2003 TOYOTA COROLLA Power Train Problems

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

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILURE (SAFETY DEFECT) -- 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. EXCERPTS FROM MY E-MAIL TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A. INC. FOLLOW: "THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS RECENTLY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE REAR HUB AXLE BEARINGS DUE TO A HUMMING NOISE, AT A COST OF OVER $1,000.00. THIS RECOMMENDATION HAS FLOORED ME AS THIS TYPE OF REPAIR FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES DOES NOT SEEM TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE QUALITY STANDARDS PROMULGATED BY TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NHTSA #10015608) WAS ISSUED." THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER SUBSEQUENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ISSUE ADDRESSED IN MY E-MAIL ABOVE, CREATING CASE # 1703301220. DESPITE TOYOTA HAVING ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #00105 ON THIS VERY MATTER, THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AT THE CUSTOMER CENTER CLEARLY STATED IN A SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALL THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE, NO CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION, AND NO-RECALL ISSUED. AFTER CONTACTING THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER, I WAS RELUCTANT TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FOR ALMOST $1,000.00 IF THE ONLY ISSUE WAS WITH HUMMING WHICH BLENDED IN WITH NORMAL ROAD NOISE. BUT THE MECHANICS AT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS SUBSEQUENTLY WARNED ME THAT FAILURE TO HAVE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED MEANT I WAS DRIVING A CAR WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WITH A SIGNIFICANT PROBABILITY OF WHEEL FAILURE (I.E. THE BEARING(S) COULD COMPLETELY FAIL AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF THE CAR). I THEN AUTHORIZED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2017 TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS (AT MY EXPENSE). ONE CANNOT BUT WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS IN CONNECTION WITH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE OCCURRED WITH TOYOTA COROLLAS FOR DRIVERS WHO UNKNOWINGLY DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES WITH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED OR FAILED.

Mileage: 90,000

ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 124,000 MILES, AND ONLY 3 YEARS LATER, AND 25,000 MILES LATER, IT NOW NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. NOT THE DEPENDABILITY I WAS EXPECTING. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE SAME THING OCCURRED; ALTHOUGH IT WENT OUT ON ME A LOT FASTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND. I HEARD A GRINDING SOUND EVERY TIME I ACCELERATED, UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT OUT ON ME AND LOCKED UP BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON A SIDE STREET, AND IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS APPROACHING RED LIGHT (AND ONLY REVERSE WORKED, SO I WAS ABLE TO REVERSE IT INTO A GAS STATION NEARBY). THE SECOND TIME WAS A BIT MORE SCARY (AND I'M PISSED OFF ABOUT THIS EVEN MORE, NOW THAT I'M READING EVERYONE ELSE'S STORY, BECAUSE I COULD'VE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT). I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY (IN THE 3RD LANE IN) WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR BUCKED (JERKED BACK) ON ME. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY WITHIN 5-7 SECONDS (THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO), WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT COMPLETELY FROZE/SEIZED/LOCKED UP ON ME AND PROCEEDED TO SKID OUT ABOUT 15 FEET ALONG THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY ONLY A SECOND OR TWO AFTER GETTING OFF. THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT, THE MORE I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER SO QUICKLY OR IT COULD'VE BEEN DISASTROUS. NEVERTHELESS, I JUST GOT IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. I AM PRINTING OUT ALL THE LINKS/FORUMS/ARTICLES THAT I HAVE FOUND ABOUT THIS VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VERY SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODEL (WITH ONLY MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS HAVE YOU). NOT SURE WHAT THEY WILL DO ABOUT (MY GUESS IS THEY'LL SAY TOUGH LUCK AND TELL ME IT'S GOING TO COST ME $3600, AND THEN I'LL HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO ANOTHER PLACE THAT CAN DO IT WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR $2000), BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE IT A TRY. IT REALLY ANGERS ME THAT THEY CAN ALLOW THIS PROBLEM TO PERSIST AND PUT PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER. *TR

Mileage: 139,000

IN 9/2007 THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH WENT OUT ON MY MANUAL 2003 COROLLA. CONVENIENTLY, IT WAS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF $ REPAIRING. AGAIN, IN MARCH 2015 THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH ARE GOING OUT ON MY MANUAL VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND NUMEROUS OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE 2003 MANUAL COROLLA THAT WAS APPARENTLY FIXED IN THE 2004 VERSION. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WILL DO NOTHING. THEY TOLD ME TO EMAIL THE NHTSA AND YOUR AGENCY WOULD DETERMINE A RECALL. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE RECALL LIST. I (AND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS) HAVE BEEN STRANDED ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND IT IS NOT SAFE! *TR

