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
2007 model year · 64,521 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT ~55 MPH, AND SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED ONCE. STALLED OUT AGAIN ON HIGHWAY LATER THAT DAY AND NEEDED TOW TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP NOTED ENGINE STALLING BELOW 1000 RPM, AND COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH COMPUTER (ECM). DEALERSHIP REPLACED ECM (89661-02K21) FOR FREE UNDER WARRANTY, AND TOYOTA CORP. REIMBURSED F…

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CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT ~55 MPH, AND SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED ONCE. STALLED OUT AGAIN ON HIGHWAY LATER THAT DAY AND NEEDED TOW TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP NOTED ENGINE STALLING BELOW 1000 RPM, AND COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH COMPUTER (ECM). DEALERSHIP REPLACED ECM (89661-02K21) FOR FREE UNDER WARRANTY, AND TOYOTA CORP. REIMBURSED FOR TOWING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352041

2007 model year · 100,616 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Electrical System

WE OWN A 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA FOUR-DOOR WITH A 1.8 LITER DOHC ENGINE. SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR, WE BOUGHT IT USED WITH LOW MILES, WE HAVE HAD FOUR ENGINE CONTROL MODULES IN THIS CAR. THE FIRST ONE WAS IN THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. THE SECOND WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BY TOYOTA IN MAY OR JUNE OF 2009 UNDER TSB TC015-07. THE…

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WE OWN A 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA FOUR-DOOR WITH A 1.8 LITER DOHC ENGINE. SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR, WE BOUGHT IT USED WITH LOW MILES, WE HAVE HAD FOUR ENGINE CONTROL MODULES IN THIS CAR. THE FIRST ONE WAS IN THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. THE SECOND WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BY TOYOTA IN MAY OR JUNE OF 2009 UNDER TSB TC015-07. THE THIRD ONE WAS REPLACED IN COLUMBUS, GA., BY TOYOTA ON JULY 12, 2010 WHICH WE HAD TO PAY FOR AND THE FOURTH ONE WAS REPLACED ON JULY 14, 2010 BY TOYOTA IN MOBILE, AL., FREE OF CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY...TWO DAYS LATER. THE SECOND AND THIRD ECM PROBLEM CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351995

2007 model year · 13,100 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Electrical System

WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT MY 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA THE ENGINE STALLED (HAD THE AIRCONDITIONER AT FULL BLAST AS IT WAS A HOT DAY). FORTUNATELY, I SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED IT AND PROMPTLY DROVE IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (BROUGHT IT FIRST TO FIRESTONE AUTOCARE BUT THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING IT TO TOYOTA). THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR W…

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WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT MY 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA THE ENGINE STALLED (HAD THE AIRCONDITIONER AT FULL BLAST AS IT WAS A HOT DAY). FORTUNATELY, I SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED IT AND PROMPTLY DROVE IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (BROUGHT IT FIRST TO FIRESTONE AUTOCARE BUT THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING IT TO TOYOTA). THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS JUMPY SPECIFICALLY WHEN BACKING OUT. IT WAS RUNNING FUNNY EVEN WHEN MOVING FORWARD. BEFORE THEY FIXED THE CAR, THEY ASKED ME IF MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY - (3 YEARS OR 36000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST) AND I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS NOT. THEY TOLD ME AFTERWARDS THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ECU UNIT AND THAT I DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHICH I FOUND STRANGE AS I WAS GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351856

2007 model year · 54,800 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Electrical System

READ A STORY IN USA TODAY ABOUT THE STALLING PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA. ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THEY DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT. TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE HEADING ON VACATION TO CANADA ON AUG. 7, 2010, CAR STALLED INFRONT OF MALL IN VICTOR NEW YORK. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, CAR STARTED. WENT TO FILL UP GAS TANK (WAS AT …

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READ A STORY IN USA TODAY ABOUT THE STALLING PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA. ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THEY DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT IT. TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE HEADING ON VACATION TO CANADA ON AUG. 7, 2010, CAR STALLED INFRONT OF MALL IN VICTOR NEW YORK. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, CAR STARTED. WENT TO FILL UP GAS TANK (WAS AT 1/4 TANK). COULDN'T START THE CAR AGAIN. CALLED AAA. WHEN TOW TRUCK CAME, WE WERE ABLE TO START AGAIN. HE FOLLOWED ME TO PARTS STORE, IT WAS CLOSED. FOLLOWED HIM TO HIS HOME TO DO SOME CHECKING. WOULDN'T START. TOWED TO LEBRUN TOYOTA IN CANADADEQUA NEW YORK. THEY REPLACE ECU MONDAY MORNING. LEBRUN WAS GREAT AT FIXING THE PROBLEM QUICK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351791

2007 model year · 83,419 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Electrical System

