2004 Toyota Corolla Owner Complaints

I received a "do not drive" recall for my vehicle in the mail because of defective air bags. The recall letter claimed that there have been twenty-eight confirmed deaths in relation to this recall. I entered Priority Toyota of Chesapeake, VA to address the issue. That was on Monday, April 6th, 2026. Even though there was a "do not drive" order on the recall, Priority Toyota of Chesapeake refused to give me a loaner vehicle. It is now Monday, April 13th, and Priority Toyota of Chesapeake has claimed that they are still waiting on an email to begin repairing the vehicle, which I need for transport. This is a formal complaint that Priority Toyota of Chesapeake, VA has failed to repair the recalls to the vehicle in a timely manner.

NHTSA ID

11730961

Incident

Apr 6, 2026

I am attempting to complete a manufacturer-issued safety recall involving my vehicle’s airbag system, which includes a “Do Not Drive” advisory due to the risk of airbag inflator failure. Despite multiple good-faith attempts, I have encountered repeated barriers at the dealership level that have prevented timely completion of the repair. I scheduled a service appointment with Culver City Toyota and clearly indicated I required a rental vehicle to leave my car. My confirmation stated “Arrangement: Rental Vehicle,” and the appointment was scheduled accordingly. When I arrived, I was told no rentals were available and that they are first-come, first-served. I was turned away and told to return another day. When I returned, I was able to leave my vehicle, but was asked how long I would need the rental without being given a repair timeline. Only after asking was I told the repair would take approximately two days. This was not communicated in advance, and given the prior lack of rental availability, it is unclear how I would have been expected to proceed without transportation. This has occurred across multiple attempts: lack of rental availability and requests to leave my vehicle for extended periods without transportation have made it difficult or impossible to complete the recall. As a result, I have been placed in the position of continuing to operate a vehicle with a known safety defect under a “Do Not Drive” advisory due to the inability to access timely and practical repair. I am concerned that dealership-level processes are creating barriers that delay or prevent consumers from completing urgent safety recalls. As of today, I have left my car at this dealership for the recall repair, however the inconsistent communication and handling of this process have created uncertainty about whether the repair will be completed in a timely and reliable manner. Seeing reviews online, I'm not the only one who's had this issue and the GM is non responsive.

NHTSA ID

11727004

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

This complaint concerns two separate incidents, both involving defective interior door handles. First, in 2023, the driver side driver door handle broke abruptly when the driver attempted to exit the vehicle. As a result, the driver, [XXX] , was trapped in the vehicle and required someone else to let him out from the outside. This was repaired privately at substantial cost to the owner. Then, the exact same thing happened to the passenger side front seat interior door handle in January 2025. The handle mechanism seems to be made of cheap plastic and seems to have broken, preventing the passenger from exiting the vehicle at all and leaving them effectively trapped in the front seat. This has been a major issue recently when transporting family members to the hospital, as time was lost when they tried to get out of the driver side passenger door and found that the door handle mechanism was inoperable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11665704

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

I got in an accident with a car who ran a stop sign when I didn't have one. I was going approximately 15-20mph and my entire front end collided with their passenger side. My air bags did not go off at all.

NHTSA ID

11558245

Incident

Nov 18, 2023

I have repaired all the safety recalls on my 2004 Toyota Corolla S. However, I just had another warning signal for the seatbelt/airbag today. Since this has been a recall previously, can I have the dealer look at the car and repair again? I wouldn't think the airbags/seatbelt warning would come back so fast after being repaired for the recall. Please advise. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11478711

Incident

Aug 9, 2022

We received the enclosed NHTSA notice about a vehicle repair that is need for a recall. However we no longer own this vehicle. We sold the vehicle in 2018 or 2019 and transferred the pink slip to the new owner. We have no way to contact him and he is responsible for the vehicle now. So we are just notifying you that we cannot take any action on this.

