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
2008 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2008
Electrical System

LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, DISSATISFIED WITH NHTSA'S RESPONSE TO HIS CONCERNS RE THE DARKENING OF THE ODOMETER DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS ON HIS 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA, WANT TO KNOW WHY NHTSA WON'T OPEN AN INVESTIGATION. *NJ

NHTSA ODI #10248108

2007 model year · 34,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

IT STARTS WITH THE CAR NOT FEELING LIKE IT IS RECEIVING FUEL TO THE ENGINE, THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, IT JUST DIES AND WON'T START BACK UP. FIRST TIME I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, IT JUST DIED AND I HAD IT PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED HALF AN HOUR LATER IN WHICH IT DID RESTART. I HAD TH…

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IT STARTS WITH THE CAR NOT FEELING LIKE IT IS RECEIVING FUEL TO THE ENGINE, THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, IT JUST DIES AND WON'T START BACK UP. FIRST TIME I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, IT JUST DIED AND I HAD IT PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED HALF AN HOUR LATER IN WHICH IT DID RESTART. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN WHICH IT TURNS OUT FOUND THAT IT WAS A CENSOR THAT WAS BAD AND REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME IT STALLED ON ME, AGAIN, I COULD TELL THAT FUEL WASN'T GETTING TO THE ENGINE IN SHORT INTERVALS. THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH WHEN IT JUST DIED AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP AT ALL. IT WAS TOWED AGAIN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAY IT WAS A BLOWN FUSE. IN BOTH INSTANCES THERE IS "POWER" TO THE VEHICLE. THE RADIO, AIR, WIPERS, FLASHERS, ETC ALL WORK FINE. BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234795

2008 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2008
Electrical System

LTR FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT WHO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT DARKENING OF THE ODOMETER ON HIS 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. *KB THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMED IN THE SUNLIGHT AND WAS UNREADABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10231748

2008 model year · Mileage unknown · May 22, 2008
Electrical System

2008 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH UNREADABLE ODOMETER DIAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DIAL BECOMES UNREADABLE IN THE SUNLIGHT BECAUSE IT DIMS. HE HAS STATED THAT THE DEFECT ALSO EXISTS IN OTHER 2008 TOYOTA COROLLAS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10229528

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · May 13, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER WAS NOT INCREASING. HE INITIATED THE TRIP ODOMETER BUT, AFTER TRAVELING 250 MILES, THE ODOMETER STILL DID NOT INCREASE. THE ODOMETER WILL NOT EXCEED 299,999 MILES. THE FAILURE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE THE V…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER WAS NOT INCREASING. HE INITIATED THE TRIP ODOMETER BUT, AFTER TRAVELING 250 MILES, THE ODOMETER STILL DID NOT INCREASE. THE ODOMETER WILL NOT EXCEED 299,999 MILES. THE FAILURE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE SAME MILEAGE AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING A REMEDY. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 299,999. UPDATED 06/03/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/30/08

NHTSA ODI #10227602

2005 model year · Mileage unknown · May 7, 2008
Electrical System

2005 TOYOTA COROLLA WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRES AT THE TRUNK HARNESS BROKE CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. HE FEELS THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10227338

2008 model year · Mileage unknown · May 5, 2008
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS UNREADABLE IN DAYTIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226621

2007 model year · 20 miles · Mar 18, 2008
Air BagsElectrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS DIM AND THE AIR BAG ICON DIMS. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT REPAIRING THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL COULD CAUSE OTHER FAILURES, AND POSSIBLY A WARRANTY VIOL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS DIM AND THE AIR BAG ICON DIMS. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT REPAIRING THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL COULD CAUSE OTHER FAILURES, AND POSSIBLY A WARRANTY VIOLATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. THE SPEED AND FUEL TYPE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. UPDATED 04/08/08. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10221599

2006 model year · 36,191 miles · Feb 12, 2008
Electrical System

2006 TOYOTA COROLLA (MILEAGE 36,191) : ON THE WAY TO DEALER FOR A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (FIRST TIME SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE). DEALER INVESTIGATED AND INDICATED HAD I NOT BROUGHT THE CAR IN WHEN I DID, I WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED A NO-START CONDITION. DEALER REPLACED THE ECM MODULE. REPLACEMENT MO…

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2006 TOYOTA COROLLA (MILEAGE 36,191) : ON THE WAY TO DEALER FOR A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (FIRST TIME SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE). DEALER INVESTIGATED AND INDICATED HAD I NOT BROUGHT THE CAR IN WHEN I DID, I WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED A NO-START CONDITION. DEALER REPLACED THE ECM MODULE. REPLACEMENT MODULE COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217783

2006 model year · 40,185 miles · Jan 31, 2008
Electrical System

THE COMPUTER QUITS AND CAR STOPPED RUNNING AS I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED. THE LIGHTS TURN OFF, THE STEERING LOCKS AND EVERYTHING JUST SHUT DOWN. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DAVID MAUS TOYOTA, THE COMPUTERS ARE HAVING A PROBLEM IN THE 2003-2006 COROLLAS. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THESE ITEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216601

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.===