COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Toyota Corolla transmission problems

178 distinct owner reports with a transmission-specific component in this snapshot.

General power-train reports are not automatically counted as transmission problems. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

16 crash reports0 fire reports4 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

106 reports with mileage · 72 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

178 reports
2003 model year · 28,400 miles · Apr 20, 2005
Power TrainCrash

TOYOTA COROLLA LE 2003. PARKED IN A MULTI-STORY PARKING LOT. PUT THE GEAR IN PARK. NEXT THING CAR ACCELERATED AND SMASHED INTO PILLAR. CALLED TOYOTA, WHO CLAIMED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA, AND THAT DRIVER ERROR WAS THE CAUSE. I AM SURE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND ABOUT TO SWITCH OFF. NOBODY HU…

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TOYOTA COROLLA LE 2003. PARKED IN A MULTI-STORY PARKING LOT. PUT THE GEAR IN PARK. NEXT THING CAR ACCELERATED AND SMASHED INTO PILLAR. CALLED TOYOTA, WHO CLAIMED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA, AND THAT DRIVER ERROR WAS THE CAUSE. I AM SURE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND ABOUT TO SWITCH OFF. NOBODY HURT, BUT DAMAGE TO CAR IN EXCESS OF $4500. IT IS IN THE SHOP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118181

2001 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2004
Power Train

GEARS TEND TO POP FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD, ALMOST HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10103808

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHI…

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WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10090161

1997 model year · Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2004
Power Train

THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT LIGHT IN THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN OFF IN THE CAR SINCE I RECEIVED IT. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THIS A A COMMON MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SAFTEY HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10062241

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE TO LOWER GEAR, WHEN TAPPING BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN SLIGHTLY AT HIGH SPEED. GOING DOWN HILL, FOR EXAMPLE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN SURGE OF RPM, ACTING LIKE A BRAKE AND TAKING A WHILE TO SHIFT BACK INTO OVERDRIVE. THIS PUTS TREMENDOUS STRAIN ON ENGINE, AND RESULTS IN POOR GAS MILEAGE. IT DO…

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TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE TO LOWER GEAR, WHEN TAPPING BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN SLIGHTLY AT HIGH SPEED. GOING DOWN HILL, FOR EXAMPLE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN SURGE OF RPM, ACTING LIKE A BRAKE AND TAKING A WHILE TO SHIFT BACK INTO OVERDRIVE. THIS PUTS TREMENDOUS STRAIN ON ENGINE, AND RESULTS IN POOR GAS MILEAGE. IT DOESN'T SEEM PROPER THAT IT SHOULD DOWNSHIFT WHEN SLOWING FROM 70 TO 65. EVEN PUNCHING THE ACCELERATOR DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE IT GO INTO OD UNTIL SEVERAL SECONDS HAVE PASSED. 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10049554

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2003
Power Train

I BOUGHT A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE FROM SLOANE TOYOTA, GLENSIDE, PA WITH MY SAVINGS OF $5,000 AND AFTER PUTTING LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $3,700. I THINK THE SALES PERSON KNEW IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND SOLD IT TO ME ANYWAY. I HAVE HAD MISFORTUNE AND DISHONESTY BEFORE FROM THE SAM…

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I BOUGHT A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE FROM SLOANE TOYOTA, GLENSIDE, PA WITH MY SAVINGS OF $5,000 AND AFTER PUTTING LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $3,700. I THINK THE SALES PERSON KNEW IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND SOLD IT TO ME ANYWAY. I HAVE HAD MISFORTUNE AND DISHONESTY BEFORE FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP, BUT GO BACK BECAUSE I TRUST THE TOYOTA PRODUCT AND THEY ARE THE ONLY DEALER CLOSE ENOUGH TO MY HOME TO BE CONVENIENT. DO I HAVE ANY CASE AT ALL; CAN I GET HELP? *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043561

1995 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts

VEHICLE'S MOTOR MOUNTS ARE DEFECTIVE.*MR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND THE FLUID WAS BLACK. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THE REAR SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS BROKE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RESERVOIR BROKE, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING, AND AXLE BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE L…

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VEHICLE'S MOTOR MOUNTS ARE DEFECTIVE.*MR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND THE FLUID WAS BLACK. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THE REAR SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS BROKE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RESERVOIR BROKE, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING, AND AXLE BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10042181

2003 model year · 8 miles · Jul 23, 2003
Power Train

WHEN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE AND BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING GEARS, AND THE RMPS SURGE UP TO 4000. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10029984

2003 model year · 6,853 miles · Jul 22, 2003
Power Train

6853 MILES NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI #10028777

2002 model year · Mileage unknown · May 6, 2003
Power Train

THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP THREE TIMES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017853

Related Official recalls

0

No component-matched recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.