Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
I was driving as usual and suddenly the air bags exploded inside the dash causing damage to the passenger window and the front crystal. Seconds after the drivers airbag also opened and consequently the alarms. I did not impact anything and the car won’t start again.
I barely bought the car and I looked at the odometer and it’s at 126,000 and I serched and it has more then 300,000 i need help
I AM WRITING WITH CONCERN TO SEE IF THE RECALL ON MY DAUGHTERS 2003 TOYOTA AIR BAG ISSUE WAS TRULY FIXED, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WHERE ACCORDING TO EVERYONE'S OPINION THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF HOWEVER THEY DID NOT. IS THERE ANY WAY TO SEE IF THE RECALL WORK WAS ACTUALLY DONE BY THE COMPANY WHO STATES THEY DID THE REPAIR ??
I'VE TRIED TO REPORT BOTH ITEMS TO TYSONS TOYOTA IN THE PAST. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS "EXPLODED" IN, ONCE WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR. I'M ON MY THIRD WINDOW AND IT RATTLES WHEN THE WINDOW IS PARTIALLY OPEN. I FEAR ANOTHER EXPLOSION. SECOND, THE PAINT ON THIS BLUE CAR HAS RUSTED AND PEELED ON THE ROOF AND TRUNK. WHEN I GOOGLED THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND COLOR, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF 2003-04 CARS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. DESPITE BEING AN OLDER CAR, THERE ARE MANY STILL ON THE ROAD. TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WITH SO MANY OCCURANCES, ONE WOULD THINK TOYOTA WOULD LOOK INTO THE QUALITY OF BLUE PAINT USED. IT WOULD COST OVER $900 JUST TO HAVE THE ROOF AND TRUNK REPAIRED AND REPAINTED. THE SIDE BACK PANELS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO RUST. I SAW WHERE SEQUOIA WHITE SUVS WERE AFFORDED FREE REPAINTING BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR ISSUE. (IF SOMEONE CAN AFFORD A SEQUOIA, THEY COULD PROBABLY AFFORD TO GET THEIR CARS REPAINTED!)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V883000 (AIR BAGS), THE FUEL TANK COVER AND TRUNK COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION TOYOTA MALL OF GEORGIA AT 770-674-6083 (LOCATED AT 3505 BUFORD DR, BUFORD, GA 30519) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND LEFT A VOICE MESSAGE. THE DEALER HAD NOT CALLED BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,162.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS. THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY THE PAINT OF THE CAR IS PEELING. *TR
GOT INTO WHAT COULD'VE BEEN A MINOR ACCIDENT, BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED, HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT EVEN DEPLOY. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT WOULD LOCK AT RANDOM TIMES, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS MAKING A U-TURN ON A STATE ROAD. ONCE HIT, THE ENTIRE TIRE WENT UNDER THE CAR AND THE ENTIRE FRONT CAME OFF, WHICH WAS WHY I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING TYPE NOISE NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,039. UPDATED 05/24/16*LJ *TR
MANY YEARS AGO I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT OF MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE FIX BY TOYOTA WAS TO INSTALL FLOOR ANCHORS TO HOLD THE FLOOR MAT IN A STABLE POSITION SO IT COULD NOT SLIDE AROUND. THE FIX WORKED FOR A FEW YEARS, THEN THE ANCHORS BROKE. I PAID TOYOTA FOR NEW ANCHORS WHICH AGAIN FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. RECENTLY, THE ANCHORS AGAIN FAILED AND I WILL AGAIN NEED NEW ANCHORS TO STABILIZE THE FLOOR MAT. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD COME UP WITH A MORE PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. UPDATED 7/20/15*CN UPDATED 11/13/15 *JS
A VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF STREET WITHOUT RUNNING OR LIGHTS ON. OUR VEHICLE HIT PARKED VEHICLE IN REAR AND SMASHED FRONT IN SO NOT DRIVABLE BUT AIRBAGS DID NOT EMPLOY AT IMPACT. POLICE OFFICER VERIFIED THE DRIVER SIDE AT LEAST SHOULD HAVE EMPLOYED UPON IMPACT. DRIVER IS SORE AND BRUISED BUT NOT NEEDING MEDICAL TREATMENT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE (AT THIS POINT) THERE ARE TWO RECALLS REGARDING MISFUNCTIONING AIRBAGS ON OUR VEHICLE BUT THE REMEDY IS NOT YET AVAILABLE :-(