NHTSA ID

11469390

Incident

Jun 15, 2022

The contact's mother owned a 2004 Toyota Corolla. The contact's mother received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list as the vehicle was totaled. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ID

11464882

Incident

May 16, 2022

Hello, In January 3, 2022. I took the vehicle to the Toyota Hamer dealer about one issue of the air bag recall in the Toyota Corolla with the VIN: [XXX] there after around 4:pm on the Sunday the vehicle it was released with unsolved problems by the dealer and now I am requesting that it be properly repaired due to chronic and faulty problems. That the vehicle has. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11447260

Incident

Jan 3, 2022

SHIFTER CABLE BROKE OFF AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BRAKE/STOP. HAD IT TOWED AND DORAL TOYOTA REINSTALL SHIFTER CABLE ASSY ON. 09/03/2021. IF YOU NEED IT HAVE THE INVOICE AND PROOF OF PAYMENT, TOO. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK! CABLE ASSY TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF. VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. HAD IT TOWED AND DORAL TOYOTA ORDER PARTS AND PERFORMED THE LABOR ON 04/08/2015. HAVE THE INVOICE AND PROOF THE PAYMENT, TOO. THIS HAS HAPPED TO THIS VEHICLE TWICE AND THERE IS NO RECALL(?)

NHTSA ID

11436818

Incident

Sep 3, 2021

IIT SOUNDS BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM, IN MOTION ON ANY ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11416619

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

I KEEP GETTING RECALL LETTERS. SO I CALL THE NUMBER AND THE PERSON CLAIMED I COULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND IT COULD BE DONE IN 1 OR 2 HOURS. THAT IS WHAT THE LETTERS CLAIM. I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BUT WHEN I SHOW UP AT TOYOTA THE HAVE NO APPOINTMENT FOR ME. BUT HE CLAIMS IT WILL TAKE A "COUPLE HOURS". OKAY I WILL WAIT. SO HE SIGNS ME UP AND SAYS BE BACK AT 2 PM. SO NOW ITS GONE FROM 1 HOUR MIN TO 4 HRS MIN. MY CAR SITD INA PARKING LOT FOR 1 HOUR AND I HAVE AN "APPOINTMENT". THOSE [XXX] CLAIM THEY WANT TO FIX MY CAR BUT THRN THEY WANT TO JERK ME AROUND. I SCHEDULED MY DAY FOR 2 HOURS. IF ITS GONNA TAKE 4 HRS DONT SAY 1 OR 2. THIS DAY COSTS ME ALOT OF MONEY TAKING OFF FOR THIS [XXX]. ANYWAY I MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT BUT IF YOURE GONNA LIE TO ME JERK ME AROUND AND SCREW UP MY SCHEDULE THEN THEY ARE TRYING TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GOING THRU THE INCREDIBLE HASSLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11413585

Incident

Apr 23, 2021

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. BAY RIDGE TOYOTA (6401 6TH AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11220) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11406121

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON FOLLOWING THE FIRST AIRBAG RECALL SERVICE. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, CLAIMING THEY ONLY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, AND THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SERVICE LIGHT IS THE SPIRAL CABLE, WHICH IS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP MUST HAVE CHECKED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN ORDER TO SEE IF THE INFLATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH MUST BE WHAT TRIPPED THE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11386710

Incident

Jan 5, 2021

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I FELT THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN VERY HARD AND I SAW THE AIRBAG ICON ON THE DASHBOARD. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED RED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AT THAT MOMENT THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. I DID NOT HIT MYSELF SO I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND I SAW THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED. MY CAR DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.*DT*JB*JB

NHTSA ID

11383566

Incident

Dec 12, 2020

Mileage

166 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA OF DALLAS (972)-584-9144) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11325981

Incident

Oct 17, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT MILLER TOYOTA OF ANAHEIM (LOCATED AT 1331 N EUCLID ST, ANAHEIM, CA 92801) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11309269

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL TELLING ME THAT THERE IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK INVOLVING THE AIRBAGS OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11270437

