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 · 27,500 miles · Jan 25, 2011
Electrical System

THE RADIO SHUTS DOWN FOR SECONDS AT A TIME - OBVIOUS POWER FAILURE. WHEN THE POWER IS RESTORED (SECONDS LATER) RADIO RETURNS TO SAME STATION. WHEN IT HAPPENS RADIO LIGHT ONLY GOES OFF THEN COMES BACK ON. USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES, THEN IT HAPPENS NON STOP EVEN WITH THE VOLUME DOWN. SOUNDS LIK…

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THE RADIO SHUTS DOWN FOR SECONDS AT A TIME - OBVIOUS POWER FAILURE. WHEN THE POWER IS RESTORED (SECONDS LATER) RADIO RETURNS TO SAME STATION. WHEN IT HAPPENS RADIO LIGHT ONLY GOES OFF THEN COMES BACK ON. USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES, THEN IT HAPPENS NON STOP EVEN WITH THE VOLUME DOWN. SOUNDS LIKE A ROCK IS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS A VERY LOUD, VERY STARTLING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378562

2008 model year · 12,995 miles · Jan 12, 2011
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DURING BRIGHT CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT COULD NOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO REPAIR FOR THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,995 AND THE C…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DURING BRIGHT CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT COULD NOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO REPAIR FOR THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,995 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI #10376425

2009 model year · 50,000 miles · Jan 9, 2011
Electrical SystemSteering

2009 COROLLA SEEMS TO FLOAT ALL OVER THE ROAD AND CAN'T KEEP IT STRAIGHT. JUST TODAY THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. UNTIL NOW I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE WIND OR MY TIRES. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES BUT STILL THE SAME PROBLEM OF WONDERING ALL OVER THE ROAD. I EXPERIENCE THIS AT ALL SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375270

2004 model year · 102,000 miles · Jan 3, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE I BELIEVE HAS AN ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) PROBLEM. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WANTED TO SHUT OFF AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ERRATIC RPM FLUCTUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP OR HESITATES WHEN TAKING OFF. TOYOTA HAS DONE A RECALL ON SOME OF THE 2005 THRU 2008 MODELS AND I BELIEVE THIS MODEL S…

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THE VEHICLE I BELIEVE HAS AN ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) PROBLEM. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WANTED TO SHUT OFF AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ERRATIC RPM FLUCTUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP OR HESITATES WHEN TAKING OFF. TOYOTA HAS DONE A RECALL ON SOME OF THE 2005 THRU 2008 MODELS AND I BELIEVE THIS MODEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED SINCE IT USES THE SAME ECM AND HAS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE OTHER MODELS

NHTSA ODI #10374469

1993 model year · 123,000 miles · Jan 2, 2011
Electrical SystemFire

CAR WAS PERFECT JUST CAME HOME FROM PICKING MY MOTHER UP..SON CAME HOME A FEW MINUTES LATER, LESS THAN FIVE MINS. AND TOLD ME MY HORN WAS MAKING A FUNNY SOUND AND CAR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING, I THEN WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE AND NOTICED LIGHTS WERE ON , AND WHEN I WENT TO SEE IF I LEFT THEM ON, I OPENED THE DOOR AND NOTICED THERE WAS A …

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CAR WAS PERFECT JUST CAME HOME FROM PICKING MY MOTHER UP..SON CAME HOME A FEW MINUTES LATER, LESS THAN FIVE MINS. AND TOLD ME MY HORN WAS MAKING A FUNNY SOUND AND CAR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING, I THEN WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE AND NOTICED LIGHTS WERE ON , AND WHEN I WENT TO SEE IF I LEFT THEM ON, I OPENED THE DOOR AND NOTICED THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. AS I RAN INSIDE THE HOUSE TO GET WATER TO PUT FIRE OUT, I HAD MY WIFE CALL THE FIRE DEPT. AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES I CAME OUTSIDE AND SAW THE VEHICLE INTERIOR COMPLETELY ENGULFED. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND SNOWING WITH SALT ON THE GROUND . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373756

2010 model year · 1,900 miles · Dec 30, 2010
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH 1,900 MILES ON IT, I PURCHASED THE VEH IN THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY RIGHT ARM WOULD COLLECT STATIC ELECTRICITY WHEN I WOULD PLACE IT ON TOP OF THE CENTER ARM REST/CONSOLE. AT FIRST I WOULD ONLY GET THE STATIC SPARK WHEN I TOUCHED THE METAL FRA…

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I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH 1,900 MILES ON IT, I PURCHASED THE VEH IN THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY RIGHT ARM WOULD COLLECT STATIC ELECTRICITY WHEN I WOULD PLACE IT ON TOP OF THE CENTER ARM REST/CONSOLE. AT FIRST I WOULD ONLY GET THE STATIC SPARK WHEN I TOUCHED THE METAL FRAME OF MY DOOR, THEN WHEN I ENTERED THE VEHICLE I WOULD ONCE AGAIN COLLECT THE STATIC ELECTRICITY ON MY RIGHT ARM FROM THE CENTER ARM REST/CONSOLE. I BEGAN TO JUST NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE STATIC BUILD UP I WOULD GET UNTIL YESTERDAY DECEMBER 29, 2010. I EXCITED MY VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO OPEN MY GAS COMPARTMENT DOOR, AS I TOUCHED THE COMPARTMENT DOOR, I RECEIVED THE STATIC SPARK. NOW I AM BECOMING CONCERN BECAUSE IT HAPPEN WHEN I TOUCHED THE COMPARTMENT DOOR HAD IT HAPPENED A FEW SECONDS LATER I COULD HAVE BEEN PUMPING GAS. I DROVE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER NEAR MY HOME AND WAS ASKED TO SIT IN ANOTHER 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA AND I ALSO BUILD UP STATIC ELECTRICITY, THEN THEY HAD ME SIT IN A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. CLEARLY THE TYPE OF MATERIAL USED ON THE CENTER ARM REST/CONSOLE IS CAUSING THIS STATIC BUILD UP ON MY ARM. THE MATERIAL USED IN THE CAMRY IS NOT CAUSING THIS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY STATIC COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE INVESTIGATE THIS, IT ISN'T SAFE TO GO PUMP GAS WHILE HAVING STATIC ELECTRICITY. I CAN SHOW ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT HOW THE HAIRS ON MY ARM STAND UP ONCE I TOUCH THE CENTER ARM REST/CONSOLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373554

