83 complaints reported

2003 Toyota Corolla Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
83
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2019

P0446- EVAPORATE SYSTEM VENT CONTROL CIRCUIT I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY LIKE ANY OTHER DAY WHEN I NOTICED THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" TURNED ON. I WENT TO A MECHANIC THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VAPOR CANISTOR HAD AN ISSUE BUT THAT, THATS COMPLETELY THE CAR MANUFACTURES PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PART# VC4079 IS UNDER LIFETIME WARRANTY SO IT SHOULDN'T BE DAMAGED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2019
Apr 2018

I WAS DRIVING AT A TRACK EVENT AND MY ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK, MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE IT BACK TO MY PARKING SPOT, LOADED IT ON A FRIENDS TRAILER AND GOT IT HOME. I CHECKED AND TOPPED OFF MY OIL BEFORE LEAVING BUT WE FOUND OUT IT WAS DUE TO OIL STARVATION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2017
Aug 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2015
Oct 2014

I WAS DRIVING TO GO TO SCHOOL AND I NOTICED MY ENGINE MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL DUE A RING OR RINGS TORN UP. ONE MECHANICS MENTIONED THAT HE HAS HAD SEVERAL COROLLAS 2003 COMING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT BURNS A LOT OF OIL AND THE ENGINE IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2014
Sep 2014 Fire

I WAS DRIVING MY FATHER'S CAR. AFTER DRIVING CAR APPROX.14 MILES HOME FROM A RESTAURANT, I PARKED IT IN THE CARPORT. LESS THAN 15 MIN LATER I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND SAW THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS BLOWN AND FLAMES WERE SEEN UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SOON FOLLOWED BY FLAMES COMING OUT THE TOPSIDE OF THE HOOD. AFTER REALIZING IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. I HAD NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS FROM LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL, NO DIFFICULTIES DRIVING THE CAR, I DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING ON THE TRIP HOME OR ANY OTHER TIME I CAN REMEMBER. ALL RECALLS RECEIVED WERE RESPONDED TO AT PETERSON TOYOTA IN FTCOLLINS, COLORADO. OIL CHANGES WERE DONE REGULARLY. BRAKES WERE INSPECTED THE LAST OIL CHANGE IN MAY OR JUNE AND WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE STILL OK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2014
Jun 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A HOLE IN THE SOCKET FOR THE SOLENOID E. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2013
Feb 2013

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE THE FIRST TIME THE CIL TURNED ON. IT STAYS ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS THEN STAYS OFF FOR LIKE A MONTH. IT HAS BEEN DOING THAT SINCE 2012. I HAD MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECKED BY A TECH AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THE P0770 CODE MANY TIMES FOR THE MATRIX AND COROLLA. HE PRINTED OUT THE TSB (HTTP://WWW.MATRIXOWNERS.COM/TSB/T-EG020-02.PDF) AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. I TOOK IT TO CARSON TOYOTA IN CA AND THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS FIX THE ISSUE OUT OF MY POCKET WHICH WAS ALMOST $1500! HE SAID THE ISSUE IS THE R & R ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND IF THAT DOESN'T DO THE TRICK THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE R & R SPEED SENSOR. I PURCHASED MY CAR USED SO IT DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THIS SHOULD QUALIFY AS A RECALL. THERE IS SO MANY REPORT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SO MANY OTHER TOYOTA CUSTOMERS THAT ARE VERY UNHAPPY. ALLOT OF THE CONSUMERS ARE SAYING THEY HAVE BOUGHT THESE PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM AND THE CIL IS STILL LIGHTING UP. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I REFUSE TO PAY $1500 TO REPLACE THE ECM AND THE SPEED SENSOR FOR IT TO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR REGISTERED WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF A SMOG CHECK. AND OF COURSE THAT IS AN AUTOMATIC FAIL. THIS IS MY SECOND TOYOTA AND I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE A THIRD. VERY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2012
Jan 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,700. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2011
Feb 2011

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA 2003 4DR LE, 80000 MILES, I WANT TO REPORT COOLANT LEAK FROM ENGINE AREA. I TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANICS AND TOYOTA DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THAT COOLANT LEAK DUE TO BOTTOM PART OF THE ENGINE IS CRACKING, RECOMMENDATIONS IS REPLACE THE ENGINE BLOCK, THAT WILL COST ABOUT $6000. MECHANICS STATED THAT WHEN TOYOTA MADE THE MODE OF THE ENGINE, THE MODE DOES NOT MAKE GOOD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2010
Aug 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILING AND LEAKING OIL. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO AND NOW IT HAD FAILED AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1200. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REITERATE THAT THIS FAILURE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2008
Jun 2010

