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
2006 model year · 43,000 miles · Jul 17, 2010
Electrical System

2006 TOYOTA COROLLA- FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 3 WEEKS THE COMPUTER ECM HAS FAILED- EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF THE CAR STALLS IN MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT, HAS A TSB ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343777

2006 model year · 83,947 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Electrical System

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INFREQUENTLY WOULD COME ON AND OFF STARTING IN JUNE 2010, ALONG WITH THE CAR JERKING DURING ACCELERATION AT SPEEDS OF 10, 25 AND 35. 7/7/10 I TOOK MY COROLLA INTO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM, CODE P2716. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE COMPUTER (ECM) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FOR SAFETY P…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INFREQUENTLY WOULD COME ON AND OFF STARTING IN JUNE 2010, ALONG WITH THE CAR JERKING DURING ACCELERATION AT SPEEDS OF 10, 25 AND 35. 7/7/10 I TOOK MY COROLLA INTO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM, CODE P2716. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE COMPUTER (ECM) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FOR SAFETY PURPOSES I HAD THE ECM REPLACED. THE NHTSA HAS OPENED A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO THE ISSUE. THE NUMBER IS #PE09054. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343258

2006 model year · 52,662 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Electrical System

06 COROLLA STALLED @ INTERSECTION W/ CHECK ENG LITE ON- WOULD NOT RESTART-ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED-HAD THE COMPUTER SCANNED BY A MECHANIC AND TOLD ME COMPUTER IS BAD-CAR STILL WON'T START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342838

2010 model year · 800 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainCrash

MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA, (LESS THAN 1000 MILES) ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AND GOING ABOUT 15-20 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AFTER THE FIRST CAR WAS HIT BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE SECOND CAR. MY CAR AND TWO OTHER CARS NEARBY WERE DAMAGED, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342670

2006 model year · 75,000 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA S ON THE FREEWAY TODAY, AND SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR ABS BRAKES, AND NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FOUND OUT THAT 2005-2009 TOYOTA COROLLAS HAVE A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, AND THAT UPWARDS…

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA S ON THE FREEWAY TODAY, AND SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR ABS BRAKES, AND NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FOUND OUT THAT 2005-2009 TOYOTA COROLLAS HAVE A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, AND THAT UPWARDS OF 5 CARS A MONTH COME INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THAT EVERY REVIEW I'VE READ MENTIONS THAT THIS CAR HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ECM, BUT THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT YET. ON TOP OF THE REVIEWS, THERE HAVE BEEN NEWS REPORTS ABOUT HOW TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND SAYS THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT POSE AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342800

2005 model year · 62,200 miles · Jul 11, 2010
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2005 COROLLA S, AND THE ECU PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD MY FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY ECU, AT 62K MILES, AND THANK GOD, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS ON MY DAILY 40 MILE COMMUTE ON A HIGH-SPEED, HEAVY-TRAFFIC HIGHWAY. MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T START AT RANDOM WHEN I WAS LEAVING A STORE, THE STARTER WASN'…

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I HAVE A 2005 COROLLA S, AND THE ECU PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD MY FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY ECU, AT 62K MILES, AND THANK GOD, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS ON MY DAILY 40 MILE COMMUTE ON A HIGH-SPEED, HEAVY-TRAFFIC HIGHWAY. MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T START AT RANDOM WHEN I WAS LEAVING A STORE, THE STARTER WASN'T CRANKING, NOTHING WAS HAPPENING, JUST NOTHING WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. NO LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD, OTHER THAN THE DOOR LIGHT WHERE I HAD THE DOOR OPEN (IT WAS 95 DEGREES, AND MY POWER WINDOWS OBVIOUSLY WEREN'T WORKING). DID RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THE ECM IS A TERRIBLE PROBLEM ON 05-07 COROLLAS, AND THE TOYOTA SERVICE MAN AGREED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. GOT IT REPLACED, AND NOT EVEN 24 HOURS AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE DEALER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, STRANDING ME AT WORK WITH NO WAY TO GET HOME. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS PROBLEM, AND IT IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY HAZARD WITH MANY REPORTS OF THE CAR STOPPING WHILE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342470

2010 model year · 5,000 miles · Jul 11, 2010
Electrical System

OUR 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) FREQUENTLY HESITATES AS IF ACCELERATION HAS CEASED AND THEN REACCELERATES AFTER IT APPEARS TO SWITCH GEARS. HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY AND FREEWAY SPEEDS, SEEMS TO INCREASE WITH USE OF A/C. AFTER TEST DRIVE, TOYOTA MECHANIC EXPLAINED THIS IS NORMAL AND DUE TO ELECTRICAL PARTS THAT HAVE RE…

