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
1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DASH. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE STARTER DID NOT DISENGAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION . *AK

NHTSA ODI #896508

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A THUMP SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE A SOFT RUBBER MATERIAL HEATING THE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE, THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO BLOW WARM AIR AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, LUCKILY CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET TO …

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WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A THUMP SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE A SOFT RUBBER MATERIAL HEATING THE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE, THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO BLOW WARM AIR AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, LUCKILY CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET TO AN EXIT RAMP AND DRIFT INTO A GAS STATION, CONSUMER NOTICED THERE WERE NO BELTS ON THE PULLEYS AND INSTEAD OF SEEING THREE, HE ONLY SAW TWO, CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THE BOLT THAT WAS HOLDING THE PULLEY HAD SNAPPED. BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, STARTER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, VEHICLE IS ON ITS THIRD ALTERNATOR AT ONLY 52000 MILES. REAR BRAKE SHOES REPLACED AND REAR DRUMS WERE MACHINED. WIPER MOTOR FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #751959

1994 model year · Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

FIRE STARTED IN OR NEAR MAIN FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER DASHBOARD ON DRIVER SIDE. FIRE QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED, BUT ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESTROYED, AND REPLACED BY NYE FRONTIER TOYOTA IN ANCHORAGE, AK. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $3889.44. PLEASE ADVISE IF ANY RECALLS, DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS, OR COMPLAINTS ON FILE SIMILAR TO THIS R…

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FIRE STARTED IN OR NEAR MAIN FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER DASHBOARD ON DRIVER SIDE. FIRE QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED, BUT ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESTROYED, AND REPLACED BY NYE FRONTIER TOYOTA IN ANCHORAGE, AK. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $3889.44. PLEASE ADVISE IF ANY RECALLS, DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS, OR COMPLAINTS ON FILE SIMILAR TO THIS REPORT FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #749851

1997 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Electrical System

LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GO OUT WHEN HE HIT 45MPH WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891627

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Electrical System

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746658

1996 model year · Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2001
Electrical System

BRAKE LIGHT AND TAILIGHT GO OUT WHEN VEHICLE HITS A BUMP. CONSUMER HAS AN APPOINTMENT AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886278

1999 model year · Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Electrical System

WHILE TURNING VEHICLE OFF KEY AND IGNITOIN SWITCH WERE VERY HOT TO TOUCH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882902

1992 model year · Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED, NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE HEAD LIGHTS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WERE FLICKING. *YH

NHTSA ODI #881964

1996 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashFire

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT 10/23/00, IN WHICH I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. I WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH. MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO GO OFF. LUKILY, I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IS OVER $6,000, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. ALSO, IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER INFO…

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I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT 10/23/00, IN WHICH I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. I WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH. MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO GO OFF. LUKILY, I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IS OVER $6,000, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. ALSO, IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED ME MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED MY ALTERNATOR TO BLOW, AND THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER, AND NOT ONLY COULD THEY NOT FIND THE CAUSE, BUT THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER TOWING FEES, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ALL NEW FUSES, TAIL LIGHT AND WIRE HARNESS I SPENT $500.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735157

2000 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2000
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashFire

WHEN DRIVING 20 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHICH CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO BATTERY LEAKING. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHICH FORCED THE PASSENGER INTO THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE…

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WHEN DRIVING 20 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHICH CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO BATTERY LEAKING. ALSO, PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHICH FORCED THE PASSENGER INTO THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873117

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.===