Mileage: 126,857

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND TURN THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. SUBSEQUENTLY, I WAS READ ENDED. I STARTED TO DO RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS EXCESSIVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 16,000

I WAS DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT 55MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING TRANSMISSION MADE LOUD NOISE AND THEN LOCKED UP, SINCE CAR IS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE I HAD NO STEERING AS FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. CAR THEN STARTED TO GO INTO A SPIN, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIGHT THE WHEEL AND STEER CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. IT WAS ONLY BY LUCK THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS OR TRACTOR TRAILERS ALONG SIDE OR IN BACK OF ME, AFTER ALL SAID AND DONE WITH TOWING COST AND HAVING TO RENT A CAR FOR WORK, I AM OUT $645.00 AND STILL NO CAR! I HAD TWO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS LOOK AT CAR, BOTH SAID THE SAME THING THAT SOME PART CAME LOOSE IN TRANSMISSION AND DESTROYED IT, IT WOULD NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACE AT A COST OF $2700 -$3300 IN THE MEANTIME I STARTED DOING RESEARCH ON THAT TRANSMISSION AND WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOPS AND FROM MY OWN RESEARCH IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE #TOYOTA COROLLA AND OTHER MODELS THAT USED THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE DEMAND A RECALL !!! *TR

Mileage: 150,112

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA S WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IN NOVEMBER 2011, THE BEARINGS IN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON A LONG TRIP AT JUST OVER 93,000 MILES. THE FAILURE IN THE BEARINGS DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION AND DISABLED MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP WHERE I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION FROM THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. IT WAS INSTALLED, AS WELL AS A NEW CLUTCH. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT ON YOUR WEBSITE PREVIOUSLY. THIS LAST MONTH, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO GRIND GOING INTO 3RD GEAR. I BOUGHT IT IN TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. IT WILL EITHER NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS JUST ABOUT 21,000 MILES ON IT. TOYOTA WILL NOT WARRANTY IT. THEIR COVERAGE IS FOR ONE YEAR, UNLIMITED MILEAGE. A NEW CAR WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION IS COVERED FOR 5 YEARS/60,000 MILES. THERE IS NO REASON THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE FAILED. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR AND HAD HOPED TO DRIVE IT FOR 20+ YEARS. I HAVE HAD ROUTINE SERVICE PERFORMED ON IT AND MOSTLY DRIVE MY CAR ON LONG TRIPS AS I RIDE TO WORK MOST DAYS. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH MY CAR ARE VERY COMMON FOR MY MODEL CAR WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CARS THEY SELL IN THE US ARE AUTOMATICS SO ISSUES WITH MANUALS CAN BE IGNORED. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PRODUCING A TRANSMISSION THAT CAN'T EVEN HOLD UP TO AN INDUSTRY STANDARD WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE DANGEROUS IS IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT TOYOTA CONTINUES TO GET AWAY WITH NOT COMING UP WITH A REPAIR THAT PREVENTS THIS FROM HAPPENING. *TR

Mileage: 114,104

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT POSITION THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACTED INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

Mileage: 62,000

THE C-59 FIVE SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 2003 COROLLA MODEL YEAR, BOTH COROLLA AND MATRIX, ARE KNOWN TO BE PRONE TO EARLY BEARING FAILURE, DUE APPARENTLY TO A FAULTY BATCH OF BEARINGS. I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WHEN I FIRST HEARD BEARING NOISE FROM MY TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT CONFIRMED THE NOISE WAS FROM ONE OR MORE BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND OFFERED ME A CHOICE OF REPLACING JUST THE BEARINGS, A FULL TRANSMISSION REBUILD, OR A NEW TRANSMISSION. SHOULD THE BEARING HAVE FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AND BLOWN UP MY TRANSMISSION, I COULD EASILY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A NASTY ACCIDENT. TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO A RECALL, BUT THERE ARE DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF THIS EXACT SCENARIO SCATTERED ONLINE. THE EARLIEST SYMPTOMS ARE A GRINDING OR WHIRRING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION (OR MORE GENERALLY, FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT). IF THE FAULTY BEARINGS ARE NOT REPLACED, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY GRENADE (SHATTER AND ACT AS SHRAPNEL, DESTROYING YOUR TRANSMISSION) AND YOU'LL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY TOYOTA DEALERS FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFE, SAVE A SINGLE OIL CHANGE WHILE ON A ROAD TRIP. THERE IS NO REASON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL THIS EARLY IN ITS LIFE. I'VE NEVER RACED IT OR ABUSED IT ANY WAY. *TR

