2003 Toyota Corolla Owner Complaints

Airbags did not deploy in at crash where we were hit head on and car is totaled. I do not know the rate of speed the gentleman was driving, but the speed limit in the area was 45 mph and the gentleman ran the red light and hit us as we were waiting to make a left turn. Every responder, police, wrecker, medical personnel, and tow yard remarked that the air bags should have deployed after witnessing the extensive damage. Car is currently in tow yard. Insurance has offered payout but we have not accepted as of today. I keep trying to speak with Toyota but the wait times are extensive.

NHTSA ID

11746897

Incident

May 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact lowered the front passenger’s side window; however, while attempting to raise the window, the window failed to respond. The contact researched online and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V162000 (Visibility). The contact called a local dealer and was informed of the recall; however, the recall had been repaired in 2008, and the VIN was not eligible for a second repair. The contact called the manufacturer and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact was informed that any additional repairs would be out-of-pocket. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

NHTSA ID

11723843

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

Mileage

124,000 mi

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while her husband and son were driving at approximately 25 MPH, her husband smelled an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated her husband then heard several abnormal sounds like a soda can being opened. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger’s door air bags inadvertently deployed. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver and passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that her son’s seat belt tightened and was difficult to unbuckle. The contact stated that as soon as her husband exited the vehicle, the passenger’s side frontal air bag deployed. The contact stated that the Police and Fire Department were contacted. A Police report was filed; however, the contact had not been provided the Police report number. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11681807

Incident

Aug 19, 2025

Greeting, on June 7,2025 my Toyota Corolla was repaired at Interstate Toyota for the replacement on the airbag. I have attached documents that share the job was completed successfully. Please review and forward and email that it is verified in your system to my email address. [XXX] Warmly, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11673024

Incident

Jun 7, 2025

My mother got in the car and as soon as the car was put on drive, the car accelerated to its max potential, but when she attempted to hit the brakes they did not respond. So max acceleration, on its own, and brakes did not work. She ended up in the hospital for 9 days suffering a broken rib, front teeth missing, they had to sew her tongue back together, both cheeks shattered, broken clavicle and she has a hole right under the back of her skull. Miraculously, after she flipped to the side and took out two trees, the third tree flipped her back to right side up, and stopped the vehicle completely.

NHTSA ID

11647797

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

My driver side Seat belt sometimes becomes unbuckled, disconnected while driving, specially when I make turns, or when I slow down my driving speed. This is very dangerous because it is putting my life at risk in case of an accident.

NHTSA ID

11626510

Incident

Nov 9, 2024

Seat belt use to automatically unlocks in mid drive, sometimes over a speed bump, sometimes during a turn, sometimes for no reason at all. Now seat belt won't lock at all.

NHTSA ID

11603082

Incident

Jun 17, 2024

Driver seat belt buckle don't lock all the time and sometimes comes un-buckled while driving

NHTSA ID

11552560

Incident

Oct 12, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11529844

Incident

Jun 5, 2023

While driving on the highway (I-75) in Michigan on April 2, 2022 the sunroof exploded for no apparent reason.

NHTSA ID

11515147

Incident

Apr 2, 2023

The airbag light came on suddenly, even though I had the airbag recall work done for my vehicle. I took it to a Toyota Dealership who wanted to charge me for the repair which I was willing to and perhaps work with Toyota directly to get reimbursed for but the parts weren't available.

NHTSA ID

11484983

Incident

Feb 19, 2022

I received a recall notice, scheduled an appointment and then went to Bev Smith Toyota in Fort Pierce, FL. My appointment was for 9:30 AM. I decided that as long as I was there, I would get my oil changed (normally I do not use dealer oil changes because they are expensive, but since I was there anyway...). At 11:10, I was presented the bill for the oil change and told that they refused to service the airbag. There was some garbage on the floor of the passenger side that the service manager claimed rendered my vehicle unsafe to work on. I pointed out that no one asked me to clean out the front seat when I scheduled the appointment, that the items were there at 9:30 when received the car, and that the car apparently was safe enough for them to perform an overpriced oil change. I offered to remove the items (it later took me all of 3 minutes to clear the area). The service manager refused and refused to complete the recall work. He still demanded payment for the oil change and was unwilling to compensate me for my wasted time.