1. 08/23/2010- LEFT FOR WORK CAR STALLED, HARD KNOCKING IN GEAR. CAR INOPERABLE I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. 2. ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED 04/23/2009 , PART # 89661-02K21,VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS INCIDENT 08/23/2010 THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE , THE…

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1. 08/23/2010- LEFT FOR WORK CAR STALLED, HARD KNOCKING IN GEAR. CAR INOPERABLE I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. 2. ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED 04/23/2009 , PART # 89661-02K21,VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS INCIDENT 08/23/2010 THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE , THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHICH WAS REPLACED 04/23/2009 ,THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1000.00 TO REPAIR , PLUS THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR. THE MILEAGE AT THIS TIME IS 83,419. SO I AM ADVISED IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN TWO YEARS. NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BUT WILL IT HAPPEN IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS? IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECT. THANK GOODNESS THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO FACT I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTIES OR AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351749

2005 model year · 39,932 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Electrical System

ROUGHLY A MONTH AGO, OUR 2005 COROLLA WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON A MAJOR ROAD. THE ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TURNING THE IGNITION AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD START FOR A FEW SECONDS AND STALL OUT AGAIN. A FEW TIMES, UPON …

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ROUGHLY A MONTH AGO, OUR 2005 COROLLA WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON A MAJOR ROAD. THE ENGINE CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TURNING THE IGNITION AGAIN, THE CAR WOULD START FOR A FEW SECONDS AND STALL OUT AGAIN. A FEW TIMES, UPON TRYING TO START THE CAR AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE CAR GAVE NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE BEFORE THE STALLING INCIDENT. THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR AND ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ACCORDING TO OUR MECHANIC. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE OLD PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351738

2005 model year · 93,210 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Electrical System

AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A STOP, MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED (STALLED). I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR TRY TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351709

2007 model year · 35,800 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Electrical System

I PLANNED A 200-MILE (ONE WAY) VACATION OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MAY 28 - 31, 2010. I HAD NO SIGNS OF CAR TROUBLES AT THE START OF MY VACATION ON MAY 28 AND NO CAR TROUBLES DURING MY VACATION. HOWEVER, AS I WAS GETTING READY TO DRIVE THE 200 MILES BACK HOME ON MAY 31, I STARTED MY CAR, BUT IT DIED. I STARTED IT AGAIN, AND I…

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I PLANNED A 200-MILE (ONE WAY) VACATION OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MAY 28 - 31, 2010. I HAD NO SIGNS OF CAR TROUBLES AT THE START OF MY VACATION ON MAY 28 AND NO CAR TROUBLES DURING MY VACATION. HOWEVER, AS I WAS GETTING READY TO DRIVE THE 200 MILES BACK HOME ON MAY 31, I STARTED MY CAR, BUT IT DIED. I STARTED IT AGAIN, AND IT DIED. I MADE SURE THE ACCESSORIES WERE OFF AND THAT NOTHING WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE RAN FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN DIED. SINCE THE CAR WAS STILL COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, I CALLED TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, BUT THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY. WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK HOME, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REQUEST A DAY OFF FROM WORK THE NEXT DAY, JUNE 1, AND CONTACTED TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN. THEY TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. AFTER THEY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW, THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER/ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE)/ECU (ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT) FAILED, AND IT WAS CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO THE ENTIRE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THEY REPLACED THE ECM FREE OF CHARGE. WHILE I AM VERY THANKFUL I WAS PARKED AND IN A SAFE LOCATION (NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY), THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A FAIRLY NEW CAR WITH UNDER 36,000 MILES. I SEARCHED COMPLAINTS, AND IT APPEARS OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2005 - 2007 COROLLAS. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB BUT DID NOT MAIL IT TO ALL THEIR POTENTIALLY AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THESE CARS INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS TO COMPLAIN AND TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THEIR CARS BREAK DOWN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351554

2007 model year · 24,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Electrical System

I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN ONE DAY AND MY VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT. I HAD NOT DRIVEN THROUGH HIGH WATER, OR HAD ANY BRAKE ISSUES, BUT THE CAR STALLED. WENT TO TURN THE NEXT CORNER AFTER I HAD RESTARTED IT, AND IT STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN A ROW. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH MY V…

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I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN ONE DAY AND MY VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT. I HAD NOT DRIVEN THROUGH HIGH WATER, OR HAD ANY BRAKE ISSUES, BUT THE CAR STALLED. WENT TO TURN THE NEXT CORNER AFTER I HAD RESTARTED IT, AND IT STALLED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN A ROW. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351503

2005 model year · 22,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Electrical System

1. DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA AT 55MPH THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE AND DEAD STOP AND WOULD NOT START. 2. THE FAILURE OCCURED ONCE. 3. THE CAR HAD TO HAVE A BRAND NEW COMPUTER "BRAIN" CHIP INSTALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351548

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.===