Mileage: 121,900

AT JUST OVER 91000 MILES MY VERY WELL MAINTAINED 2003 COROLLA WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A "THUD" AND COMPLETELY LOCKED UP ON ME. I ENDED UP STUCK ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH MY TWO YOUNG BOYS IN THE BACK SEAT. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCE WITH THIS SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODEL OF TOYOTA COROLLA. ULTIMATELY I WILL BE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION IN FROM A DIFFERENT MODEL OF TOYOTA AND TRADING THE CAR IN WITH THE HOPE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN TO THE NEXT OWNER. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING OR CHATTER TYPE NOISE WHEN IN ANY GEAR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC AND FOUND THE ISSUE TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FOUND A SITE WHERE MANY OTHER 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA OWNERS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. ALL HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. THIS DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE ISSUE AS THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING, CHATTER TYPE NOISE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. IN LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MANY HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE THE ISSUE RESURFACE WITH THE NEW/REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION. THIS WOULD SEEM LIKE A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND COULD BE VERY PROBLEMATIC IF THE CAR WILL NO LONGER SHIFT INTO GEAR, AS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE NOTED. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD LOUD NOISE. PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND CALLED HUSBAND. WHEN HE GOT TO ME HE TRIED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND IT JUST MADE A GRINDING NOISE. IT WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. NOW JUST 3 YEARS LATER JUNE 4, 2012 I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD SAME NOISE. I GOT HOME TURNED OFF CAR AND WHEN TRIED TO PUT CAR IN REVERSE IT JUST MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND WOULDN'T MOVE. *JS

Mileage: 100,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 120,000

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. I PULLED OVER TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. I MANAGED TO PUT THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR AND MAKE IT BACK HOME EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING THIS LOUD GRINDING NOISE. I BROUGHT THE CAR FOR REPAIR AND THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. JUST 6 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

Mileage: 191,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD WHINE AND LOSS OF POWER. SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL I GOT TO A SERVICE STATION. THERE, I CHECKED ALL FLUIDS, WHICH WERE FINE; I THEN CONTINUED ON MY WAY TO AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN EYE SPECIALIST I HAD, AND AT THAT TIME I NOTICED THE CLUTCH WAS DIFFICULT TO USE. ONCE I HAD THE APPOINTMENT WITH THE SPECIALIST, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST AUTO TRANSMISSION SERVICE CENTER, WHERE I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, AND AXLE PUT ON MY CAR FOR OVER $4,000 BECAUSE THEY SAID "NO ONE REBUILDS TOYOTA TRANSMISSIONS". I AM A 60-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO ALWAYS TAKES THE CAR FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND HAD A PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK JUST 6 WEEKS BEFORE THAT BY A VERY RELIABLE, HONEST MECHANIC. I STAY CLOSE TO HOME, AND ONLY TOOK THIS TRIP BECAUSE I HAD TO SEE AN EYE SPECIALIST. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 106,000 MILES ON IT!

Mileage: 106,072

2003 COROLLA S & MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH UNDER 90K MILES. DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN THIRD GEAR. CAR BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY 3 LANE STREET NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT COULDN'T GET IT TO DRIVE. ALMOST FELT AS IF SOMETHING WAS HOLDING IT BACK OR STUCK UNDER THE CAR. HAD TO MANUALLY MOVE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED YET, BUT ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THEME WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE & MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

ONE YEAR AGO MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA BEGAN TO MAKE A HIGH-PITCHED WHIRRING NOISE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS ENGAGED. THE SOUND CONTINUED TO BECOME LOUDER UNTIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET MY CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A CRUNCHING NOISE. AFTER I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN NOV. 2010. I BEGAN HEARING THE SAME HIGH-PITCHED WHIRRING NOISE AGAIN RECENTLY (NOV. 2011). *TR

Mileage: 96,000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING STUCK UNDER THE WHEELS OF MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. IT WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY GEAR AFTER THAT, BUT LUCKILY, I WAS IN NEUTRAL SO IT COULD BE TOWED. THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2003 COROLLAS WITH THE 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT COST ME $3,700 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION (AND LABOR) FROM TOYOTA, WHICH WILL MOST LIKELY END UP WITH THE SAME FAILURE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND MY CAR HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE KEPT UP ON ALL THE MAINTENANCE; THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I HAVE MAILED A COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA CORPORATION AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

