]). THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN, ABRUPT AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT DID NOT STOP. IT WENT OVER A CURB IN THE PARKING LOT AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE STANDING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR...UPDATED 11/03/14 *BF UPDATED 8/5/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10552563

2004 model year · 80,000 miles · Oct 22, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND CREATES A WATER PUDDLE ON THE ROAD, WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR THROUGH IT, WATER GOES UP UNDER THE CAR CAUSING IT TO LOSE POWER, TO MOMENTARILY SHUT DOWN AND I LOSE MY STEERING. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL. ALSO WHEN I COME TO A STOP THE CAR STARTS SHAKING OR VIBRATING AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT …

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EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND CREATES A WATER PUDDLE ON THE ROAD, WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR THROUGH IT, WATER GOES UP UNDER THE CAR CAUSING IT TO LOSE POWER, TO MOMENTARILY SHUT DOWN AND I LOSE MY STEERING. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL. ALSO WHEN I COME TO A STOP THE CAR STARTS SHAKING OR VIBRATING AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548856

2007 model year · 110,000 miles · Oct 16, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITHIN A MINUTE BUT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE (ECM) ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITHIN A MINUTE BUT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE (ECM) ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10548117

2010 model year · 73,000 miles · Oct 15, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes, Hydraulic

PREMATURELY FAILING: STRUTS (REPAIRED SUMMER OF 2013), WATER PUMP (REPAIRED 10/15/13), BRAKES (REPAIRED 10/15/13), AND ALTERNATOR (YET TO BE REPAIRED). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547941

2003 model year · 50,000 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsVisibility

1. ELECTRICAL: DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP AFTER ROLLING THEM DOWN. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BUTTON WAS NOT BROKE...& PHYSICALLY WORKED WHEN PUSHED DOWN OR PULLED UP BUT DID NOT ROLL THE WINDOW UP. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BUTTON ACTUALLY BROKE/CAVED IN WHEN PUSHED TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN. ONCE ROLLED DOWN...I…

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1. ELECTRICAL: DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP AFTER ROLLING THEM DOWN. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BUTTON WAS NOT BROKE...& PHYSICALLY WORKED WHEN PUSHED DOWN OR PULLED UP BUT DID NOT ROLL THE WINDOW UP. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BUTTON ACTUALLY BROKE/CAVED IN WHEN PUSHED TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN. ONCE ROLLED DOWN...IT WOULD NOT ROLL UP. 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER: AIR CONDITIONER BARELY BLOWS ANY AIR OUT OF VENTS. WHEN SET ON "HIGHEST FAN OPTION"...U CAN HEAR IT WORKING & CAN FEEL COOL AIR BUT U HAVE TO HAVE YOUR FACE 2 INCHES IN FRONT OF VENT TO FEEL IT. 3. SEAT BELTS: PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT CLICK/LOCK INTO LOCKING DEVICE TO KEEP SEATBELT ON. DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING BREAKING IT...JUST WOULDN'T "CLICK" INTO LOCKING DEVICE ONE DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547273

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.===