10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 7 / 7
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 47,629 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. During inclement weather, the vehicle would not start. The contact constantly had to wait for the weather conditions to improve in order for the key to turn over to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
- Hickory, NC, USA
After replacing the alternator in my 2009 Corolla in July 2015. My timing chains and water pump malfunctioned while driving on the highway. I was unaware and so was the mechanic that the timing belts were damaged until after the water pump and serpentine belt was replaced. Due to timing issues from the previous malfunctions, I am now in need of a new motor. My vehicle has all required repairs or maintenance completed as scheduled and my vehicle has not even made it to 80,000 miles.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
7.5Y old Corolla le with 61,000 miles of gentle driving/excellent maintenance, all of a sudden, the alternator failed and the car steering wheel is locked, throwing me into panic. I managed to pull into a bank parking lot at chase bank on 161 w spring creek pkwy, plano. My previous car was 1995 Corolla, had same experience. I would never feel safe in these vehicles. I feel these denso alternators may be defective at such low mileage and gentle use. Anyone else have similar issue with denso alternator [model 104210-5480]?
- Plano, TX, USA
Driver side power window switch started smoking and I had to take it out to prevent a fire. One of the switches would not operate freely and seemed to get stuck. Thought I was going to have a fire and when I removed it I found components melted. Cannot operate window and it is in open position. Vehicle was moving at the time and I had to return to home and park since switch was smoking.
- Raleigh, NC, USA
Dangerous car to drive. Vehicle drifts hard left when driving in a straight line. Problem is made worse when driving next to a large trailer truck with crosswinds. Car steering has a large loose, dead center feel disconnected to the road. When turning, the power steering does not move the steering wheel to the center. The driver has to manually correct the wheel every time. I purchased the car "new" from the dealer. I still own it today, and the steering is just as bad. In bad weather, the problem is absolutely terrible. The dealer has no solution.
- Waipahu, HI, USA
Driver's door lock does not lock/unlock when pressing the lock/unlock button on the key fob and pressing the lock/unlock button on the driver's door and passengers door.
- Waipahu, HI, USA
I am the original owner of a 2009 Toyota Corolla which I purchased new from a local Toyota dealership. I have always had them do recommended service, etc. And have taken great care of this vehicle. In July 2014 my car was making a rattling sound and I took it in for service. At that time it barely turned over and started, although I had replaced the battery in 2013. The car had a faulty alternator and when they were doing service they also discovered a broken water pump. The car only had apprx. 27,000 miles at that time. On 8-9-15 the car barely started and as I backed out the battery light came on and I lost my power steering. I had to have the car towed to the dealership and the problem was another defective alternator! the car only has less than 32,000 miles and another alternator. Although the part was just out of warranty, the dealership covered the part, but I had to pay $132 labor and go without a vehicle for 2 days. My family and I always own Toyota and have excellent service from the cars. This one, not so much! now I'm wondering what will go next. I think this will be my last Toyota.
- No. Charleston, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while traveling on a hill, the alternator assembly warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road, where the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
- Cypress, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle suddenly shut off. After restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. The contact indicated that the failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 126,000.
- Houston, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. While driving approximately 40 mph, the ABS and battery warning indicators illuminated. The odometer, blinkers, and front windshield wipers failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the computer failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,700.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
The high beams on the headlights come on without the control being touched. This began when I first bought the car & still does. At first it would happen at any time of the day but now it happens only when it is dark or getting dark. This could impair the vision of the driver of an oncoming vehicle. It is most dangerous on narrow streets. There are other electrical problems that occur from time to time such as the cruise control, power mirrors, air conditioner, driving & dash lights not working. Also the dome light has remained on causing the battery to run down.these latter problems do not seem to pose the threat that the headlights do but they seem to be connected & they are a distraction that could cause problems. I have taken my car to the dealer many times but they never corrected the problem.
- Chula Vista, CA, USA
At 89,000 miles, the battery light came on early in the day but I continued to drive it after stopping at Toyota who confirmed it was a "battery light." Later in the day, while traveling close to home at about 25mph, all the lights came on in the dashboard and the car started to seize up: Steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and I could barely get the car over to the curb (it happened within minutes). The car completely shut down. It turned out to be an alternator gone bad. Frightening experience but I am glad it happened at 25 mph and not on the freeway earlier in the day, or it could have caused an accident. In the future, I will get all warning lights checked out promptly and not assume that a battery symbol means only the battery is dying. Perhaps Toyota needs an "alternator light" as well, as this is a serious situation.
