RoadVitals

2008 Toyota Corolla Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
21
Latest Sep 9, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 313 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 9, 2021

Engine light stays on

NHTSA ID
11432235
Incident
Sep 8, 2021
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed May 26, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

I HAVE HAD FAILURE TO DISCLOSE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND BRAKE HAD DIFFICULTY. I HAD A BAD ACCIDENT AND HAVE REACHED OUT TO TOYOTA TO WITHER REPAIR MY CAR OR SETUP RENTAL OR MAKE A PAYMENT FOR RENTAL. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL REPAIRED, THEREFORE RENTING FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS

NHTSA ID
10991877
Incident
Jan 8, 2016
Mileage
55 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 29, 2016

I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I LOST POWER. I HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF OF ROAD SAFELY. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, IT SHIFTED HARSHLY INTO FIRST AND WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE PAST 25. *TR

NHTSA ID
10938403
Incident
Dec 28, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2016

WE RECEIVED NOTICED BACK ON 2010 THAT OUR VEHICLE HAS A RECALL REGARDING ECM BUT WHEN WE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP THEY SAID OUR VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. I JUST PUT MY VIN NUMBER IN THIS WEBSITE AND IT SHOWS TWO RECALLS OPEN IN MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10916693
Incident
Oct 17, 2016
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 2, 2016

STALLS WHILE DRIVING, FAULTY ECM. HEAVY TRAFFIC, HAD TO PUSH CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
10817404
Incident
Dec 31, 2015
Mileage
37,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 13, 2015

MY CAR HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING AFTER GETTING THE NEW BATTERY LAST MONTH, AND A COUPLE DAYS AGO MY ENGINE STALLED AS I SLOWED IT DOWN TO STOP IN THE BUSY TRAFFIC ROAD WHILE I WAS GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP ASSUMING THAT A WRONG BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD ECM. I HAD TO GET IT FIXED BY PAYING OVER $800. THE THING IS THE ECM UNIT IN MY CAR WAS A REPLACED ONE IN THE PAST AS THE TOYOTA RECALLED IT. I AM REALLY SCARED OF DRIVING MY CAR NOW BECAUSE IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, AND I WONDER IF TOYOTA KNOWS THIS ISSUE THAT THE ECM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A NEW BATTERY WELL. I READ THE SAME STORY WHILE SEARCHING FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10809862
Incident
Dec 10, 2015
Mileage
1 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 12, 2014

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER, NO POWER BRAKES,STEERING ,ALL THE GAUGES LOOKED AS IF THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STARTED. IT RESTARTED BY ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS WHICH WAS A GOOD THING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE SHOULDER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH VERY LIMITED STEERING AND BRAKE AND DECELERATING RAPIDLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597813
Incident
Jun 11, 2014
Mileage
77,236 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 16, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE ENGAGED INTO LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,200.

NHTSA ID
10512372
Incident
Apr 2, 2013
Mileage
78,200 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 12, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DURING BRIGHT CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT COULD NOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO REPAIR FOR THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,995 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ID
10376425
Incident
Jan 12, 2008
Mileage
12,995 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 23, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DISPLAY THE INCORRECT MILEAGE WHICH WAS 10000, BUT THE ODOMETER DISPLAYED 0 MILES AND LATER DISPLAYED 17000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10000.

NHTSA ID
10367255
Incident
Sep 8, 2007
Mileage
10 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 8, 2010

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED A CLICKING SOUND RESULTING FROM THE NEEDLE ON THE RPM METER DROPPING TO 0. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, AND MY ENGINE STALLED. I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING, AND COASTED ON MOMENTUM TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF A FEW SECONDS LATER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME.

NHTSA ID
10365963
Incident
Nov 8, 2010
Mileage
58,500 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 10, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH IN HER DRIVEWAY THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A CLANKING NOISE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, OBSERVED THE NOISE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AS SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT RESPONDED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT THE LONGER SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE THE MORE CONSTANT THE FAILURE BECAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SHIMS WERE MISSING WHICH HE ADDED ADDITIONAL ONES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN YOU ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EVERYTHING THAT WAS ELECTRICAL BEGAN TO DIM LOW AND THEN NORMAL. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,027.

NHTSA ID
10354881
Incident
Mar 18, 2008
Electrical
Filed Aug 15, 2010

2008 TOYOTA COROLLA COMES WITH ANTI-THEFT PROTECTION. THERE IS A FLASHING RED LIGHT NEAR THE IGNITION WHICH STOPS FLASHING AFTER WE INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS THE ENGINE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. SOMETIMES (RARELY), WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT AFTER I INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND THE CAR DOES NOT START. THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR THINKS THAT THE WRONG KEY HAS BEEN INSERTED. AGREED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY RARELY, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS I CANNOT START THE CAR AND I GET STRANDED. I THEN HAVE TO TAKE HELP FROM FRIENDS TO PICK ME UP FROM WHEREVER I GET STRANDED. I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW, I CERTAINLY DO NOT EXPECT THIS QUALITY FROM A NEW VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10349457
Incident
Jul 10, 2009
Mileage
10,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 2, 2010

2008 TOYOTA COROLLA, ENGINE COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO STOP ACCELERATION ON FREEWAY NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10346802
Incident
Aug 1, 2010
Mileage
68,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 30, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 26,000. UPDATED 6/21/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE. UPDATED 06/25/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10328266
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
26,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 23, 2010

IT'S TOYOTA COROLLA 2008. THE ENGINE STALLING HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE LAST FRIDAY. ONCE AT TOLL STATION, TWICE AT HIGHWAY, WHEN I TRIED REDUCE SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLING. I HAVE TO TURN ON ALERT LIGHT, STOP CAR, MOVE TO PARK POSITION IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. THEN TURN ON THE ENGINE AGAIN. IT'S VERY DANGER AT HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
10321648
Incident
Mar 19, 2010
Mileage
39,500 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 21, 2010

MY 2008 4DR TOYOTA COROLLA SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ON OCTOBER 7, 2009 WITHOUT ANY EARLY WARNING SIGNS. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LONGO TOYOTA DEALER IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS ECM LOGIC ERROR. THE ECM MODULE WAS REPLACED UNDER PART NUMBER 89661-02R00. *TR

NHTSA ID
10321220
Incident
Oct 7, 2009
Mileage
35,177 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 30, 2008

LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, DISSATISFIED WITH NHTSA'S RESPONSE TO HIS CONCERNS RE THE DARKENING OF THE ODOMETER DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS ON HIS 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA, WANT TO KNOW WHY NHTSA WON'T OPEN AN INVESTIGATION. *NJ

NHTSA ID
10248108
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Electrical
Filed Jun 13, 2008

LTR FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT WHO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT DARKENING OF THE ODOMETER ON HIS 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. *KB THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMED IN THE SUNLIGHT AND WAS UNREADABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10231748
Incident
Mar 1, 2008
Electrical
Filed May 22, 2008

2008 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH UNREADABLE ODOMETER DIAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DIAL BECOMES UNREADABLE IN THE SUNLIGHT BECAUSE IT DIMS. HE HAS STATED THAT THE DEFECT ALSO EXISTS IN OTHER 2008 TOYOTA COROLLAS. *KB

NHTSA ID
10229528
Incident
Mar 1, 2008
Electrical
Filed May 5, 2008

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS UNREADABLE IN DAYTIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226621
Incident
Apr 1, 2008

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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .