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
1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2003
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

ELECTRIC WINDOWS DO NOT WORK WHEN EXTREME TEMP ARISE. COLD WINTER DAYS AMD EXTREME SUMMER DAYS. LOCKS ON DOORS POPPED OUT OF PLACE. WINDOWS SLIPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPARIED

NHTSA ODI #10040973

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

MY CAR STARTER WOULD NOT STOP CRANKING AFTER I STOPPED AND PULLED THE KEYS OUT. IT KEPT CRANKING UNTIL THE BATTERY DIED. A FIRE STARTED WHICH MELTED THE HARNESS. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10030546

2001 model year · 22 miles · Jul 8, 2003
Electrical System

IGNITION FUSE ISSUES. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED AND TRIED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM WITH STARTING VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10025643

1999 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2003
Electrical SystemExterior LightingInterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING, ALL LIGHTING SYSTEMS WAS OUT SERVICE. INSTRUMENTAL LIGHTS/ HEAD LIGHTS/ BRAKE LIGHT AND SIGNAL LIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022179

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2002
Electrical System

THE TAIL LIGHTS (STOP LIGHTS) ON MY 1995 TOYOTA COROLLA FAIL CONSTANTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I REPLACE THE BULB(S), THE PROBLEM IS BACK WITHIN WEEKS. SOMETIMES THEY START WORKING AGAIN BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE GIVEN UP TRYING TO KEEP ALL FOUR LIGHT BULBS FUNCTIONING. SOMETIMES WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE…

Read full complaint

THE TAIL LIGHTS (STOP LIGHTS) ON MY 1995 TOYOTA COROLLA FAIL CONSTANTLY AND INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I REPLACE THE BULB(S), THE PROBLEM IS BACK WITHIN WEEKS. SOMETIMES THEY START WORKING AGAIN BY THEMSELVES. I HAVE GIVEN UP TRYING TO KEEP ALL FOUR LIGHT BULBS FUNCTIONING. SOMETIMES WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLICKER. MANY OTHER COROLLAS OF THE SAME YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MOST OF THE 95 COROLLAS I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE AT LEAST ONE NON-FUNCTIONING BULB. WHEN I SEE A 95 COROLLA ON THE ROAD, I WATCH IT AND WAIT FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO COME ON - ALMOST ALWAYS AT LEAST ONE BULB IS NON-FUNCTIONING. I HAVE TWO ENGINEERING DEGREES AND I CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THE TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK FOR RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM DURING MY LAST SERVICE, AND THEY IGNORED MY QUESTION. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, THE HEAT FROM THE BULB CAUSES A HIGH RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE BULB AND THE SOCKET. THAT IS WHY I CAN TAKE THE BULB OUT, AND PUT THE SAME BULB BACK IN AND IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. ONCE A CAR PULLED ALONG SIDE OF ME AND TOLD ME THAT ALL FOUR BULBS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING, AND THAT ONLY THE REAR WINDOW LIGHT WAS OPERATING. I AM CONCERNED THAT SOMEDAY EITHER MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IN A 95 COROLLA MAY GET INTO A REAR-END COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #10000325

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Electrical System

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS INCLUDING THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS GOES OUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHCILE BUT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023913

1994 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATES HIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAILING, HIS BRAKES LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, HORN IS NOT WORKING. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN HIS AUTO TO THE DEALER AND HIS RECALL WAS HONORED. HE IS AFRAID HIS WIFE WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023015

1996 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Electrical System

INTERMITTENTLY THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL BLOW OUT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SOCKET AND THE CONDITION IS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8017928

1997 model year · Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Electrical System

WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH WILL GET LOCKED, AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. DEALER NOTED THAT WHEN MOVING STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE IGNITION SWITCH BECAME UNDONE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016147

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Electrical System

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF WHICH WAS A RESULT OF A DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED BATTERY, AND BATTERY WENT DEAD AGAIN, REPLACED A RELAY SWITCH. PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. SOMETHING WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. DEALER CONTACTED. CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8014275

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.===