NHTSA ID

11474177

Incident

Jul 11, 2022

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the recall was confirmed to be completed; however, the recall appears open for the VIN. The contact was receiving recall notices for the same recall repair. The contact called the manufacturer to inform them that the dealer had completed the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. There were no warning lights illuminated or a failure experienced. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11450928

Incident

Jun 14, 2021

Mileage

53,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11446969

Incident

Dec 29, 2021

The contact owned a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while she was driving at 60 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by the emergency unit. The contact sustained a herniated disc. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received an unknown recall notification for the air bag failure and the recall repair was completed by the dealer. The contact stated she received a second and third unknown recall notification for the air bag failure and the recall repair was completed by a second dealer (Thousand Oaks Toyota 2401 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362), however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while her son was driving at 40-50 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's son sustained back injuries and sought medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11435737

Incident

Mar 19, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

My car is accelerating when my foot is off of the pedal and when in park, it is revving like I am pressing down on the gas pedal. I put it in reverse to test it to make sure I was experiencing what I just thought had happened. As soon as I put the gear in reverse, and released my foot from the break, the car spead down my driveway. I breaked, put gear in drive, and when I released my foot from the break pedal, again it sped up almost crashing into my house. When I put the car in park, the engine became louder as if I was pressing down on the gas pedal. I checked the pedals below. The rug or nothing else was near the pedal, as can happen at times. This morning I tested it out again on my way to work. It was a repeat of yesterday. The car is speeding up without me putting my foot on the drive pedal, by me simply lifting my foot of of the break. And when I park, it gets loud as if I am pressing on the gas pedal. This is very dangerous and I am afraid to drive my car until I can get it to a mechanic.

NHTSA ID

11434047

Incident

Sep 22, 2021

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED A UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11415783

Incident

Oct 31, 2019

I DO NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS TRADED IN TO ORLAND TOYOTA (ORLAND IL) WHEN I PURCHASED MY 2015 TOYOTA COROLLA ON 08/04/2018. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD THE NHRA REPRESENTATIVES BY MAIL AND BY PHONE THAT I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE. I'M SICK OF THIS. REMOVE MY NAME AND ADDRESS FROM YOUR RECORDS ASAP [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11415667

Incident

Aug 4, 2018

Mileage

188,000 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA FOR MY AIRBAGS. RECALL ID NHAT-FZJ. I CONTACT THEM TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR AND THEY TELL ME SINCE THERE'S ANOTHER RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE THEY CAN'T HELP ME FURTHER. SEEMS CRAPPY THAT SOMETHING THEY SHOULD ALSO FIX SOMEHOW HINDERS TOYOTA'S ABILITY TO FIX THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID

11413650

Incident

Apr 23, 2021

Mileage

172,000 mi

TRAVELING ON US HWY 70 AT 35 MPH. ACCIDENTLY HIT THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING STRAIGHT AHEAD OF ME AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE TURNED OFF WITH NO PASSENGER ON BOARD. THIS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BUSTED MY WINDSHIELD WHICH WILL COST ME $400.00 AND TOYOTA SAYS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THERE IS A PASSENGER OR WEIGHT WHICH NO WEIGHT AND NO PASSENGER. JUST ME ALONE.

NHTSA ID

11399272

Incident

Feb 24, 2021

Mileage

107,000 mi

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 ??

NHTSA ID

11395728

Incident

Feb 8, 2021

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11382868

Incident

Dec 10, 2020

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!)

NHTSA ID

11374642

Incident

Sep 11, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

HI, I AM FROM PUERTO RICO. I HAVE A TOYOTA COROLLA 2003 1.8L, TYPE S. THE TRANSMISSION OF MY CAR IS MANUAL AND IT IS MAKING AN INTERNAL NOISE THAT HAS BEEN INCREASING LITTLE BY LITTLE. THE NOISE IS SIMILAR TO A BALL BEARING WHEN DAMAGED. FOR THE CURRENT PRICE IN THE MARKET, THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED ME TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FOR ANOTHER USED ONE THAT IS IN GOOD CONDITION. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR AND I AM SURPRISED THAT A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR IS FAILING. THIS MODEL HAS PRESENT PROBLEMS IN THE TRASMITION? THANKS, LISA HERNANDEZ

NHTSA ID

11364080

Incident

Oct 5, 2020

THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING MY AIRBAGS. I NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11341607

Incident

Jul 27, 2020