CAR IS A 5 SPEED AND HAD AN INCREASING "GROWL" IN TRANSMISSION IN 2,3,AND 5TH GEAR. AFTER RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN 5 SPEED COROLLA'S, MATRIX, AND PONTIAC VIBE WHICH ALL USE THE C59 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS. OVER $1000 TO REPAIR IF CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH. THIS IS/WAS MY 5TH TOYOTA, AND WILL BE MY LAST ALSO!! *TR

Mileage: 140,000

AFTER MAKING SOME NOISE ON THE HIGHWAY I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO REALIZE THAT I HAD NO REVERSE GEAR IN MY COROLLA. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR ALSO. I LIMPED MY WAY TO THE MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE NEXT DAY THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. HE SAID THAT A COMPONENT CAME LOOSE AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION FURTHER BY INTERFERING WITH OTHER PARTS. HE SAID THAT IT WOULD COST $3,800 TO FIX. THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED AND DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,410.

Mileage: 123,410

THE 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA MAKES NOISE AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR. I TOOK THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS AND THEY CAME BACK WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE BEARINGS ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT DUE TO THE TIME ALTHOUGH THE BEARINGS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THEN THE 40K MILES EVEN THEIR WARRANTY SAYS 60K MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE WHEEL CAN CAME OFF WHILE YOU DRIVE AND INJURE THE DRIVER AND OTHERS. PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS ISSUE AND MAY NOT EVEN REALIZE IT AS I DID, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MUFFLER AND IS NOT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE POST THIS ON YOUR WEBSITE AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE . TOYOTA SHOULD INVESTIGATE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BEARINGS THEY USE. *KB

Mileage: 40,000

MANUAL TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT DUE TO BEARING FAILURE (INPUT SHAFT). *TT

Mileage: 151,000

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, A TOYOTA COROLLA 2003 ON JULY 12 AND WHILE DRIVING IT TURN ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NEXT MORNING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN A HIGHWAY THE CAR TURN OFF. I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING, AFTER COUPLE ATTEMPTS THE CAR TURNED ON, I CALL A TOYOTA PLACE, WHERE I DO ALL MAINTENANCE OF MY CARS, AND AFTER I CALLED I WENT THERE SO THEY CAN RUN A TEST. THE RESULT WAS SHIFT SOLENOID "E" MALFUNCTION. THE WORKER TOLD ME THAT MOST LIKELY THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER, THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT ON THE COROLLA 2006 NOT 2003. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS. HE TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAIN SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE. *TR

Mileage: 130,383

140 000 KM ON BOARD AND THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS GONE ON MY COROLLA 2003. *TR

Mileage: 93,205

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN 2006 WITH 76,000 MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. I TRUSTED THE REPUTATION OF TOYOTA AND THOUGHT I GOT A GOOD DEAL ON A DEPENDABLE CAR THAT WOULD LAST ME UNTIL AT LEAST 200,000 MILES WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS CAR CURRENTLY HAS 126,000 MILES ON IT. LAST FRIDAY, AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THE GEARS/TRANSMISSION RUNNING A LITTLE LOUDER THAN USUAL. DURING THE NEXT 7 RESIDENTIAL MILES HOME, THE GEARS/TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SOUND LOUDER AND MORE GRINDING IN NATURE. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING AND LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ONE. AFTER A LITTLE ONLINE RESEARCH, I READ THAT MORE THAN A FEW PEOPLE HAD REPLACED WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS ONLY TO HAVE THE REBUILT ONE FAIL. I CHOSE TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION (AT LEAST IT'S UNDER WARRANTY FOR 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES) ALONG WITH A NEW CLUTCH AND OTHER ACCESSORIES TO THE TUNE OF $3,500. WHEN I ASKED HOW MY DEPENDABLE LITTLE TOYOTA COULD POSSIBLY HAVE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE CLUTCH BEGINNING TO SHOW SOME WEAR, CAUSING SOME PARTS (BEARINGS?) TO GET INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND WREAK HAVOC. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I NO LONGER ASSOCIATE TOYOTA WITH DEPENDABILITY. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WITH ONLY 120,000 MILES NEEDS NEW MANUAL TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $3800 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS MAKING LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING AND HAVING CONVULSIONS WHICH FORCED US TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS "WARNING SIGNS" THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. ALL WARRANTY MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT UP TO DATE ON THIS VEHICLE AT THE RIGHT TIME. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS SINCE THEY NOW SEEM TO BE MORE AND MORE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST THIS PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR COROLLA. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE DEBRIS FROM A DEFECTIVE BEARING THAT ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 120,000

