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
2004 model year · 6,000 miles · Feb 9, 2010
Power Train

I AM HAVING WHAT COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY ALMOST NEW COROLLA 2004 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 8000 KM. IF I LEAVE THE CAR PARKED FOR SAY MORE THAN A WEEK, I THEN START IT, AND TRY TO GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE THE CAR TAKES (LAGS) LIKE 5 OR 6 SECONDS TO SORT OF ENGAGE THE GEAR. AT FIRST IT SORT OF LIKE STARTS TO GO …

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I AM HAVING WHAT COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY ALMOST NEW COROLLA 2004 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 8000 KM. IF I LEAVE THE CAR PARKED FOR SAY MORE THAN A WEEK, I THEN START IT, AND TRY TO GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE THE CAR TAKES (LAGS) LIKE 5 OR 6 SECONDS TO SORT OF ENGAGE THE GEAR. AT FIRST IT SORT OF LIKE STARTS TO GO BUT NOT FULLY (SLIPS) AND AFTER THAT IT GOES SOLID. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND MY EXPLANATION?? DEALER HAS PERFORMED THE HYDRAULIC TEST, RESET THE MEMORY, AND CHANGED THE ATF OIL. IT SEEMS THAT PERHAPS ONE OF THE INTERNAL VALVES TENDS TO LEEK OR IS NOT ABLE TO RETAIN THE PRESSURE OVER TIME. THE CAR HAS NOW 15000 KM. AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. IT TAKES MORE TIME TO FULLY ENGAGE INTO GEAR. I CAN SEE HOW A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAN HAPPENED IF THE PERSON DRIVING THE CAR IS NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND WILL TRY TO ACCELERATE TO GET THE CAR MOVING AND SUDDENLY LOOSE CONTROL OVER A SUDDEN UNWANTED ACCELERATION. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BEFORE AND I HOPE SOMEONE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT TAKES SERIOUSLY THIS INFORMATION. THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT (ODI NUMBER) WAS 10187863. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308135

2005 model year · 106,000 miles · Jan 30, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

P2716, ECM PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303365

2009 model year · 1,000 miles · Jan 29, 2010
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE MOST OF THE TIME WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND THE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, SHE CO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE MOST OF THE TIME WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND THE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM; HOWEVER, SHE CONTINUED HEARING THE GRINDING NOISE. IN SEPTEMBER 2009, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. SHE NO LONGER NOTICED THE NOISE; YET, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WITH A SUDDEN PULLING AND GRABBING MOTION. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THE ABS ACTIVATED WHICH CAUSED THAT FEELING. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. IN DECEMBER 2009, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES AND TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE AND THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

NHTSA ODI #10303239

2010 model year · 650 miles · Jan 28, 2010
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

FOR ENTIRE TIME OWNED - THERE IS A GAP OF SECONDS BETWEEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION. WHEN I PRESS GAS PEDAL THERE IS A HESITATION LEADING ME TO PRESS HARDER. THEN OF COURSE THE CAR HAS A SUDDEN SPRINT IN ACCELERATION. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 5.5 MONTHS SO I AM GETTING BETTER AT WAITING INSTEAD O…

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FOR ENTIRE TIME OWNED - THERE IS A GAP OF SECONDS BETWEEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION. WHEN I PRESS GAS PEDAL THERE IS A HESITATION LEADING ME TO PRESS HARDER. THEN OF COURSE THE CAR HAS A SUDDEN SPRINT IN ACCELERATION. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 5.5 MONTHS SO I AM GETTING BETTER AT WAITING INSTEAD OF PRESSING HARDER. BUT I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT. I INQUIRED OVER PHONE WITH SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I PURCHASED - EXPLANATION: I AM NOT USE TO A 4 CYLINDER, WHICH I BELIEVED BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A 4 CYLINDER. BUT, I AM BEGINNING NOT TO BELIEVE THIS EXCUSE. *TW

NHTSA ODI #10302946

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2010
Power Train

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND STOPPED, THE CAR WILL MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN. I APPLY MORE PRESSURE AND IT STOPS AGAIN. I NOW LEAVE EXCESSIVE SPACE BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS OCCURS VERY OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298019

2009 model year · 30,000 miles · Dec 31, 2009
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT CONSISTENT SPEEDS ON ROADS AND FREEWAYS WITH LITTLE GRADES. WHILE IN COMMUTER TRAFFIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGED THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GRAB AND ENGAGE EVERY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297638

2009 model year · 42,000 miles · Dec 12, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA XRS AND LIVING IN NORTHERN CANADA. DURING EXTREME TEMPERATURES IN THE -30 AND ABOVE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 KM/HR OR HIGHER CLUTCH PEDAL WILL STIFFEN TO THE POINT THAT AT SOMETIMES IT WILL HESITATE TO RETURN TO POSITION AND WILL POP BACK AND CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING RIGHT AWAY CAUSING SLIPPAGE AT THAT POINT. …

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I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA XRS AND LIVING IN NORTHERN CANADA. DURING EXTREME TEMPERATURES IN THE -30 AND ABOVE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 KM/HR OR HIGHER CLUTCH PEDAL WILL STIFFEN TO THE POINT THAT AT SOMETIMES IT WILL HESITATE TO RETURN TO POSITION AND WILL POP BACK AND CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING RIGHT AWAY CAUSING SLIPPAGE AT THAT POINT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENS DURING THIS TIME, I KNOW THAT THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE ARE ON THE SAME HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. CLUTCH PEDAL WILL BEGIN TO LOOSEN WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR STOPPED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS IDLING, AS I BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MUCH COLD AIR BLOWING THROUGH THE FRONT OF VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS AS IT'S WARMING THE SLAVE CYLINDER. AS IT WAS DOING THIS AT ONE POINT I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SLAVE CYLINDER AND IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD TO TOUCH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE OR EVEN WORSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THERE ARE GOING TO INVESTIGATE IT FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295437

