10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
93,708 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #13

Sep 012015

Corolla

  • 175,000 miles
I have a manual transmission and at random times while I am driving and in motion, I'll push in the clutch to brake or coast, the rpms go down until the engine shuts off, and the steering wheel goes hard. The headlights and dash lights still work, in fact all the dashboard lights, like the check engine and maintenance required lights, actually come on (just like when you're key ignition is in the "on" position but you haven't started the engine yet). The car starts right back up when I turn the ignition or pop the clutch while in gear. This has been happening about once every week ever since I bought the car over 4 years ago. Within the past couple of months at random times when trying to start my car my car (stationary), the engine will turn over but won't start on first try. On second try I will turn the ignition and pump the gas pedal and after a few seconds it will start up and run perfectly fine. I've read about the recall of the ECM for my make, model, and year, but when I search my VIN it comes back with no current recalls. Within the first year of owning the vehicle (purchased from private party in August of 2015), I learned of the airbag recall and took in and got it fixed, but a couple of months ago, about 2.5 years after taking it in for the recall, my SRS light came on as well. The check engine light is not illuminated and everything else is functioning properly, but I am a little worried about safety especially now that the SRS light has come on. On multiple occasions I have been surprised by the engine shut off while trying to make a turn, which very easily could have caused an accident, and now if I do get in an accident and the airbag system fails, then I could be injured even more severely or die. I'm a college student on a very tight budget, otherwise I would've just seen a mechanic by now. I thought I'd try filing a complaint first.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #12

Oct 302018

Corolla

  • 154,000 miles
My engine control module stopped working. Maintenance control lights have been on, even when no repairs were needed.

- Alexandria, LA, USA

problem #11

Feb 012019

Corolla

  • 84,000 miles
Engine may go dead usually on freeway speed

- Newhall, CA, USA

problem #10

Jun 022018

Corolla

  • 170,000 miles
It lost power while on hwy driving at appx.75 mph

- Hesperia, CA, USA

problem #9

Jul 132017

Corolla

  • 156,561 miles
Car appeared to be running fine. Went to get a smog, " check engine" light on, as a result I failed smog. Code revealed was PO741( torque converter clutch circuit performance or stuck off) upon vehicle inspection from canal transmission in el cajon, ca. Owner revealed that he had come across this problem about 10 times with Toyota Corollas. He revealed that each time he tried to fix torque converter, check engine light would still remain with same code after repair. He said they finally realized that it was an ECM issue and not a transmission problem. In 2010 Toyota did a recall on ECM. So what do I do" code is preventing me from getting a smog, yet when repair of torque converter attempted check engine code PO741 still remains. I contacted dealer regarding code, they scanned car, the same code appeared. All they offered was 400 to tear into transmission to see if they could find issue. So in closing, we have a check engine light revealing code P0741; that when repairs attempted, repair cant seem to be fixed satisfactorily to clear the light, because through experience of transmission shop it is a faulty code and the real problem lies within the ECM, which was supposedly fixed during Toyota recall. So what do I do? I need my car smogged to drive.what other problems will the ECM create in the future" Toyota needs to recall ECM again for this specific problem and other problems that may be created due to the fault Y ECM.

- Lakeside, CA, USA

problem #8

Oct 242016

Corolla

  • 119,012 miles
I received an air safety recall notice therefore I scheduled an appt with boch Toyota in norwood, MA to get it fix since that was the dealer I bought the car from 11 years ago. On the day of my appointment I went there and they told me they replaced the air bag and that I was all set then I left.two weeks after while I was driving on my way home my air bag light came on, I immediatly called boch Toyota they asked that I bring the car, I went there directly. When I arrived they took my car to go check why the air bag light was on, I reminded them that I was there two weeks ago maybe they had forgtotten to do something. The service advisor told me he would have a mechanic take a look; an hour after another service advisr larry came and told me that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced that I would cost me $800. I told him I had my car for 11 years and the air bag light never had any issue until I brought my car there for them to fix the air bag as requested by the Toyota company;larry told me the issue the car has now is not covered under the safety recall and that my only option was to get it fix, he also said that if I was involve in a car accident the air bag will not deploy. I told him that it was boch Toyota's responsibilty to fix it, he told me it was not possible. Next they brought my car for me then I left. My air bag light is still on in the car, I have asked two mechanics for suggestions and they both informed me that boch Toyota should have taken care of it. Can someone please contact me ? I need to know how to proceed with this sice I'm driving a car with air bags that will not deploy in case I have an accident.