- San Diego, CA, USA
My 2009 Toyota Corolla, which I bought new in 2009, power window panel, caught fire on December 30 while I was driving it and when I brought it to the franchise I purchased it from on December 31, they told me, it was regular wear and tear and that my car was old and I would have to pay for it myself.
- Weymouth, MA, USA
While traveling nw on hwy 99 through merced ca at 08:30 am Nov. 9, 2014, I experienced a sudden acceleration of my car while in cruise mode going up the ramp just at the nw edge of merced. It continued to accelerate till the RPM gauge was into the red. At the same time, I was very tense, maneuvering in traffic while applying the brakes in an effort to slow down or stop, which heated up until they were barely working. I shut the motor off while in drive and turned it back on a few times and each time the engine went right into high rev mode again. I finally put the transmission into N and shut the engine off and coasted to the side of the road about a mile or so from where the problem started, regained my composure and allowed the car to sit a few minutes. I tried the engine starter and things seemed normal again so I cautiously exited the highway about a 1/4 mile from where I had stopped. Things continued to act normally so I came back home 18 miles and had no more problems. What do I do with this car" keep driving it this way? take it back to Toyota" they did the recall repair for this problem already, yet now this!! very troubling!
- Chowchilla, CA, USA
Engine by driving when excelling engine shut off this car was T taken to the dealer up to five times and three accidents. The dealer ship keith pierson Toyota 6501 youngerman circle jacksonville fla 3 2244. Also I have claim number file with Toyota corporations [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
While I was driving the car started stalling really bad and losing power, the engine light came up and I couldn't speed more than twenty five miles, because the car started trying to shut off on me in the middle of the street again. I took the car to get checked out and the troubleshooting codes came out as being the ignition coils due to the engine harness being bad, (difficult to believe I said ), cables don't go bad like that in Florida.
- Pompano Beach, FL, USA
1. while driving at approx. 25 mph, the car suddenly lost power; I was able to drive about 2 mph into a nearby gas station. The battery light was not on, but the orange engine light came on. After 5 minutes, the employee was able to start the car and I drove one mile to my home. My repair mechanic did a computer scan indicating possible problems with a switch and suggested that I drive around for about a week before returning. 2. a similar incident occurred 10 days later. I glided into a parking lot, waited 10 min., and the car resumed at regular speed. 3. on 8/7/14, I drove 2 mi. Back to the repair shop at a regular speed. A second scan could not be completed because the car suddenly stopped responding to the repair shop's computer. At this point the car is completely inoperable and must be towed to a Toyota dealer. I was advised that I may need a new computer. My 2009 Toyota Corolla has about 48,000 miles on it. I do not believe that a computer failure is normal within the age and mileage range of this car. Thank you for looking into this issue..
- Pikesville, MD, USA
This vehicle has had the water pump go out the brakes the alternator has had problems with the emergency brakes the air bag has had the struts replaced the gas lever stopped working and now the trunk release won't work I have replaced now 5 tires because one blow right after I got the car and now my car has just 85 thousand miles on it. I have heard so many good things about Toyota but this is the worst car I have ever own I will never buy or advise anyone to buy a Toyota again.
- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
During slow speeds or stopped when I press on the gas pedal to move forward the car's check engine light comes on and I can't move forward until I turn the car off, then back on. This has happened at stop lights, in parking garages, and even on the interstate. Not safe. This is my third time taking my vehicle to the Toyota dealership to fix the same problem. I paid $900 to fix the ECU (which they told me was the issue), but the same problem keeps happening. The second time I took it in they fixed something with the brake lights, now the third time they fixed something with a short in the brakes... the taillights were blinking rapidly? I doubt the problem is fixed and I am very frustrated to pay that kind of money with no refund when the same issue keeps happening. A similar issue happened in a recall with the 2005-2008 Corolla/matrix models and they had the ECM fixed with no charge. Sounds like the same problem to me.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Memphis, TN, USA