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
1989 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF, AFTER RUNNING FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES, THE CAR WENT INTO POST- IGNITION, AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS TOTALLED. NOT SURE OF THE EXACT CAUSE OF FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816590

1993 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1997
Electrical System

VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL HORN DOES NOT INTERMITTENTLY WORK. THE DEALER CANT FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814502

1992 model year · Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 1997
Electrical System

THE COMSUMER STARTED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE A/C & LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK; WHEN GOT HOME TRIED TO START VEHICLE AGAIN, BUT THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS SOME ELEC.\TRICAL. PROBLEM THE BATTERY WAS DEAD & ALTENATOR REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813874

1997 model year · Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE , AREA OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT; ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT, CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING TO SAFETY BELT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808619

1996 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

DASHBOARD FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #512252

1994 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE DASH AREA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #805100

1996 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SPARKS ON FLOORBOARD, PULLED TO SIDE, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT UP IN FLAMES, NO WARNING, SPEED 10 MPH, VEHICLE TOTALED; MANUFACTURER CLAIMED VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTENING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804360

1985 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1996
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

DEFECTIVE VC JOINTS, ALSO ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNED AND CARBURETOR PROBLEMS.. *AK

NHTSA ODI #509949

1992 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 1996
Electrical System

ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #802815

1973 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1996
Electrical System

WHEN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS, VEHICLE LOCKS IN PARK POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #509024

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.===