I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A DEFECT BUT I JUST WANT TO FILE A COMMENT I HAVE WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA S MADE IN 7/2002. THE THING I HAVE EXPERIENCING AND STILL AM IS THAT MY VEHICLE WILL LURCH WHEN IT COMES TO A STOP AND ENGINE IDLE SPEED CHANGES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS WITH OTHER CARS I HAVE DRIVEN. I ALSO DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT OR NOT BACK THEN UNTIL I START READING THE NEWS ABOUT THE RECALL AND OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM MY MODEL THAT IS NOT DUE TO THE CURRENT RECALL. HERE IS THE LINK TO THE NEWS I HAVE READ ABOUT: HTTP://WWW.CNBC.COM/ID/35269950 THERE IS A QUOTE FROM SOMEONE THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING AS I DID BUT DID NOT STATE THE YEAR AND MODEL. *CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2010
Apr 2010

I PURCHASE MY TOYOTA PRE-OWNED WITH 46,000 MILES ON IT ODOMETER. A SHORT WHILE AFTER THE PURCHASE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE CAR DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE AGENT STATED THAT MY GAS CAP MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. I TIGHTENED MY GAS CAP AND THE LIGHT WHEN OFF FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. IT NEVER CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO GET IT SMOGGED FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT WOULD NOT PASS SMOG. THE MECHANIC AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT NEEDED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND $1,800 TO REPLACE. THEREFORE, I HAD TO GO THE REFEREE TO GET A 2 YEAR WAIVER ON MY SMOG. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH 2 SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS, I CANNOT GO WITHOUT A CAR. MY CAR WILL BE GOING ON THE NEXT YEAR SOON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY FUNDING TO HELP WITH REPAIRS WHEN THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A FACTORY ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER TOYOTA CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL YEAR CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2005
Mar 2010

I HAD A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA THAT STALLED REPEATEDLY WHILE THE CAR WAS AT HIGH SPEEDS. HAMER TOYOTA NEVER SAID ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. THIS WAS JUST ONE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR. THIS WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS INCIDENTS. I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR FOR THE REASON IT KEPT BREAKING DOWN, AND I FELT UNSAFE AND FEARED FOR MY DAUGHTER AT THE TIME WHO DROVE WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2002
Feb 2010

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 COROLLA. VEHICLE CAME WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS AND IT HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I ALSO CHECKED ALL FLUIDS. MILEAGE WAS 133,065 AT THE TIME I PURCHASED IT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOOD BECAUSE TOYOTAS ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST FOREVER, RIGHT? A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS OUT. I HAVE TO PUT 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL IN MY CAR EVERY 7-8 DAYS. IT DOES NOT LEAK, IT BURNS IT. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE EMISSIONS LIGHT STAYS ON AND I HAVE ALSO LOST A HUBCAP COVER. I'VE NOTICED THAT EVERY OTHER 03 COROLLA I PASS ON ROAD IS ALSO MISSING AT LEAST ONE. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE, I AM VERY CONCERNED AND KNOW I WILL NEVER BY TOYOTA AGAIN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2009
Feb 2010

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE, 48,000 MILES, ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO LACK OF OIL CIRCULATION IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. RESULT WAS A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THE OIL CHANGED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2009
Jul 2009

2003- TOYOTA COROLLA - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS RESET, JUST RECENTLY CAME ON IN APRIL 2009 AND NOT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY HAS 119,000 MILES ON IT AND NEEDS TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2009
Feb 2009

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE. CAR STARTED TO MAKE A TICKING NOISE FOR A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2009
Dec 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. A FEW HOURS LATER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS BAD AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, THEY REPAIRED A COMPONENT RELATED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,100.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2003
Sep 2008

