2004 Toyota Corolla Fuel system Problems

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

TAKATA RECALL TAKATA AIR BAGS WERE RECALLED NEVER PROPERLY FIXED BY THE SERVICE PEOPLE WHO DENIED THE RECALL. CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT AT LESS THAN 50000 MILES AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE STANDARD WARRANTY. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH RADIO SYSTEM, CLOCK, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHICH WORK AT INTERMITTENT TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11019904

Incident

Dec 15, 2012

Mileage

5,500 mi

AT START UP THE VEHICLE HAS A STRONG GAS SMELL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573660

Incident

Jan 10, 2014

Mileage

122,186 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SMALL METAL FRAGMENTS AROUND THE FUEL TANK CAP AND FILLER NECK AREA AND A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS COULD BE NOTICED WHILE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10491934

Incident

Jan 11, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL FILLER NECK. THE METAL USED BY TOYOTA FOR THIS FUEL FILLER NECK IS CORRODING, CAUSING LEAKAGE OF GAS VAPORS AT THE GAS CAP. THE LEAKAGE CAUSES THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" TO COME ON, AND PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO PAY TOYOTA $400 FOR REPAIRS IN ORDER TO PASS EPA MANDATED EMISSIONS TESTING IN ORDER TO RENEW THE CAR'S REGISTRATION. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT ONES HAVE BETTER QUALITY METAL AND WON'T CORRODE. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO PRESSURE TOYOTA TO RECALL THE COROLLAS AND TO REIMBURSE THE OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL FILLER NECKS. IF THE EPA FORCES CARS TO PASS THE EMISSIONS TESTING, THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO FORCE TOYOTA TO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE A KNOWN DEFECT LIKE THE CORRODING METAL IN THE FUEL FILLER NECKS THAT AFFECTS THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM IN THEIR CARS.

NHTSA ID

10370257

Incident

Dec 8, 2010

Mileage

77,000 mi

THE 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL FILLER NECK. THE METAL USED BY TOYOTA FOR THIS FUEL FILLER NECK IS CORRODING, CAUSING LEAKAGE OF GAS VAPORS AT THE GAS CAP. THE LEAKAGE CAUSES THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" TO COME ON, AND PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO PAY TOYOTA $400 FOR REPAIRS IN ORDER TO PASS EPA MANDATED EMISSIONS TESTING IN ORDER TO RENEW THE CAR'S REGISTRATION. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE REPLACEMENT ONES HAVE BETTER QUALITY METAL AND WON'T CORRODE. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO PRESSURE TOYOTA TO RECALL THE COROLLAS AND TO REIMBURSE THE OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL FILLER NECKS. IF THE EPA FORCES CARS TO PASS THE EMISSIONS TESTING, THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO FORCE TOYOTA TO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE A KNOWN DEFECT LIKE THE CORRODING METAL IN THE FUEL FILLER NECKS THAT AFFECTS THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM IN THEIR CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349288

Incident

Aug 12, 2010

Mileage

36,000 mi

FOR ALMOST 9 MONTHS, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FUEL MY 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA WITHOUT THE GAS PUMP STOPPING DESPITE MY GAS TANK NOT BEING COMPLETELY FULL. THIS OCCURS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE CAUSE FOR THIS IS A FAULTY CHARCOAL CANISTER. THIS MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE CORRECT DIAGNOSIS; INSTEAD THERE MAY BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VENTILATION IN MY GAS TANK THAT IS NOT ALLOWING FUMES TO PROPERLY VENTILATE WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD NO REPAIRS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE COST OF A NEW CHARCOAL CANISTER ($400) IS QUITE HIGH AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER MAY NOT EVEN BE THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF ANY OTHER 2004 TOYOTA COROLLAS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320229

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

WHILE IN REVERSE AND BACKING MY 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA INTO MY GARAGE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HIT THE REAR OF THE GARAGE. I AM POSITIVE I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE OUT OF THE GARAGE . I HAD TO RUN INTO A SNOWPILE ON THE FRONT LAWN TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF I LOOKED AT THE FLOOR MAT AND SAW NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS SAME PROBLEM WHILE REVERSING INTO THE GARAGE HAPPENED IN SEPT 2005. AT THE TIME I JUST THOUGHT THE MISTAKE WAS MINE, NOW AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT I AM CONVINCED THERE IS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319665

Incident

Mar 2, 2010

Mileage

19,000 mi

I PULLED INTO HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, MY 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING MY CAR TO JUMP CURB AND PROCEED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET WHERE IT CRASHED INTO SIDE OF RESTAURANT. I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND ABSOLUTELY DID NOT KEEP IT ON THE ACCELERATOR AFTER IT JUMPED THE CURB AND PROCEEDED INTO THE BUILDING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319399

