I HATE THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON AND MY CAR IN UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO PAY TO FIND OUT WHY MY LIGHT CAME ON THE EXCUSE AFTER PAYING 50.00 DOLLARS IN MY GAS TOP WAS LOOSEN THAT WAS BULL IT CAME ON AGAIN. SO WHY WHEN I LEFT THE TOP OFF INTENTIONALLY IT DIDN'T COME ON AGAIN?*AK
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
YearTopic reportsRecallsInvestigations
20262
1020254
0020248
20202313
30202221
00202122
10202030
30201915
51201812
32201721
32201614
12201518
12201452
22201311
52201213
52201118
92201075
173200989
133200822
64200789
63200685
74200558
64200424
94200334
9420021
0120017
0020006
0019996
00199816
0019977
10199612
01199518
22199412
21199314
21199212
1019917
0019893
1019882
0019871
0119851
0119841
2119791
1019731
00Recall 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
1440–25K
9825–50K
9650–75K
8975–100K
71100–150K
41150K+
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 reportsCONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT WHEN HEARING THREE BEEPS COMING FROM THE CAR, THE CAR DIED. SHE TRIED TO RESTART IT BUT CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. CONSUMER THEN TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS WHICH FLASHED QUICKLY THEN TURNED OFF. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE CAR, LOOKED BACK, AND SAW FIRE COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM, WHICH …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT WHEN HEARING THREE BEEPS COMING FROM THE CAR, THE CAR DIED. SHE TRIED TO RESTART IT BUT CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. CONSUMER THEN TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS WHICH FLASHED QUICKLY THEN TURNED OFF. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE CAR, LOOKED BACK, AND SAW FIRE COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM, WHICH THEN SPREAD TO THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION.*AK
ON THREE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AS A RESULT OF A DRAINED BATTERY. 1ST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, 2ND TIME THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM HAD A SHORT WIRE AND WAS FIXED. THE 3RD TIME JUST OCCURED AND WE ARE HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER.*AK
1) KEY WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN IN IGNITION. THIS BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. ) EVENTUALLY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE CAR AND I COULD NOT REMOVE IT AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. 3) THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE 2ND TIME THEY GAVE ME MORE TROUBLE ABOUT IT BUT FIXED I…
Read full complaint
1) KEY WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN IN IGNITION. THIS BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. ) EVENTUALLY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE CAR AND I COULD NOT REMOVE IT AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. 3) THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE 2ND TIME THEY GAVE ME MORE TROUBLE ABOUT IT BUT FIXED IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE THIRD TIME THEY SUGGESTED THAT I CHANGE THE KEY WHICH I ALLOWED THEM TO DO AND I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM SINCE BUT THEY DID CHARGE ME PART OF THE COST. I BELIVE THE "KEY" AND IGNITION SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY HAD A DESIGN FLAW. I DON NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS BUT I DO HAVE RECORDS OF THE REPAIRS.*AK
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER. *AK
AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN IMPACT. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BEING AGITATED WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH.*AK
(1) ROTTEN-EGG SMELL FROM DAY 1 (PURCHASED 9/2002) W/ COOLING OR HEATING SYSTEM FUNCTION. DEALER TOLD ME TO SWITCH OCTANE AND DO NOT USE RECIRCULATION - NO IMPROVEMENT. (2) IN 11/2003, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT, DRAINED BATTERY. DEALER SAID TSB HAD BEEN RELEASED - PART ORDERED & INSTALLED TO CORRECT P…
Read full complaint
(1) ROTTEN-EGG SMELL FROM DAY 1 (PURCHASED 9/2002) W/ COOLING OR HEATING SYSTEM FUNCTION. DEALER TOLD ME TO SWITCH OCTANE AND DO NOT USE RECIRCULATION - NO IMPROVEMENT. (2) IN 11/2003, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT, DRAINED BATTERY. DEALER SAID TSB HAD BEEN RELEASED - PART ORDERED & INSTALLED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. (3) IN 1/2004, LEAKING OIL FROM UNDER CAR, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE - DEALER SAID RIGHT FRONT STRUT LEAKING & "COMPLETELY BLOWN." HAD TO BE REPLACED & CAR REQUIRED SUBSEQUENT ALIGNMENT. *JB
CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, AND CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY OF 2002 HAS HAD SEVERAL DASHBOARD AND RADIO ISSUES. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWHICH MY RADIO NO LONGER WAS FLUSH WITH DASH, THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL CONTACTED TOYOTA DIRECTLY, THEY SENT A MANFACTU…
Read full complaint
MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY OF 2002 HAS HAD SEVERAL DASHBOARD AND RADIO ISSUES. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWHICH MY RADIO NO LONGER WAS FLUSH WITH DASH, THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL CONTACTED TOYOTA DIRECTLY, THEY SENT A MANFACTURING REP WHOM FIXED THE RADIO HOWEVER CREATED A BIGGER GAP B/W RADIO AND REST OF CONSOLE. TOYOTA IS CONSIDERING THIS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN NOT A DEFECT. WAS TOLD WOULD "ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL" IN ORDER TO FIX. NOW DASH IS FALLING APART AGAIN AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE FRONT CONSOLE. LOOKS AS THOUGH WAS GLUED TOGETHER.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE BLACK SMOKE HAD BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE QUICKLY CONSUMED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD BEEN INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. *AK *SCC *JB
Related Official recalls
395V195001 · 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
1PE87057 · 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.===