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING FILING COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA CORPORATION FOR HEADLIGHTS MELTING AND ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN SHE TRIED TO USE THE REMOTE. THE DEALER HAD TO DISMANTLE THE DOOR PANEL AND INSTALL A NEW LOCK DEVICE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY WORK ON THE PART OF TOYOTA. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO GO OUT, UNTIL FINALLY, THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR MADE A WEIRD NOISE AS I GOT ON THE FREEWAY. CAR WAS SCREAMING UNTIL I GOT OFF OF FREEWAY. PARKED THE CAR AND CALLED AAA. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD TROUBLE PUSHING CAR OUT OF PARKING SPACE. GOT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND CAR WOULD NOT BACK OFF OF TOW TRUCK. TRANSMISSION SHOP TOOK APART TRANSMISSION AND STATES THE PINION BEARING WENT BAD AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD LOCKED IN 5TH GEAR. THEY STATED THAT THE BEARINGS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO GO BAD IN TOYOTA'S MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND REBUILT MY TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW AFTERMARKET BEARING KIT. REPAIRS COST APPROXIMATELY $1800. *TR

Mileage: 77,600

MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA AND LOCKED UP. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ALREADY AND IT IS MY SECOND TRANSMISSION AND IS MY SECOND INCIDENT. IT LOCKS UP AND COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP.

Mileage: 150,456

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) PURCHASED 2003, TOYOTA, COROLLA, VIN: [XXX] WITH DAUGHTER. VEH WAS PURCHASED FROM TOYOTA OF ORANGE IN CA. TWO DAYS LATER A HIT AND RUN DRIVER FORCED VEH TO SKID ACROSS FIVE LANES ON INTERSTATE 10 IN ONTARIO, CA, AND LANDED ATOP CENTER DIVIDER. THE VEHICLE WAS SENT TO REPAIR SHOP AND "REPAIRED" AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5-8 MONTHS. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS NEVER PROPERLY REPAIRED, AND I COMPLAINED TO BOTH TOYOTA , AND TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, ALLSTATE, BUT TOYOTA ADAMANTLY STATED THE VEH WAS WITHOUT PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE BRAKES. EVENTUALLY THE CARPET CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR TO BECOME STUCK AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS FORCED TO REACH DOWN WHILE THE CAR MOVING AND PULL THE CARPET WITH BOTH HANDS TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR. STEPPING ON THE BRAKES DID NOT HELP. NEITHER TOYOTA REPAIR NOR ALLSTATE WOULD HELP RESOLVE OUR COMPLAINTS SINCE 2003, WE WERE SIMPLY TOLD THAT THE VEH WAS FINE. ADDITIONALLY I BELIEVE THE FRAME IS BENT, LACK OF INTERLOCKING BRAKES CAUSING SKIDS, BRAKES ARE SOFT AND DROP TO FLOOR, AND POOR STEERING COLUMN. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT INVOLVING NEAR MISS ACCIDENT EPISODES. THE CAR SKIDS IF GOING AS LITTLE AS 5-10 MILES PER HOUR. I OFFERED TO GIVE THE CAR AWAY TO ANYONE WHO WAS WILLING TO INVESTIGATE MY COMPLAINTS, ALL TO NO AVAIL. I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED THAT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I HEARD IN THE BRAND NEW CAR WAS A HOLE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. TOYOTA CONTINUALLY DENIED THIS FOR 5-6 YEARS, THEN BY ACCIDENT A VERY YOUNG NEWLY EMPLOYED STAFF AT TOYOTA OF ORANGE, INFORMED US THAT OUR COMPLAINT ABOUT LOUD AIR SOUNDING NOISE WAS A HOLE IN THE EXHAUST, WHICH HAD BEEN CONTINUALLY MAKING THE NOISE, AND BURNING OF EYES (MIGRAINES). THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED EVERY 2-4 MONTHS OR LESS UNTIL I JUST REPORTED LESS FREQUENTLY. THE CAR IS NOW NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY IT NEEDS SOME BRAKES, ROTORS, DRUMS, CALIPERS, AND SHOCKS AS ALWAYS. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE DRIVER STATED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND APPROACHED A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE WHEN SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TO COAST TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT FAILURE CAUSED HER AXLE TO BREAK. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE AROUND 90,000.