- Mansfield, MA, USA

problem #7

Jul 272005

Corolla

  • miles
I have the air bag lights on all the time, the time I turn on the car and driving it, it just do not go away on parking either, ever since I buy the car the dealers said it will go away as I drive it, it never did, it is not stable at all every time I brake while driving it goes forward like it did not stop but it did. It is in some way unbalance at every stop. But they said this is how it is since I bought it. Now I try to check on recalls and for some reason this VIN # does not appear to be valid or recognizable by the safety dept.. why" why? why? they do not want to fix it? or what is going on"

- Braintree, MA, USA

problem #6

Jul 012013

Corolla

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the electronic stability control light illuminated. The contact stated that the solenoids valve had malfunction due to the shavings from the transmission. As a result, the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

problem #5

Apr 102010

Corolla

  • miles
I was driving my Toyota Corolla 2005 on the 395 highway, when I tried to pass a truck because the conductor was driving too slow, then when I press on the accelerator the car started to shift harder and I almost had an accident and I got force to get out from the highway spinning on the dirt, in a few seconds after that!, the check engine light came on, I was soo scared that I took the Corolla to the dealer but they said that there was a malfunction with the computer and that the computer is not cover and that I have to pay for it because I"M over 80,000... but they knew about the problem already I just want to report this so you can do an investigation with the Corolla computer, I don't think this is right that we have to pay for a computer!!! when they are the ones selling junk cars. I will never ever buy a Toyota anymore now the cars they sell are junk and to dangerous for the other people on the road, hope that this problem won't happen to anyone and that you people check on that asap. The error code I got was P2716 and is a computer malfunction. Thank you.

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #4

Mar 182010

Corolla

  • 169,542 miles
Details: At 169,542 miles my 2005 Toyota Corolla's check engine light came on & developed harsh / jerky automatic gear changes (park to first and while driving, first to second). The dealer diagnosed this as a faulty engine computer based on code P2716. Replacement of the module corrected the problem at a cost of almost $600 for the computer itself + labor. I was told this is a known issue with the 2005 Corollas.

- Wilkesboro, NC, USA

problem #3

Sep 092008

Corolla

  • 11,000 miles
Here I report an accident which may be caused by Toyota unintended accelerate problem. We bought 2005 Toyota Corolla sport on July 09, 2004. We drive 2000-3000 miles/ per year. As we bought 5 years pre-paid maintenance, we have regular maintenance service with faulkner dealer every half year until July 09, 2009. There has no big problems during the first 3-year warranty period except on around summer of 2007, the check engine light is on and Toyota dealer replaced the computer control system without charge (we're not sure the replaced computer name and we think the dealer should have record). The weather condition is light-medium rain while our car accident happened. When the accident happened, my 5-year old son and I were in the car. The road speed limit is 25 miles per hour, I drove under the speed limit at a local road and it is about 2-3 miles distance to our destination. I remembered that I reduced the speed around a curve to turn on another road. Suddenly I heard a loud roaring engine sound came from inside, even I pressed and pressed the brake pedal for several times, but I feel that I step on the air, it didn't help. The car automatically accelerated with the speed I can't control and I lost the control of the steering wheel, my car was in malfunction status and crashed to the right curb and then hit the bush with a high speed and trapped in wet mud (thank for god). The engine was still roaring with a scared loud sound for minutes till I turned off the ignition and took off the key. Our car was damaged seriously by this accident, our car insurance company paid for more than $7,000 for the repair of this damage and I paid $1,000 for this collision. We kept both the police and repair record in case you required. At that time we didn't realize this accident may be caused by the unintended accelerate problem which recalled. Because our car computer system was replaced by dealer in 2007, we may still faced the recalled problem.

- Hummelstown, PA, USA

problem #2

Jul 152009

Corolla

  • 105,000 miles
At approximately 105,000 miles my Toyota Corolla began to develop harsh and jerky automatic gear changes which progressed. At 108,000 the dealer diagnosed this as a faulty engine control module ("computer") based on code P2716. Replacement of the module corrected the problem. I was informed that Toyota had a service bulletin dated September 20, 2007 tsb no. TC014-06 indicating that they were aware of this defect and would cover under warranty to 96 months or 80,000 miles.

- Beachwood, OH, USA

problem #1

Mar 212009

Corolla

  • 87 miles
ECU (engine control unit) malfunction causes hard shift on transmission. Total replacement charge sums up to $762 as per Toyota dealer. Toyota Corolla S 2005 replacement information in data base is 89661 02C11 vs. 89661 02C12 on physical engine control unit part. Compatibility in question. Customer service admitted to have a total of 4 car with same problem during the same week. Also said that they would replace it with an upgraded unit questioning the manufacture performance.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA