RoadVitals

2008 Toyota Corolla Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
313
Latest Nov 10, 2024
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
75
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Aug 15, 2007

What this page shows

Our database holds 313 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Toyota Corolla. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 313 · page 1 of 13

Airbags
Filed Nov 10, 2024

The airbag indicator red light has turned on without any collision or accident.

NHTSA ID
11624441
Incident
Oct 25, 2024
Airbags
Filed Oct 15, 2024
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while the driver was idling in an intersection and making a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle causing it to turn 180 degrees during the impact. The air bags did not deploy. The bumper detached during the crash. The vehicle was towed to the residence. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the driver sustained a fractured wrist and whiplash that required medical attention via the hospital. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ID
11619918
Incident
Oct 12, 2024
Mileage
135,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contacted stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11577645
Incident
Mar 1, 2024
Mileage
130,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 20, 2023

The plastic fuel tank has a heat shield below it that keeps the fuel tank from getting too hot, and from debris hitting it. There is a strap that goes around the fuel tank. The heat shield has this plastic piece that holds on to the strap. On my car, this plastic piece snapped off and the heat shield was rattling loose against the exhaust pipe and exposing the fuel tank. I took my car to a Toyota dealer (Glen Mills, PA) and was told the only way to fix that plastic piece is to replace the whole heat shield and fuel tank strap. Even though this was due to their defective piece. I was told it would be $950 for this repair. I was forced to deny the repair due to the obscene price tag and took it to a dealer for a temporary fix until Toyota can be reasonable with their price. Upon further research, this plastic piece is known to break off on this type of car frequently. After watching many videos and going through many forums of people having the same issue, it seems Toyota is known for charging an outrageous price for this. To me, it appears they know this piece is defective and will be recalled at some point, and are trying to make money off of unsuspecting people. I would appreciate this being investigated further.

NHTSA ID
11545726
Incident
Sep 19, 2023
Airbags
Filed Sep 13, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH a second vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle. During the crash, the front driver's side air bag deployed and the contact sustained multiple fractured ribs and a left ankle injury which required medical treatment. The contact indicated that upon the vehicle's impact, the air bag did not immediately deploy and was delayed contributing to the rib injuries sustained. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 168,841.

NHTSA ID
11544276
Incident
Jul 17, 2023
Mileage
168,841 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 14, 2023

I am the original owner of my car since the end of 2007. For some strange reason, my car just suddenly started to show large signs of rust on the roof. This is apparently a very common issue with the similar timeframe of model years. This is a manufacturing defect from the beginning as Toyota did not properly paint the car properly.

NHTSA ID
11527081
Incident
Aug 20, 2021
Filed Sep 4, 2022

The ODO meter of my Corolla 2008 model has not been functioning since around November 2021 when it stopped at 299,999 mile. Recently in August 2022, I asked a Toyota dealership, named Fox Toyota located in Rochester Hills, MI, to fix the issue, but they told me they couldn't do it and I needed to look for other repair shop. Then I contacted Toyota Brand Engagement Center and requested them to fix because it appeared to be a Toyota manufacturing or design issue. They also refused their responsibility to do the repair. I attach the photos of ODO meter and vehicle. Please have Toyota take corrective actions on this issue. Thank you for your support in advance.

NHTSA ID
11482847
Incident
Nov 29, 2021
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 9, 2021

Engine light stays on

NHTSA ID
11432235
Incident
Sep 8, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jul 28, 2021

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact declined the diagnostic fees. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 215,000.

NHTSA ID
11426858
Incident
Nov 11, 2020
Mileage
215,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 5, 2021

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF POSSIBILITY OF 600.00 FEE

NHTSA ID
11415322
Incident
May 5, 2021
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 20, 2020
Crash reported2 injuries reported

SEATBELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN UP INITIALLY DURING A WRECK CAUSING MORE EXTENSIVE INJURY. THEN TIGHTENED UP SNATCHING PASSENGER INTO SEAT FROM MIDAIR CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND WAS HIT BY A CAR WHO RAN A LEFT TURN ARROW ON A CITY STREET. WRECK WAS UNDER 50MPH BUT PASSENGER HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DUE TO SEATBELT MALFUNCTION. .

NHTSA ID
11375558
Incident
Jun 5, 2020
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 4, 2020

MULTIPLE TIMES MY CAR HAS SLID ON THE PAVEMENT UPON AN ABRUPT STOP. DEER IN MY TRAVEL ROUTES ARE ABUNDANT. BUT ON JUNE 2, 2020 I HEARD A NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING. IT APPEARED TO BE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE CAR. THE TIRE HAVING OVER HALF IT'S TREAD THREW A BELT OR HAD A HUGE BULGE IN THE TIRE. IT WENT FROM A NOISE TO A LOAD GRUMBLING SOUND AND A LOT OF VIBRATION VERY QUICKLY. THE SLIDING WAS ONGOING AND I ASSUMED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SMALL AND LIGHT BUT NEVER HAD THIS SLIDING EFFECT FROM MULTIPLE OTHER SMALL CARES I'VE OWNED. THEN THE TIRE BULGE. I RESEARCHED THE TIRE AND IT APPEARS COOPER TIRE HAS MAJOR ISSUES WITH THEIR TIRES BUT THIS TIRE SIZE I DID NOT SEE AS A RECALL. (MST P185/65R15 MC STRATEGY BW 88T(N)) IF I WERE ON THE INTERSTATE I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OR FLIPPED THE CAR AT A FAST SPEED. SPEED LIMIT WAS 45MPH WHERE THE TIRE SEPARATION HAPPENED. I'M NOW SCARED TO DEATH TO EVEN THINK OF USING A COOPER TIRE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT AS A NOVICE DRIVER THIS WOULD CAUSE MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. FORTUNATELY I HAVE DRIVEN PROFESSIONALLY FOR MULTIPLE YEARS AND KNOW TO PREPARE FOR THE EXTRA 20 FEET OR MORE SKID THAT IS NOT PREVENTABLE WITH THESE TIRES WHEN STOPPING ABRUPTLY. THE TIRE WERE PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED JULY 2, 2012 WITH 23126 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. NOW MILES ARE 46184. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURE AND TIRES PURCHASE RECEIPT IF NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327341
Incident
Jun 2, 2020
Mileage
46,183 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 6, 2020

2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE FOR PARTS AND LABOR ON A RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *JS

NHTSA ID
11306090
Incident
Dec 12, 2019
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 2019

THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND THE RECALL HAS BEEN UNRESOLVED THUS FAR.

NHTSA ID
11280484
Incident
Nov 16, 2019
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Aug 19, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

PURCHASE A SET OF PIRELLI P4 TIRES DOT XL 886A 3017 195/65R15 SIX MONTHS AGO AND KEPT GOING BACK TO FIX THE TIRE. IT KEPT LOOSING AIR AND GOING FLAT. SO AFTER THE SIX MONTHS PAST I HAD A BLOW OUT OF THE SAME TIRE THAT WAS GOING FLAT. AND IT ALMOST KILL ME.

NHTSA ID
11244913
Incident
Jul 20, 2019
Mileage
168,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 10, 2019

AIR BAG WAS REPLACED AND LIGHT WON'T GO OFF, CAUSING INSPECTION FAILURE

NHTSA ID
11242958
Incident
Aug 10, 2019
Airbags
Filed Oct 15, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V127000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NORTH BAKERSFIELD TOYOTA SCION (19651 INDUSTRY PARKWAY DRIVE, BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, (661) 615-1100) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017 AND STATED THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11140335
Incident
May 13, 2015
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 11, 2018

WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED IN IS REVED UP AT 2000RPM. WHEN DRIVING 40MPH & UP OR FROM THIRD TO FOURTH GEAR THE RPMS REVE UP TO 3000RPM BEFORE SHIFTING. CAR ALSO FEELS LIKE HARD SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND, LAGS WHEN TAKING A TURN AND PRESSING GAS AT SAME TIME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOW CAME ON P0741. FEELS LIKE PUSHING THE MAX WHEN TRYING TO GET FAST SPEEDS. ALSO FEELS LIKE WHEN SLOWING DOWN THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN HIGH GEAR AND RMPS ARE HIGH. WHEN STOPPED AND FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE TRANSMISSION STILL FEELS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO GO FORWARD. AS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SURGES LOSES POWER AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE THE TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID IS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY ON THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS CAUSING THESE ISSUES. THIS IS ALSO THE SAME ISSUE WE HAVE WITH OUR 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA, SAME CODE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ISSUE IN COROLLA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
11128737
Incident
Apr 17, 2018
Mileage
123,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 22, 2018

SRS LIGHT IS ON NOT FLASHING. CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. CAR WAS PARKED NOT MOVING I WASHED IT AND FILLED WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR FLUID SPILLED SO I RINSED IT OFF WHEN I WAS DONE I MOVED MY CAR AND SRS LIGHT WAS ON. I BELIEVE THE SENOR SHORTED OUT WHEN IT GOT WET.

NHTSA ID
11121579
Incident
Aug 18, 2018
Mileage
141,229 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 2, 2018
Crash reported

2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE TO BE REIMBURSED. *JS

NHTSA ID
10954754
Incident
Jan 19, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 22, 2018
Crash reported

MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE ACTIVATED, BUT DID NOT. THIS WAS AFTER I HAD THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER IN LATE 2017. WHO CAN I ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH?

NHTSA ID
11074247
Incident
Feb 13, 2018
Mileage
260,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 12, 2017

I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BECAUSE A LIGHT CAME ON ON MY DASH ON 12/6/17 SO I HAD IT CHECKED AND IT ENDED UP BEING MY TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW, BUT THE MONITOR THEY HOOK UP INDICATED THAT MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS AFFECTED, SO I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA AND THEY LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS DUMB AND JUST TOLD ME THAT THEY PUT AIR IN MY TIRES AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. SO ON 12/12/17 MY MAINTENANCE REQUIRED LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD O'REILYS CHECK WITH THERE MONITOR AND AGAIN IT RED FLAGGED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, I KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE SO I FIGURED THAT'S WHY MY MAINTENANCE REQUIRED LIGHT WAS ON BUT WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THE AIRBAG. ACCORDING TO MY NOTES, I HAD MY AIRBAGS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACE IN JULY OF 2016 AND I AM NOT SURE IF A LIGHT WOULD COME ON INDICATING SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIRBAGS BUT I NEED TO FIND OUT IF AFTER A 1 1/2 YEARS WHY I WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY AIRBAG???? COULD THIS BE RELATED TO THE RECALL AND HOW DO I FIND OUT (OTHER THAN GOING IN TO TOYOTA) THAT THEY ACTUALLY REPLACED THE RECALLED AIRBAG???) THEY TELL ME THEY DID BUT DOESN'T MY VIN NUMBER HAVE TO BE KEPT TRACK OF SOMEWHERE BESIDES THE SPECIFIC DEALER THAT I WENT TO??? THEY TREATED ME LIKE CRAP AND TOLD ME IT WAS AN $89 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND IF IT WAS AN AIRBAG WOULD COST BETWEEN $500-$700 DOLLARS. I NEED TO KNOW MORE INFORMATION ON THE PREVIOUS AIRBAG RECALL AS I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF IT WAS NEVER FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER HAD TO HAVE MY CAR CHECKED FOR LIGHTS COMING ON SO I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 1 1/2 YEARS WITH FAULTY AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ID
11054198
Incident
Dec 12, 2017
Airbags
Filed Dec 1, 2017
Crash reported2 injuries reported

OCTOBER 9, 2017 I WAS REAR-ENDED, HIT AT 35 MPH. THIS HIT I WAS SITTING. I WAS SIDE SWIPED AT 40- 45 MPH, MOVING AT THIS TIME. I WAS AGAIN REAR-ENDED AT 50- 55 MPH, STOPPED. AND THEN I WAS BACKED INTO, IN THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AT 20-25 MPH. HOW COME NO AIRBAGS GO OFF?

NHTSA ID
11051639
Incident
Oct 9, 2017
Mileage
198,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 24, 2017

I FOUND AIRBAG RECALL NUMBER 16V340

NHTSA ID
11048299
Incident
Nov 24, 2017
Mileage
98,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 19, 2017

THE CAR I HAVE REFERENCED HAD A RECALL FOR THE ECM UNIT IN 2011. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED (6/29/2011) FOR CAR NOT STARTING OR STOPPING AND SHUTTING OFF. SOLDERING BAD CAUSING CRACKS IN BOARD. ON 10/3/2011 THE CAR HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD SOMETIMES TURN OVER BUT NOT START, THEN 30 MIN OR SO THE CARD WOULD START. NOW THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN MY CAR OVER NIGHT. I STOPPED AT A STORE, TURN OFF THE CAR WENT INSIDE FOR 10 MIN. THIS WAS AROUND 6:00 PM CAME BACK OUT CAR WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING AROUND 8:15 AM. I SLEPT IN MY CAR SO I DID NOT HAVE TO LEAVE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR IN A PARKING LOT! EVERYONE SEEMS TO IGNORE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. THIS IS REPETITIVE FOR THIS CAR. YOU ALREADY HAVE A A COMPLAINT FROM A PERSON DATED 2010 WHERE HIS ECM HAD TO BE REPLACED TWO TO THREE TIMES AND HE IS STILL UNHAPPY. AT LEAST MY CAR HAS GONE A LITTLE LONGER THAN HIS HAD. I DO NOT HAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO PAY FOR CONTINUING TO FIGHT WHAT IS ALREADY IN BLACK AND WHITE AT TOYOTA. HELP ME GET THIS CAR FIXED AT THEIR COST. IF THIS WAS NOT A REPEATING ISSUE, I WOULD GLADLY PAY FOR IT, BUT IT IS REPETITIVE!!!!!! THIS IS AN ON GOING THING AND STARTED ABOUT A U=YEAR AGO. MY CASE NUMBER WITH TOYOTA USA IS: 1709051915 WHERE I TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT THIS AT THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER. THEY SAY ONCE A RECALL IS COMPLETE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS HIGHLIGHTED ON THE ATTACHMENT DATED 10/3/2011

NHTSA ID
11024220
Incident
Dec 1, 2016

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