Incident

Feb 20, 2007

Mileage

30,000 mi

2004 TOYOTA COROLLA--DRIVING ON RIGHT MOST LANE AT SPEED ABOUT 25 MILES BECAUSE SNOWING HAD STARTED . DATE 02-12-2008 ON I 96 EAST NEAR INKSTER , EXIT. SUDDENLY CAR TURNED INTO LEFT LANE AND ACCELERATED TO VERY HIGH SPEED. CROSSED 3 LEFT LANES AND CRASHED ON TO CONCRETE BARRIER BETWEEN EAST AND WEST LANES. DUE TO START OF SNOWING ,ALL TRAFFIC WAS MOVING VERY SLOW. SO ALL CARS IN OTHER LANES STOPPED. MY COROLLA DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLE. POLICE GAVE TICKET FOR SPEEDING. (-POLICE DEPT-LIVONIA, MI-POLICE. CAR WAS TOTAL WRECK WITH FRONT DAMAGE AND CHASIS BENDING OUTWARD ON RIGHT SIDE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO TROY COLLISION , TROY , MI. CITIZEN INSURANCE DECLARED " TOTAL ". THOUGH I WAS NOT INJURED , IT IS CLOSE TO WORST CRASH AND I HAD TO BUY NEW CAR SPENDING $10,000 EXTRA. I HAD NO ANSWER FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE TURNING AND CRASHING. NOW I KNOW THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT IS REPORTED NOW-SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND CAR GOING OUT OF CONTROL -A DEFECT IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310874

Incident

Feb 12, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

10/29/09 I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINED IMMEDIATELY REVVED INTO THE DANGER ZONE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED THE GAS PEDDLE.....THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE FLOOR TO CAUSE THIS OCCURRENCE. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED IT. IT WAS FINE THEN...10/31/09 I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THERE CARS. THEY "PERFORMED TOP ENGINE CLEANING AND THROTTLE BODY CLEANING" TOLD ME THEY THOUGHT THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM..CHARGED ME $176.98 AND I WAS ON MY WAY. THIS HAD HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE BUT NOT TO THIS DEGREE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291454

Incident

Oct 29, 2009

Mileage

93,500 mi

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON LAST WEEK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW FILLER NECK AND GAS CAP. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE DID HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DON'T THINK IT'S A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN DONE AND HOW TO POSSIBLY GO ABOUT INITIATING THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR INPUT ON THIS...JANET BRAATZ *TR UPDATED 09/25/09 *BF

NHTSA ID

10285002

Incident

Sep 16, 2009

Mileage

83,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SHOWED EVAP FUEL LEAK. PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO CORRODED FUEL FILLER NECK. PARTS ARE BACK-ORDERED BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236249

Incident

Jul 15, 2008

Mileage

160,000 mi

2004 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE WELDS ON THE FILLER TUBE BROKE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH GAS LEAKS. *KB

NHTSA ID

10228489

Incident

Feb 20, 2008

WE BOUGHT A TOYOTA CORROLA MODEL 2004. SINCE WE BOUGHT IT TIL NOW, IT ALWAYS HAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH GAS TANK (GAS TANK, GAS PUMP, GAS ROD (?-PER DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL). OUR VEHICLE USED MAINLY TO COMMUTE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM HOME TO WORK AND VICE VERSA. THE ODOMETER WAS CURRENTLY ABOUT 31,000 PLUS MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197482

Incident

Jul 25, 2007

2004 TOYOTA COROLLA FUEL FILLER FAILED ON 12/14/06 NEW FUEL FILLER HAD TO BE INSTALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176290

Incident

Dec 14, 2004

Mileage

20,347 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAS FILLER TUBE HAD RUST DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO COATED THE FILLER TUBE WITHOUT REMOVING THE RUST. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE REPAIR PERFORMED BECAUSE THE RUST COULD DETERIORATE THE TUBE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A GAS LEAK.

NHTSA ID

10164027

Incident

Jun 24, 2006

Mileage

37,167 mi

WHEN PARKING THE CAR THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS - MY FOOT WAS PLANTED ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO BRAKE AS HARD AS A I COULD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AS THE ENGINE ALL ON ITS OWN DRAGGED THE CAR FORWARD. THE CAR WAS MOVING AT ABOUT TWO MILES AN HOUR WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE. THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO 4000 RPMS WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE ON THE GAS AND SIMPLY DRAGGED THE CAR FORWARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147498

Incident

Dec 22, 2005

Mileage

14,800 mi

AT FIRST I NOTICED THE GAS TANK WOULD NOT FILL PROPERLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS NOT VENTING PROPERLY, BUT I HAD A TECHNICIAN CHECK IT OVER. EVENTUALLY, THEY REPLACED THE FUEL FILL GAUGE (TO NO AVAIL, MIGHT I ADD). THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, AND I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AGAIN. FINALLY, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CHARCOAL FILTER. UNFORTUNATELY, I REPORTED THE INCIDENT BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP, BUT THE DEALER'S SERVICE STATION DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT UNTIL AFTERWARDS. ALL IN ALL, BETWEEN SERVICE AND PARTS, THIS HAS COST ME ABOUT $500. THE OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, AND I WILL SEE TOMORROW MORNING IF THIS CHARCOAL FILTER MALFUNCTION IS REALLY THE PROBLEM. I IMAGINE IT IS, SINCE I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEM ON THE NEWER COROLLAS.

NHTSA ID

10125993

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

VEHICLE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST THE OWNER AND TOLD THE OWNER THAT SHE'LL HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO COMPLAIN OF A ROTTEN EGG SMELL. THE DEALERS RESPONSE WAS A HIGH SULFUR CONTENT IN THE FUEL THAT COULD NOT BE FULLY ELIMINATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10108637

Incident

Jan 4, 2005

Mileage

32 mi

A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK WAS CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO SMELL GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10083926

Incident

Jul 6, 2004

Mileage

6,000 mi

TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA LE I STARTED TO NOTICE A "ROTTEN EGG" SMELL. IT IS AWFUL AND EMBARASSING. AFTER RESEARCHING IT ON THE INTERNET, MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD ALL THEY CAN DO IS SWITCH BRANDS OF GAS. THAT'S NICE, BUT MY CAR SHOULDN'T SMELL LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. IT'S DISGUSTING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A FIX FOR THIS THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO PROVIDE.

NHTSA ID

10060793

Incident

Sep 30, 2003

Mileage

100 mi

I BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA IN JULY OF 2003, NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR I AM HAVING A PROBLEM. IN SEPTEMBER WHEN I STARTED TO USE MY HEAT, I SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG/SULFER SMELL. IT IS TERRIBLE!!!..I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME TO SWITCH GAS, SO I SWITCHED GAS. THREE GAS STATIONS LATER AND 2 MONTS LATER I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KONW WHAT THE HEALTH REGULATIONS ARE TO BREATHING IN SULFIDE, BUT IT CAN'T BE GOOD FOR SOMEONE. THE EPA MUST HAVE SOME ACTION AGAINST EMITING SULFER INTO THE AIR, THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE CADALITIC CONVERTERS. IF THE CONVERTER IS A DEFECT ON THE CAR, IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING. I HAVE CALLED EVERY DEALERSHIP IN WESTERN NY AND TRIED TO GET AN ANSWER OR SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. MY ANSWER WAS "DEAL WITH IT" FROM JIM CULLIGAN IN WILLIAMSVILLE NY. I ALSO GOT DRIVE 20 MILES TO THE INDIAN RESERVATION FOR YOUR GAS. IF TOYOTA CAN NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR THERE ACTION, THEN ACTION NEEDS TO BE BROUGH TO THEM.IF I DON'T GET SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. TOYOTA WILL BE RECIEVING A LAWSUIT FROM ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10050655

Incident

Sep 5, 2003

Mileage

1,500 mi

I BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA IN JULY OF 2003, NOT EVEN TWO MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR I AM HAVING A PROBLEM. IN SEPTEMBER WHEN I STARTED TO USE MY HEAT, I SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG/SULFUR SMELL. IT IS TERRIBLE!!!....I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME TO SWITCH GAS, SO I SWITCHED GAS. THREE GAS STATIONS LATER AND 2 MONTHS LATER I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HEALTH REGULATIONS OR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY LAWS ARE AGAINST SULFUR BEING EMITTED INTO SOMEONE'S LUNGS AND THE AIR. OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING IS WRONG AND IT IS ONLY GOING TO SNOWBALL. I HAVE CALLED EVERY DEALERSHIP IN WESTERN NEW YORK AND TRIED TO GET AN ANSWER. MY ANSWER WAS "DEAL WITH IT" FROM JIM CALLAGHAN, IN WILLIAMSVILLE NY. THERE SHOULD BE A HUGE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. OTHERWISE A HUGE LAWSUIT WILL BE COMING FROM ME IF I DON'T GET ANY ACTION FROM TOYOTA ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10050652

Incident

Sep 5, 2000

Mileage

1,500 mi