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
1992 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

STARTER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #549315

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER FAILED, VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF WITH KEY. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548884

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Electrical System

STARTER.

NHTSA ODI #609426

1992 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1999
Electrical System

BATTERY/BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER OFF/ON INTERMITTENTLY. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED & ALTERNATOR WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846315

1992 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 1999
Electrical System

THE LOCATION OF THE HORN BUTTONS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. THE POSITION OF THE HORN MOVES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. DRIVER MUST LOOK FOR THE POSITION OF THE HORN EACH TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842495

1994 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1999
Electrical SystemVisibility

ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #546478

1991 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. IT WAS PARKED IN THE SUN ON A WARM (80 DEGREE) DAY AS USUAL. I GOT IN MY CAR AND EVEN BEFORE I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION I HEARD A STATIC/CRACKLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR SPEAKERS. IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME RIGHT AWAY THAT THE CAR ENGINE WAS OFF SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE HEARD THE RADIO AT ALL. AS I S…

Read full complaint

MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. IT WAS PARKED IN THE SUN ON A WARM (80 DEGREE) DAY AS USUAL. I GOT IN MY CAR AND EVEN BEFORE I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION I HEARD A STATIC/CRACKLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR SPEAKERS. IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME RIGHT AWAY THAT THE CAR ENGINE WAS OFF SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE HEARD THE RADIO AT ALL. AS I STARTED THE CAR I HIT THE RADIO BUTTON THINKING THE RADIO WAS ON BUT HAD LOST THE STATION. THE NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY WHEN I HIT THE BUTTON AND I REALIZED THE CAR WAS FILLING WITH SMOKE, COMING FROM INSIDE THE UPPER DASH (AREA OF RADIO) IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME FROM THE AIR VENTS. IT SEEMED TO HAVE A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL (I'VE WORKED IN LABS AND STARTED A FEW MYSELF...) VERSUS A GAS OR OIL OR OTHER BURNING SMELL. WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED, I CHECKED THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE LIGHTS AND AIR CONDITIONING AND DIGITAL CLOCK WORKED FINE. THE CAR REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY MUCH ELSE I COULD CHECK, NO ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, ETC. I PULLED THE RADIO FUSE. IT WAS NOT BLOWN. I STARTED THE CAR WITH FRIENDS WATCHING AND THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE FINE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME A 5 MILE RIDE WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEM. THE RADIO/CASSETTE PLAYER WERE INSTALLED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. I USE IT ALL THE TIME AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE. MY CONCERN HERE IS COULD THE CAR HAVE CAUGHT FIRE JUST SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT OR AT ANY OTHER TIME FROM THIS ELECTRICAL (?) PROBLEM? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS HAD I BEEN ON A MAIN ROAD WITH MY YOUNG CHILD STRAPPED IN THE CAR SEAT. THE RADIO WAS CRACKLING WITHOUT THE KEY EVEN IN THE IGNITION, SO SOMETHING WAS GOING ON EVEN BEFORE I GOT IN THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS REPORT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707891

1992 model year · Mileage unknown · May 31, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A COMPLAIN ABOUT DEALER.WHEN I GOT THE CAR IT WAS 64000 MILES ON THE CAR.DURING 6 MONTHS OF MY USE CAR'S TRANSMISSION ,BRAKES TIRES,EXAHUST SYSTEM .ALTERNATOR ARE COMPLETLY GONE.I SAW THE CAR TO EXPERIENCED MECHANIC.ALL THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THIS CAR HAVE WRONG MILEAGE ON IT.IT MUST BE USED MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS SHOW…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A COMPLAIN ABOUT DEALER.WHEN I GOT THE CAR IT WAS 64000 MILES ON THE CAR.DURING 6 MONTHS OF MY USE CAR'S TRANSMISSION ,BRAKES TIRES,EXAHUST SYSTEM .ALTERNATOR ARE COMPLETLY GONE.I SAW THE CAR TO EXPERIENCED MECHANIC.ALL THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THIS CAR HAVE WRONG MILEAGE ON IT.IT MUST BE USED MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS SHOWING ME ON METER.AND EVEN THIS MODEL IS NOT '92 ,WHICH I WAS TOLD BY DEALER.THIS WAS OLDER THAN THIS.MY DEALER GAVE ME GUARANTEE FOR TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE FOR 10000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE.WHEN I HAD FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION WITHIN THIS MILEAGE LIMIT .I CALLED MY DEALER TO GET IT FIXED,AND HE REFUSED IT.SO MY DEALER HAS CHESTED ME BY SAYING THAT IT IS 92'CAR AND SHOWING WRONG MILEAGE ON IT.I NEED SOME HELP ON THIS MATTER.THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #707025

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical SystemTires

HORN BEGINS HONKING WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS SQUEAKED AT VARIOUS PLACES,PLUS HONKS BY ITSELF TOO. YH

NHTSA ODI #609028

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

IGNITION FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #608996

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.===