Mileage: 99,000

TODAY, AS I WAS VERY SLOWLY PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK , IT FELT LIKE A "JET" ENGINE TOOK OFF AND MY CAR ACCELERATED INTO THE BUILDING. I WAS STUCK ON CEMENT PARKING BORDERS AND THE WHEELS WERE SPINING. I DID NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THIS. I DO HAVE WITNESES TO HIS.THE CARE WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA. *CN

Mileage: 94,000

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND STOPPED, THE CAR WILL MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN. I APPLY MORE PRESSURE AND IT STOPS AGAIN. I NOW LEAVE EXCESSIVE SPACE BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS OCCURS VERY OFTEN. *TR

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA TRANSMISSION WENT OUT JUST LIKE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS MODEL. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. TO REPLACE IT WILL COST OVER $3000.00. I HAVE OWNED 2 TOYOTAS PREVIOUS AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN EXITING ONE HIGHWAY TO ENTER ANOTHER. IN ADDITION, A LOUD SOUND STARTED TO COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MOVED VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND DROVE VERY SLOWLY. PRIOR TO FAILURE THERE WERE SOME SOUNDS FROM THE TRANSMISSION BUT NO LOSS OF POWER OR TROUBLE GETTING THE VEHICLE INTO TO GEAR. CONSIDERED IT LUCKY THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SEIZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SLOWLY, TO A REPAIR FACILITY BEFORE SOME OF THE GEARS BECAME INOPERABLE. MECHANIC IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES FOR 2003 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ON THE INTERNET, ESPECIALLY IN CANADA. MOST FAILURES ARE OCCURRING AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES BUT UNDER 100,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC IS SAVING THE OLD TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 63,900

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY ON HER VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. SHE HEARD A BUZZING OR HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY NEAR THE REAR AXLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. SHE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V074001 (POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY); HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,577 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,200.

Mileage: 97,200

MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS LOOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID. I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY CANNOT FIND WHERE THE FLUID IS GOING TO, ITS NOT LEAKING EXTERNAL, INTO THE RADIATOR OR TO THE ENGINE BUT THEY CONFIRMED IT IS LOOSING FLUID TO SOMEWHERE. ANY IDEAS ON THIS ISSUE? *TR

Mileage: 93,000

WE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. IT WAS NOTICEABLE BEGINNING AT 20 MPH AND LEVEL OF NOISE INCREASED WITH SPEED. RESEARCHED INTERNET FOR RECALL PROBLEMS AND FOUND RECALL #02V074001 FOR HUB AND AXLE DEFECT. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL;, ONLY A SERVICE ADVISORY. WE PAID FOR REPAIRS. OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO THE VIN ALTHOUGH DEALER INSISTED HE COULD NOT FIND RECALL INFORMATION. . I HAVE ANOTHER TOYOTA COROLLA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FELT THAT THESE CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE IT SEEME D TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG COROLLA USERS.*AK

WE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. IT WAS NOTICEABLE BEGINNING AT 20 MPH AND LEVEL OF NOISE INCREASED WITH SPEED. RESEARCHED INTERNET FOR RECALL PROBLEMS AND FOUND RECALL #02V074001 FOR HUB AND AXLE DEFECT. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL;, ONLY A SERVICE ADVISORY. WE PAID FOR REPAIRS. OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO THE VIN ALTHOUGH DEALER INSISTED HE COULD NOT FIND RECALL INFORMATION. . I HAVE ANOTHER TOYOTA COROLLA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FELT THAT THESE CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE IT SEEME D TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG COROLLA USERS.*AK

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA PURCHASED IN 2002 WAS TOLD TODAY I NEED A BRAND NEW ENGINE. MY CAR HAS 102,000 NOT OLD AT ALL WELL MAINTAINED GOT SERVICES WHEN NEEDED. NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY MY ENGINE HAS GONE BAD. I JUST WONDER HOW MANY OTHER ENGINES HAVE GONE BAD THIS SOON?? THE LAST TIME SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR IT ENDED UP BEING A RECALL A FEW MONTHS LATER HAD TO HAVE A REAR AXLE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

CAR BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL PLANE WITH LOTS OF VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES, BUT AFTER REPLACING THE TIRES, THE NOISE REMAINED. TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR HUBS NEEDED REPLACED. WAS TOLD THAT IF THE HUBS WERE NOT REPLACED THAT THE CAR WOULD LOSE CONTROL. SPENT OVER $1200 ON NEW REAR HUBS. *AK

WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STARTED TO MAKE A RUMBLING AND RATTLING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED TO ASSIST ME OR OFFER ANY "GOOD FAITH" MEASURE OR ANY SERVICE WHATEVER TO ASSIST ME WITH THE DEFECT. THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING AND WAS NOT DETECTABLE WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICES AND INSPECTION. *JB

Mileage: 57,000

I BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA FROM A CERTIFIED CAR DEALERSHIP, AND WAS SOLD A CAR THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND WAS NOT REPORTED. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR HAS NONE OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS TO THE CAR WHICH DEPRECIATED THE VALUE OF THE CAR, BUT IT WAS STILL SOLD TO ME AS SLIGHTLY USED IN GREAT CONDITION,LOW MILEAGE AND SUPPOSE TO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ANY ACCIDENTS, I ALSO FOUND OUT THE THIS CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES STARTING FIVE DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I TRIED GIVING THE CAR BACK AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE CONTRACT IS ALREADY SIGNED, AND BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE CAR THEY WILL ONLY GIVE $6,000 FOR THE CAR WHEN IN FACT THEY SOLD IT TO ME FOR OVER $15,000. *NM

Mileage: 29,919

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, ACCORDING TO REPAIR SHOP WAS DEFECT FROM COMPANY. LESS THAN 115 MILES LATER THE ENGINE GOES. ACCORDING TO SERVICE MANAGER AND MASTER TECHNICIAN, ENGINE LOOKED GREAT AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEM UNTIL DISCOVERED THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS WARPED AND WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" . ENGINE AND TRANSIMISSION GONE WITHIN 115 MILES OF EACH OTHER.

Mileage: 137,000

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA EXPERIENCED ROLL BACK.*MR WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT CAR SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARD. THE CONSUMER PUT THE BRAKE DOWN AS HARD AS SHE COULD BUT THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. *BF *NM

Mileage: 13,000

TOYOTA COROLLA LE 2003. PARKED IN A MULTI-STORY PARKING LOT. PUT THE GEAR IN PARK. NEXT THING CAR ACCELERATED AND SMASHED INTO PILLAR. CALLED TOYOTA, WHO CLAIMED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA, AND THAT DRIVER ERROR WAS THE CAUSE. I AM SURE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND ABOUT TO SWITCH OFF. NOBODY HURT, BUT DAMAGE TO CAR IN EXCESS OF $4500. IT IS IN THE SHOP.*AK

Mileage: 28,400

TOYOTA COROLLA LE 2003. PARKED IN A MULTI-STORY PARKING LOT. PUT THE GEAR IN PARK. NEXT THING CAR ACCELERATED AND SMASHED INTO PILLAR. CALLED TOYOTA, WHO CLAIMED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA, AND THAT DRIVER ERROR WAS THE CAUSE. I AM SURE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND ABOUT TO SWITCH OFF. NOBODY HURT, BUT DAMAGE TO CAR IN EXCESS OF $4500. IT IS IN THE SHOP.*AK

Mileage: 28,400

RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V074000, WHILE DRIVING THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAKES A RUMBLING NOISE ,AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A GRINDING NOISE WAS PRODUCED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 74,000

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CAR ACCELERATED WHEN BREAKING TO A STOP AND WHILE STOPPED. THE EVENT HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN ONE DAY AND 1 TIME RECENTLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM.