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OUR 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) FREQUENTLY HESITATES AS IF ACCELERATION HAS CEASED AND THEN REACCELERATES AFTER IT APPEARS TO SWITCH GEARS. HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY AND FREEWAY SPEEDS, SEEMS TO INCREASE WITH USE OF A/C. AFTER TEST DRIVE, TOYOTA MECHANIC EXPLAINED THIS IS NORMAL AND DUE TO ELECTRICAL PARTS THAT HAVE REPLACED MECHANICAL PARTS. HE SAID CAR IS THINKING WHEN IT SWITCHES GEARS AND APPARENTLY STOPS ITS OTHER FUNCTION (I.E., MAINTAINING A STEADY SPEED) FOR A "NANOSECOND." THIS HAPPENS EVERY BLOCK OR SO IN HIGHWAY DRIVING, AND ALTHOUGH THE SPEED DOESN'T CHANGE, THE IMPULSE CHANGES ARE PHYSICALLY PERCEPTIBLE (WE CAN FEEL IT IN THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL, AS IF THE CAR IS JERKING). THE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS NORMAL IN NEWER CARS AS MOST HAVE GONE TO THE NEW TECHNOLOGY. THE MECHANIC'S EXPLANATION IS LOGICAL, BUT TOYOTA'S ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AS NORMAL IN NEWER MODELS OF CARS IS DISTURBING. WE DO NOT EXPERIENCE THIS IN OUR 2010 FORD FUSION. PLEASE NOTE: SEVERAL REQUIRED FIELDS ON FORM WERE NOT APPLICABLE, SUCH AS MILEAGE AT WHICH WE EXPERIENCED FAILURE, DATE OF INCIDENT, ETC. WE JUST RELATED MOST RECENT INFO IN THESE FIELDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342491

2006 model year · 23,336 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

2006 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH 1ZZ-FE ENGINE, LESS THEN 25,000 MILES, HAS STALLED AT A STOP SIGN/STOP LIGHT WHEN ENGINE WAS WARM. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PREVIOUS TWO MONTHS. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS RE-STARTED, BUT IT IS VERY UNNERVING, AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT A MORE SERIOUS FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341071

2006 model year · 80,000 miles · Jun 30, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

2006 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER STATES FAILED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE *TGW AT 86,000 THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING PROPERLY. WHEN GOING UPHILL ON A STEEP INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT AS USUAL TO CLIMB THE HILL. HOWEVER, AFTER REACHING THE CREST AND STARTING DOWNHILL, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AGAIN TO THE …

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2006 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER STATES FAILED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE *TGW AT 86,000 THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING PROPERLY. WHEN GOING UPHILL ON A STEEP INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT AS USUAL TO CLIMB THE HILL. HOWEVER, AFTER REACHING THE CREST AND STARTING DOWNHILL, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AGAIN TO THE PROPER GEAR. THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AND FINALLY A PROPER SHIFT WOULD OCCUR. THEN AT 86,870 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND IT WOULD SUDDENLY SHIFT WITH A STRONG JERK. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH WHICH STATED TO SEEK SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE HIM BECAUSE, THE REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10341176

2006 model year · 94,000 miles · Jun 30, 2010
Electrical System

ON 24 JUNE 2010 I DROVE 1331 MILES BACK FROM VIRGINIA WITH NO ISSUES. THE NEXT EVENING, MY PERMITTED 15 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA A MERE HALF MILE FROM OUR HOME WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND LOSE POWER. THE ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND THEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN TAKING WITH IT ALL LIGHTS. THE CHECK EN…

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ON 24 JUNE 2010 I DROVE 1331 MILES BACK FROM VIRGINIA WITH NO ISSUES. THE NEXT EVENING, MY PERMITTED 15 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA A MERE HALF MILE FROM OUR HOME WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND LOSE POWER. THE ACCELERATOR WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND THEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN TAKING WITH IT ALL LIGHTS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAR DID RESTART BUT INSTANTLY DIED LEAVING US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT NIGHT WITH NO LIGHTS AND UNABLE TO MOVE. FORTUNATELY I WAS WITH HIM AND WE WERE NOT IN TRAFFIC, AS HE IS INEXPERIENCED AND WOULD NOT HAVE REACTED WELL IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO HIM ON THE ROAD UNACCOMPANIED IN ANY TYPE OF TRAFFIC. WE PUSHED THE CAR HOME THE MILE AND PARKED IT FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR STARTED, RAN FOR ONE MINUTE, BOGGED AND DIED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED. I APPLIED A RENTED SCAN TOOL AND CAME BACK WITH A P0607 TROUBLE CODE WITH INDICATED A BAD ECU. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA AND WAS REPAIRED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECU FOR $993.40. I AM OVER THE EMISSION WARRANTY OF 80,000 MILES PER THEIR TSB WITH 94,000, SO THIS IS OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS FRUSTRATING AS THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH STORIES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. I AM GLAD THAT I MADE IT HOME BEFORE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AND IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN LUCKY AS WELL. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND OCCURS WITH NO WARNING. I JUST HOPE SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE TO DIE AS A RESULT OF A WELL KNOWN BAD BATCH OF ECU'S, BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS FIXED BY A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340808

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.===