1996 Toyota Corolla Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DURING DAMP, COLD WEATHER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TAIL LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS OPERATIONAL, IT STOPS WORKING IF I TURN ON HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 8 OR 9 TIMES WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING AND AM ALWAYS TOLD THE BULB HAS BLOWN AND THEY REPLACE IT AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THERE IS APPARENTLY A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAUSE WHEN WE PULL OUT THE "BLOWN" BULB AND PUT IT BACK IN, THE LIGHTS WILL WORK AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN OF ABSOLUTELY NO ASSISTANCE OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS.*AK

CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, AND CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WILL BLOW OUT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SOCKET AND THE CONDITION IS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR LIGHTS SOCKETS, THE INSIDE CONNECTOR IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WHEN THEY GET HOT AND OLD IT MELTS, LOOSING THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE BOTTON OF THE LIGHT BULB, I HAVE TO PURCHASE FROM TOYOTA A NEW WIRING SET, BUT THE NEW ONES ARE MADE OF THE SAME PLASTIC, SO THEY WILL FAIL AGAIN, I HAVE SEEM PLENTY OF TOYOTAS COROLLAS WITH REAR LIGHTS MALFUNCTION IN THE ROAD. THANKS. *AK

AFTER TRYING TO START VEHICLE ENGINE WAS MAKING SOME NOISES, AND CONSUMER DECIDED TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. WHEN DOING SO, VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ON. AFTERWARD, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

BRAKE LIGHT AND TAILIGHT GO OUT WHEN VEHICLE HITS A BUMP. CONSUMER HAS AN APPOINTMENT AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK

I SUSPECT THE ELECTRIC DESIGN HAS PROBLEMS, WHICH CAUSE THE STOP LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. THE BULBS ARE USUALLY OK IF YOU TEST THEM. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OCCURANCES ON 1994 THROUGH 1996 MODELS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS.

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SPARKS ON FLOORBOARD, PULLED TO SIDE, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT UP IN FLAMES, NO WARNING, SPEED 10 MPH, VEHICLE TOTALED; MANUFACTURER CLAIMED VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTENING. *AK

DASHBOARD FIRE.