Mileage: 80,000

MY WIFE PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. SHE PURCHASED IT BECAUSE OF ITS IMPLIED ECONOMY. BUT DESPITE THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLAIMS THAT THE CAR CAN USE 87 OCTANE OR HIGHER, SUCH IS NOT THE CASE. IN TWO WORDS, ROTTEN EGGS. IN TWO OTHER WORDS, HYDROGEN SULFIDE. AS WE DECELERATE TO A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, IF THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN, OR THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS SET TO INTAKE OUTSIDE AIR, THE ODOR OF ROTTEN EGGS IS OVERPOWERING. (NOTE THAT IF THE AIRFLOW PATTERN CONTROL IS TURNED TO EITHER PARTIAL OR TOTAL WINDSHIELD DEFROST, THE CONTROL WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENFORCE FRESH, OUTSIDE AIR INTAKE.) WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER DIDN'T BAT AN EYELASH. JUST OPENED A DRAWER AND PULLED OUT A SHEET OF PAPER WHICH STATES THAT TMC ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM, AND WILL DO NOTHING TO REMEDY IT. THE PAPER FURTHER SUGGESTS THAT I SHOULD CHANGE BRANDS OF GASOLINE (WE HAD ALREADY TRIED THAT) OR CHANGE TO A HIGHER GRADE OF GASOLINE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO WRITE UP THE PROBLEM ON A REPORT. I CAN ATTEST, THE ROTTEN EGG ODOR DOESN'T ABATE IF 87 OCTANE FUEL IS USED - EVEN AMOCO WHICH PURPORTS TO BE BETTER THAN THE REST. SEARCHING THESE TOPICS VIA GOOGLE, I FOUND A DISCUSSION SUGGESTING THAT THE CAUSE WAS/IS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER RUNNING TOO HOT - PROBABLY DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. SURE ENOUGH, THIS VEHICLE HAS THE FIRST CATALYTIC CONVERTER (THERE ARE TWO, IN TANDEM) IS COUPLED DIRECTLY TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. FURTHER, THERE IS NO ROOM TO MOVE THE UNIT BACK, AND, SINCE THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS WELDED, ANY MODIFICATIONS TO IT WOULD PROBABLY NEGATE MY WARRANTY. MY '88 COROLLA USES THE SAME 87 OCTANE FUELS, FROM THE SAME BRANDS (THAT WE'VE TRIED ON THE '03 COROLLA) AND DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMERS DESERVE A BETTER PRODUCT THAN THIS. MY SON'S '02 HONDA CIVIC DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD WE - AND OUR FELLOW ROAD USERS BEHIND US AND TO THE SIDES OF US - BE FORCED TO TOLERATE THIS DEPLORABLE STENCH?

I BROUGHT A 1999 TOYOTA COROLA IN 2000, IN 2001 32,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISION FAILED, TOYOTA REPLACED THE TRANSMISION WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. THIS MONTH MAY 2003 41,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISION FAILED AGAIN SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA I'M NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY AND I HAVE TO PAY 4,396.71 FOR THE REPAIR COST. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS, IF THE TRANSMISION KEEP FAILING EVERY 30,000 TO 40,000 MILES OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR.

Mileage: 32,000

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE TO LOWER GEAR, WHEN TAPPING BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN SLIGHTLY AT HIGH SPEED. GOING DOWN HILL, FOR EXAMPLE, RESULTING IN SUDDEN SURGE OF RPM, ACTING LIKE A BRAKE AND TAKING A WHILE TO SHIFT BACK INTO OVERDRIVE. THIS PUTS TREMENDOUS STRAIN ON ENGINE, AND RESULTS IN POOR GAS MILEAGE. IT DOESN'T SEEM PROPER THAT IT SHOULD DOWNSHIFT WHEN SLOWING FROM 70 TO 65. EVEN PUNCHING THE ACCELERATOR DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE IT GO INTO OD UNTIL SEVERAL SECONDS HAVE PASSED. 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. *LA

WHEN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE AND BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING GEARS, AND THE RMPS SURGE UP TO 4000. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

Mileage: 8

6853 MILES NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION

Mileage: 6,853

TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HAS SUDDENLY DROPPED OUT OF OVERDRIVE WHILE COASTING ON FLAT ROAD OR GOING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE MAKES AN UNUSUAL AND VERY LOUD 'TINGY' OR HIGH PITCHED REVING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING, WHICH DISAPPEARS WHEN AT CRUISING SPEED. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND WAS FOLLOWED BY THE INABILITY TO GO ABOVE 15 MPH. THIS PERSISTED DESPITE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR FULLY TO THE FLOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS WAS TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT INCITENT ONLY INVOLVED DROPPING OUT OF OVERDRIVE. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND HAS TRIED TO FIND PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED.

VEHICLE LURCHES WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC.*JB

Mileage: 500

VEHICLE DROPS OUT OF OVER DRIVE WHILE GOING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL AND GENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO DOES IT WHILE GOING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAY, AT 60 MPH OR HIGHER AND APPLYING THE BRAKES WITH MEDIUM PRESSURE. DOES NOT RESUME OVER DRIVE FOR 1/2 MILE AFTER THAT.*JB

Mileage: 500

THE PROBLEM IS . WHEN I START MY CAR I "MUST" PRESS ON THE CLUTCH VERY HARD ( ALL THE WAY INWARDS ) IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS.*AK

THE PROBLEM IS . WHEN I START MY CAR I "MUST" PRESS ON THE CLUTCH VERY HARD ( ALL THE WAY INWARDS ) IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS.*AK