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE AIRBAG REPLACE TWICE IN SEPTEMBER 2018 AND WAS TOLD ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THEN FEBRUARY 2019 WAS TOLD THEY HAD AIRBAG WENT TWICE WAS TOLD THEY HAD IT WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN AND SAT THERE FOR THREE HOURS FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THEM TELLING ME THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH BUT SURE THEY WOULDN'T I ASKED ABOUT THE BUY BACK AND ABOUT THE TOYOTA LEMON LAW I KEEP GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND I'M TRIED OF IT THIS IS MY ONLY WAY OF GOING I HAVE PUT OFF DR APPT IN NORTHPORT AL DUE WITH THE FACT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND ALSO WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ID

11186019

Incident

Sep 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GOSCH TOYOTA (350 CARRIAGE CIRCLE, HEMIT, CA 92545, (951) 356-2073) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V162000 (VISIBILITY), BUT THE REMEDY WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED AND CAME OFF TRACK. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL APPLIED TO NON-ELECTRICAL WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 237,000.

NHTSA ID

11184835

Incident

Feb 20, 2019

Mileage

237,000 mi

THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OUT FROM THE PULLEYS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ALTERNATOR BROKE LOOSE FROM THE TOP ANCHOR BOLT. UPON EXAMINATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS ANCHORED AND FASTENED ONLY BY ONE TOP BOLT. THE SECOND ANCHORING BOLT (LOWER END) WAS NOT PLACED THROUGH THE BOLT HOLE BECAUSE OF AN INTERFERENCE OF 0.11". THE LOOSENED SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO CEASE ITS FUNCTION AND CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. FOR MY CASE, FORTUNATELY, THE TOP BOLT BROKE OFF (DUE TO FATIGUE FAILURE) WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11184320

Incident

Feb 27, 2019

I DO NOT OWN THE CAR. PLEASE STOP SENDING ME RECALL NOTICES

NHTSA ID

11173123

Incident

Jan 30, 2019

"TAKATA RECALL" PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A REPORT OF AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT TOYOTA COROLLA MODEL YEARS 2003 TO 2005 HAD AIRBAGS REPLACED WHICH ARE NOW DEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE. I AM MAKING THIS REPORT TO ADVISE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO VALID COMMUNICATION FROM "INFO@AIRBAGS" (SETTLEMENT NOTICE ADMINISTRATOR) TO DATE. IT HAS BEEN OVER ONE YEAR AND THERE HAS BEEN NO VALID RESPONSE FROM "[email protected]; TAKATA SETTLEMENT". SEE BELOW EMAIL FROM THEM: THANK YOU. YOUR 'REGISTRATION/CLAIM FORM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED. YOUR CONFIRMATION CODE IS: [XXX]. PLEASE KEEP THIS CODE FOR YOUR RECORDS. SINCERELY, SETTLEMENT NOTICE ADMINISTRATOR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11161789

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

RAW GASOLINE SMELL AFTER DRIVING CAR UPON EXIT. SMELL STRONG ON LEFT SIDE OF CAR, MOST PRONOUNCED BY LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL. PERSISTS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF. NOT NOTICABLE WHILE CAR IS RUNNING. REPLACED GAS CAP TWICE AND CHARCOAL CANISTER AS WELL AND SMELL STILL OCCURS. APPEARS TO BE THE FUEL FILLER NECK FOR WHICH THERE IS A TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE IF CORRODED IN FIRST 36,000 MILES. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS. CAR COULD EXPLODE. THERE ARE NO LEAKS VISIBLE UNDER THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE FUEL FILLER NECK. ONE COULD EASILY MISTAKE THIS FOR AN EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEM LEAK, WHILE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS LEAK. THE FUEL FILLER NECK IS RUBBER.

NHTSA ID

11156941

Incident

Dec 7, 2018

Mileage

136,000 mi

THIS CAR HAS BEEN DONATED TO KARS 4 KIDS IN 2015. IT WAS NO LONGER RUNNING AS THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO LACK OF MOTOR OIL. IT NO LONGER BELONGS TO PLEASE TAKE ME OFF THE DATABASE AS THE OWNER. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE INFORMED TOYOTA AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT OF THIS MANY TIMES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ID

11122370

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK A UTILITY POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THEIR LAWYERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11101350

Incident

Mar 9, 2018

Mileage

184,000 mi