2007 model year · 130,000 miles · Dec 29, 2010
Electrical System

2007 TOYOTA COROLLA SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM IT APPEARS TO BE A BAD ECM WHICH APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA COROLLAS BETWEEN THE YEARS 05 2005-2007. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THE CAR JUST DIES. MANY FORUMS HAVE STATED THAT THEY WERE FORTUNATE THAT THEY WERE NOT REAR END…

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2007 TOYOTA COROLLA SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM IT APPEARS TO BE A BAD ECM WHICH APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA COROLLAS BETWEEN THE YEARS 05 2005-2007. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THE CAR JUST DIES. MANY FORUMS HAVE STATED THAT THEY WERE FORTUNATE THAT THEY WERE NOT REAR ENDED. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS ITEM AND AVOID POTENTIAL HARM TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373206

2007 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingCrash

2007 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPEED UP BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE WAITING AT A LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY…

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2007 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPEED UP BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE WAITING AT A LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE CONSUMER HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, AND THEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS MADE AND TO SEE WHY THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10370152

2008 model year · 10 miles · Nov 23, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DISPLAY THE INCORRECT MILEAGE WHICH WAS 10000, BUT THE ODOMETER DISPLAYED 0 MILES AND LATER DISPLAYED 17000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT THEY COULD NOT DE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DISPLAY THE INCORRECT MILEAGE WHICH WAS 10000, BUT THE ODOMETER DISPLAYED 0 MILES AND LATER DISPLAYED 17000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10000.

NHTSA ODI #10367255

2007 model year · 52,617 miles · Nov 16, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, ElectricSteering

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 11/14/10 AND CAR STARTED SLAM SHIFTING, AND DIED ON FREEWAY. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN, AND I TOOK IT TO XX IN MORENO VALLEY NEXT DAY. DEALER SAID FAULTY ECU (DTC P2716) AND THE PART MUST BE ORDERED. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PROVIDE A LOANER CAR BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR WITH A FAULTY ECM. I W…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 11/14/10 AND CAR STARTED SLAM SHIFTING, AND DIED ON FREEWAY. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN, AND I TOOK IT TO XX IN MORENO VALLEY NEXT DAY. DEALER SAID FAULTY ECU (DTC P2716) AND THE PART MUST BE ORDERED. I ASKED IF THEY COULD PROVIDE A LOANER CAR BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR WITH A FAULTY ECM. I WAS TOLD PART WILL MOST LIKELY BE IN TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY. THE DEALER SAID A LOANER CAR WOULD NOT BE PROVIDED UNLESS THE CAR TOTALLY STOP OPERATING. I LIVE IN SAN BERNARDINO AND WORK IN MORENO VALLEY, APPROX 26 MILES ONE WAY. I HAVE AAA TOWING BASIC FOR 6 MILES. I WOULD USUALLY PURCHASE AAA SOUTHERN CA AUTOMOBILE CLUB TOWING FOR UP TO 100 MILES, BUT BECAUSE I BOUGHT A NEW RELIABLE TOYOTA, I JUST GOT THE BASIC TOWING IN CASE THE BATTERY DIED. I DON'T HAVE TOWING TO GET THE CAR TO MORENO VALLEY IN CASE IT COMPLETELY STOPS RUNNING. I'M WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY AND LOGISTICS! I DON'T TRUST THIS TOYOTA COROLLA. DEALER WILL NOT KEEP THE CAR AND GIVE ME A LOANER UNTIL THE PART ARRIVES. WILL TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE IF THIS CAR STALLS AGAIN IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT? WILL TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE IF THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER? WILL TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE IF THE TRANSMISSION BECOMES DAMAGED FROM THE HARD SHIFTING? WILL TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE IF THE CAR CATCHES FIRE FROM FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING? THIS COROLLA HAS HAD BRAKE AND STEERING PROBLEMS. BRAKE FLUID ALWAYS LOW, ALTHOUGH BRAKES VERIFIED AS REPAIRED AND OKAY BY TECHNICIAN. THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL IS GOING BAD AND THE TIRE WILL NOT HOLD AIR. THE TIRE HAS BEEN EXAMINED AND IS GOOD. I SMELL ELECTRICAL BURNING ONCE IN AWHILE. THE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY BEARING BAD. OCCASIONALLY, SMELL ANTIFREEZE, WHICH INDICATES A LEAKING HEAD GASKET. WIND NOISE, WINDOWS CREAK WHEN MOVED UP/DOWN. THE LOCKS SQUEAK. THE INTERIOR RATTLES. THE PAINT JOB IS RUNNY, WELD POINTS ARE SLOPPY. CAR STALLING, SLAM SHIFTING, THEN CUTTING OFF. THE CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 50,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366375

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.===