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PAINT FINISH ON HOOD IS DAMAGED WITH RUST. *SMD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT RODENTS HAD CHEWED THROUGH THE FUEL TANK LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK LINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,097. UPDATED 03/08/11 *BF UPDATED 11/22/11 *CN
CHROME ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES IS COMING OFF CREATING A CUT HAZARD. *TR
THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES OF THE 2003 COROLLA S HAVE CHROME PLATING THAT PEELS WITH NORMAL USE. THE PEELING CHROME IS SHARP AND HAS CAUSED LACERATION INJURY TO THOSE USING THE HANDLES. THE HANDLES NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH REQUIRES TAKING THE DOOR APART. MY REAR DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED IN 2006 AT MY EXPENSE AND NOW BOTH FRONT DOOR HANDLES NEED REPLACING IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO AVOID FURTHER INJURY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT NEED TO PAY. *TR
THE METAL ON THE DOOR HANDLES STARTED PEELING OFF. IT IS VERY SHARP AND WILL SLICE OPEN SKIN IF NOT CAREFUL. FRONT TWO DOORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW BACK DOORS ARE STARTING TO PEEL AND ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE PLASTIC UNDERNEATH IS VERY UGLY AND CHEAP LOOKING...SO HAVE TO PAY TO BE REPLACED. *TR
I OWN AN '03 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. AT THE 45,000 MILE MARK MY REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH ON A NEWLY PAVED CITY STREET - THERE WERE NO POTHOLES OR OBSTRUCTIONS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO BE "CLIMATE BUT NO EXCUSES." THE REAR SUSPENSION HAD "ROTTED" (RUSTED) OUT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT ALL COMMON. I JUST SPOKE TO A TOYOTA MECHANIC WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE - HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BUT SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE. HE ALSO QUESTIONED WHETHER THE UNDERBODY HAD BEEN PROPERLY TREATED ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE. HE WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN IN SUCH A YOUNG CAR - MORE LIKELY WITH A 10 YEAR OLD CAR. I DID NOT GET TO VISUALLY SEE THE BROKEN, ROTTED PARTS. TOYOTA REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE - $604 - AND THEY RECENTLY OFFERED ME A SETTLEMENT FOR $301. THE PARTS REPLACED WERE THE REAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS. THIS ISSUE ALSO RAISES CONCERN FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA FROM A CERTIFIED CAR DEALERSHIP, AND WAS SOLD A CAR THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND WAS NOT REPORTED. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR HAS NONE OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS TO THE CAR WHICH DEPRECIATED THE VALUE OF THE CAR, BUT IT WAS STILL SOLD TO ME AS SLIGHTLY USED IN GREAT CONDITION,LOW MILEAGE AND SUPPOSE TO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ANY ACCIDENTS, I ALSO FOUND OUT THE THIS CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES STARTING FIVE DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I TRIED GIVING THE CAR BACK AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE CONTRACT IS ALREADY SIGNED, AND BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE CAR THEY WILL ONLY GIVE $6,000 FOR THE CAR WHEN IN FACT THEY SOLD IT TO ME FOR OVER $15,000. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FOOTREST ON THE FLOORBOARD FRACTURED OFF. THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE PLASTIC FOOTREST WENT BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH DISABLED THE VEHICLE FROM BRAKING UNTIL THE PART COULD BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER.*AK
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA ON MAY 2003. DURING MAY - JUNE 2005 I NOTICED SEVERAL AIR BUBBLES (1.5" DIAMETER) ON THREE DOOR PANELS SKIN FROM INSIDE. THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR EXPIRED JUST ONE MONTH BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED - ON MAY 11 2004 THE CAR HAD ONLY 33000 + MILES. I CONTACTED AND SHOWED THE CAR TO BRIAN MURRAY. HE PROMISED THAT HE WILL TALK TO TOYOTA AND CALL ME BACK. HE NEVER CALLED BACK, SO I CALLED HIM AFTER ONE WEEK, HE PROMISED THE SAME THING AND NEVER CALLED BACK. I THREATENED THE DEALERSHIP OF GOING ON THE INTERNET WITH THE ISSUE. SERVICE MANAGER - CHRIS BROWN - WROTE ON 29TH AND MENTIONED THAT BRIAN CALLED MY CELL PHONE AND LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES (WHICH IS A FLAT OUT A LIE, I CAN PROVE THAT NO ONE CALLED FROM THE DEALERSHIP THROUGH MY CELL PHONE USAGE RECORDS) AND ASKED ME TO COME BACK TO SHOW THE CAR ONCE AGAIN. I REQUESTED HIM TO TALK TO BRIAN AS HE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THAT WOULD SAVE TIME FOR ALL INVOLVED. UNTIL THIS DATE HE HAS NEITHER CALLED NOR REPLIED TO ANY OF MY SUBSEQUENT EMAILS. I BELIEVE THAT AS THE AIR BUBBLES APPEARED JUST IN THREE YEARS TIME WITH ONLY 33000 + MILES ON CAR IT IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND COMPANY / DEALERSHIP SHOULD HELP CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. I ALSO FEEL THAT AS A LOYAL CUSTOMER FOR OVER THREE YEARS, I WAS ILL TREATED: NO RESPONSE, LIES THAT THEY CALLED WHEN THEY DID NOT, AND NO RESPONSE TO MY REPEATED EMAILS. SEE MY RECENT EMAIL TO THEM - MON, 12 SEP 2005 10:54:37 -0700 (PDT) FROM: "SUDHAKAR LAHADE" ADD TO ADDRESS BOOK TO: "BROWN, CHRIS" , [email protected] MR. CHRIS BROWN, IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE YOUR LAST EMAIL AND MORE THAN THREE WEEKS SINCE I WROTE THE FIRST TIME, MORE THAN 50 DAYS SINCE I SHOWED MY CAR AT YOUR DEALERSHIP, AND I AM STILL WHERE I WAS ON THE ISSUE. IN YOUR LAST EMAIL (THE ONLY) YOU MENTIONED "I LOOK FORWARD TO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE FOR YOU" AND I BELIEVED YOU MEANT IT. I HOPE YOU REALIZE THE FRUSTRATIONS!*JB
ROTTEN EGG SMELL AND MANY STRUCTURAL DEFECTS IN THIS CAR. *JB
PAINT BUBBLED AND PEELING ALL OVER CAR. *JB
ON SEPT. 10TH, 2004 MY SON TRIED CLOSING MY TRUNK ON MY COROLLA LE AND THE PLASTIC MECHANISM BROKE AND PREVENTED THE TRUNK LID FROM LOCKING. HE REPORTS THAT HE DID NO MORE THAN TO TRY TO CLOSE THE TRUNK AFTER OPENING IT. THIS SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THOSE INCIDENTS WHERE THERE IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM AND MOST OWNERS FEEL THEY ARE THE CULPRET OF ITS' MALFUNCTION. I HAD ONE OF THOSE COROLLA'S THAT HAD A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE TOYOTA AGENCY AFTER 1 1/2 YEARS REPLACED IT FREE AFTER SMELLING LIKE ROTTEN EGGS FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME. I WAS TOLD ORIGINALLY BY THE SERVICE DEPT., IT WAS THE GAS I PUT INTO IT, OR THAT IT WOULD TKAE LONGER THEN NORMAL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BREAK IN. FINALLY, IT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF SO MANY REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS WHO SUFFERED FROM THE SAME SMELL. I WONDER IF THIS IS THE SAME ABOUT THE TRUNK LID MECHANISM?*AK
I HAVE PURCHASED THE NEW COROLLA 2003 ON AUGUST 2002,ONLY SEVEN MILES AT THE DELIVERY TIME. AND I HAVE FOUND WATER INSIDE THE CAR (WET RIGHT REAR CARPET) AFTER THE HEAVY RAIN TWICE. THE FIRST TIME HAD HAPPEN ON JUNE 2003, THE FAWLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD REPLACED BODY SEAL AND DOOR SEAL. THE SECOND TIME ON JUNE, 28TH 2004, THE JOHN EAGLE SPORT CITY SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD FOUND THAT WATER WAS LEAKED INSIDE THE CAR THROUGH THE SEAL OF REAR WINDOW. IT IS NOT RIGHT BECAUSE WITH IN TWO YEARS AND AT THE 24000 MILES THE SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACE AT SEVERAL PARTS. IS IT THE DEFECTED PARTS OR CARS BECAUSE THE BODY OF THE COROLLA HAD JUST REDESIGN FOR THIS MODEL. *LA
INTERIOR NOISE, RIGHT FRONT DOOR AND DASHBOARD NOISE, RADIO/CD PANEL NOISE, SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED AND REFIXED BUT NOISE IS NOT GONE YET. EVERYTIME I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TELL ME THAT NOISE CAN'T BE DUPLICATED. AS A RESULT I USUALLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH SOMEONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO PROVE THAT NOISE IS THERE. IN MY OPINION SOME INTERIOR PARTS DO NOT FIT CAR'S STRUCTURE. AND SO MANY TIMES I TOOK TO DELERSHIP AND THEY SAID TI SI FIXED AND AFTER CERTAIN TIME IT WILL COME AGAIN.I EVEN TRIED TO GIVE MY CAR BACK AND THE ARBITRATOR SAID I HAVE LESS ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE. *AK
CONSUMER DISCOVERED A WATER LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. *PH WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, WHICH WAS A 2004 COROLLA, SHE DISCOVERED MOLDING AT THE BASE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. *JB *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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