2009 model year · 32,000 miles · Nov 15, 2009
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

2009 TOYOTA COROLLA, "S" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM WAS INITIALLY IDENTIFIED BY ME WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT CATCH WHILE ON A SLOPE IN DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ROLL BACK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS NORMAL DUE TO A LOSS OF PRESSURE, HOWEVER IT WOULD DO IT EVEN IF I BARLEY STOPPED ON A GRADUAL INCLINE FOR A FEW SECONDS…

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2009 TOYOTA COROLLA, "S" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM WAS INITIALLY IDENTIFIED BY ME WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT CATCH WHILE ON A SLOPE IN DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ROLL BACK. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS NORMAL DUE TO A LOSS OF PRESSURE, HOWEVER IT WOULD DO IT EVEN IF I BARLEY STOPPED ON A GRADUAL INCLINE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ROLL BACK UNLESS I HAD ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ONE FOOT ON THE GAS WHILE TO KEEP ME STEADY TO START. THIS HAPPENED AT FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED THE CAR. RECENTLY, I MY ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING REALLY ROUGH AND WINDING AT A HIGH PITCH WHILE DRIVING. IT NOW INTERMITTENTLY GOES BETWEEN GEARS AND DOWNSHIFTS AUTOMATICALLY INTO GEARS THAT ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE SPEEDS TRAVELING. THIS CAUSES A DRASTIC DOWN SPEED, AND EXAMPLE IS I WILL BE ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-65 AND IT WILL DOWNSHIFT AND REDUCE MY SPEED TO 40 MPH OR LESS, THEN I WILL TRY TO ACCELERATE AND IT WILL REDLINE OUT, AS IF I AM IN NEUTRAL AND I WILL HAVE NO CONTROL TO REGAIN SPEED UNTIL IT AUTOMATICALLY PUSHES ITSELF BACK INTO GEAR, AND THEN INCREASES MY SPEED AT A RAPID PACE, WITHOUT ME PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE GAS. AT THIS POINT, I AM REQUIRED TO PLACE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO CONTROL MY SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TAKEN MY CAR BACK TWICE AND CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT TWICE BASED ON THE READS, BUT I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE READS ON THE COMPUTER WILL SAY THAT IT IS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION... HOWEVER THEY CAN NOT IDENTIFY WHERE THE MALFUNCTION IS COMING FROM. PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO FIX THIS AT THIS TIME. TOYOTA IS NOT ASSISTING WITH THE RECALL AND I AM LEFT WITH LOTS OF SHOP HOURS. THINKING ABOUT REGISTERING FOR THE LEMON LAW ABOUT MY CAR, I DRIVE APX. 1000 MILES WEEK AND MY CAR IS NOT SAVING, CONSISTENT, AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE HAVE NO CONTROL WHILE MY CAR MALFUNCTIONS. I CAN ONLY REACT TO WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT ALSO MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND, AND A HIGH WINDING SOUND WHEN REDLINING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292245

2004 model year · 90,000 miles · Sep 29, 2009
Power TrainCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH HE NOTICED A SHARP SOUND COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH HE NOTICED A SHARP SOUND COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90000.

NHTSA ODI #10285677

2001 model year · 153,000 miles · Aug 24, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

RE: UNSAFE REBUILT TRANSMISSION, 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 7/29/2008. IN JANUARY 2009, THE ENGINE DUMPED OIL AND BURNED OUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FELL APART. OUR MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS FROM A SALVAGE YARD AND WAS BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH EPOXY. THE TR…

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RE: UNSAFE REBUILT TRANSMISSION, 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 7/29/2008. IN JANUARY 2009, THE ENGINE DUMPED OIL AND BURNED OUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FELL APART. OUR MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS FROM A SALVAGE YARD AND WAS BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH EPOXY. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT WAS BENT, INDICATING TO THE MECHANIC THAT THE CAR MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN SOME KIND OF ACCIDENT. ALSO I BELIEVE THE MECHANISM FOR THE BOLT TO GO THROUGH (TO HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN PLACE) WAS MISSING ALONG WITH THE BOLT. ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHOULD BE VERIFIED WITH HARRY, OWNER OF IMPORT AUTO, AT 2583 UNIVERSITY AVE, MADISON, WI 53705; PHONE 608-231-1221. HE HAS BEEN KEEPING THE TRANSMISSION FOR INSPECTION BY INTERESTED AUTHORITIES. HARRY CALLED THE TRANSMISSION A "FRAUD." IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INSTALLED LIKE THAT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS UNSAFE. I ALLOW MY GRANDSON TO DRIVE THIS CAR. HE IS A STUDENT, AGE 19. HE HAS A PART-TIME JOB WITH PIZZA HUT, DELIVERING PIZZAS. HE IS ALSO IN A BAND. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, HE WANTED TO DRIVE THE CAR A LONG DISTANCE FOR A GIG. I TOLD HIM TO TAKE MY OTHER CAR. IF HE HAD TAKEN THE COROLLA, THE TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE COME APART AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY IN THE DEAD OF WINTER. HE AND OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MY MECHANIC ORDERED ANOTHER REBUILT TRANSMISSION, BUT IT TOO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HE IS FLABBERGASTED THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE BEING SOLD, AND HE TOLD US HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE IN HIS 40-YEAR CAREER. WE OPTED TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION. BOTTOM LINE: BAD, UNSAFE TRANSMISSIONS ARE BEING SOLD AND UNSCRUPULOUS MECHANICS OR CAR OWNERS ARE INSTALLING THEM. WE HAVE PHOTOS AND MORE INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281562

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.