I RECENTLY TRADED IN A FORD EXPLORER ON A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA.. 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TENSIONER STARTED TO SQUEAL AND GOT WORSE PROGRESSIVELY. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE BELT WAS WORN AND GOT A NEW ONE,WENT TO REPLACE IT AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE TENSIONER HAD SNAPPED OFF DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF IT. I WAS JUST NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA THAT I HAD TO BUY THE NEW(CORRECTLY )DESIGNED TENSIONER AT AN ADDITIONAL COST TO ME OF $180.00 PLUS THE LABOR TO DO IT WHICH INVOLVES UNBOLTING THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND JACKING THE ENGINE UP!I AM A CONTRACTOR AND IF I DO SOMETHING WRONG OR SOMETHING THE CUSTOMER DOESN'T LIKE I EAT THE COST. SHOULDN'T TOYOTA'S BAD DESIGN BE PAID FOR BY TOYOTA. I WAS GOING TO TRADE IN MY FORD TRUCK ON A NEW TOYOTA TRUCK BUT AFTER THIS LITTLE EXPERIENCE I THINK I WILL STICK WITH FORD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2008
Sep 2008

I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2003 COROLLA AND THE BELT SQUEAK A LOT. I WORK AT TOYOTA MYSELF AND I KNOW THAT EVERY TOYOTA COROLLA BELT SQUEAKS. IT'S NOT DUE TO THE FACT ON THE DRIVE BELT BUT THE BELT TENSIONER. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDER THE WARRANTY WILL BE REPLACE BUT THAT'S A OUTRAGE. TOYOTA ALREADY KNEW THAT THE BELT TENSIONER WAS A BAD DESIGN AND THEY MADE A NEW VERSION TO REPLACE THE 1ST DESIGN. I SPENT 140 BUCKS TO BUY THE PART AND THE SQUEAK WEAK AWAY. EVERY 9TH GENERATION COROLLA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS BELT TENSIONER THING BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SLIPPING AND LOSING HORSEPOWER. I KEPT THE OLD PART IN CASE YOU WANT ME TO SHIP IT TO YOU. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2008
Jul 2008

I BOUGHT MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, TOOK IT HOME, AND IT BEGAN STINKING LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME TO BUY MORE EXPENSIVE GAS THAT CONTAINS LESS SULFUR. FOUR YEARS OF BUYING EXPENSIVE GASOLINE, AND I FIND OUT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BURNED UP AND I NEED A NEW ONE FOR $1200. I FOUND OUT THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS CAN BE DAMAGED IF FUEL IS BEING MIXED TO RICHLY, EVIDENT BY A SULFUR SMELL. I BEGAN RESEARCHING THIS AND FOUND A TOYOTA TECHNICAL BULLETIN (HTTP://WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG/TOYOTA%2003-04%20COROLLA%20CATALYST.PDF) THAT STATES MY SPECIFIC MODEL 2003 COROLLA HAD A MANUFACTURERS ERROR ALL ALONG. THE ECM WAS SET INCORRECTLY TO MIX FUEL TOO RICHLY, AND THAT IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS OF AN EXCESSIVE SULFUR SMELL, THE ECM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY! THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED WHILE I WAS STILL UNDER A 60,000MILES WARRANTY, HOWEVER I WAS ON VACATION IN CALIFORNIA, AND CALLED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY TOLD ME MY WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE SYSTEM, SO I WAITED TO GET IT FIXED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER RETURNING TO COLORADO, AND DIDN'T COME BACK ON FOR 15,000 MILES. AT 85,000 MILES, I FINALLY TOOK MY CAR TO BE FIXED BY A DEALERSHIP IN DENVER. AFTERWARD, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TOYOTA BULLETIN, AND AN "EMISSIONS WARRANTY" THAT WOULD HAVE COVERED THE PROBLEM UP TO 8YRS OR 80,000 MILES. NOW, TOYOTA REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE WORK TO FIX THE REAL ECM PROBLEM, BECAUSE I FOUND OUT 5000 MILES AFTER THIS SECRET WARRANTY RAN OUT THAT THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS LYING TO ME OR INCOMPETENT! IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE, THERE IS A PLETHORA OF OTHER TOYOTA CONSUMERS WHOM WERE LIED TO ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM! THIS EXCESSIVELY RICH MIXING OF FUEL LEADS TO DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2008
Apr 2008

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HAS BEEN USING OIL SINCE 30,000 MILES. TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING AT 35,000 MILES BECAUSE SLUDGE WAS IN THE HEAD. OIL WAS CHANGED BETWEEN 4,000 - 5,000 MILES SINCE NEW. NOW WE MUST REPLACE THE ENGINE AFTER IT WAS JUST PAID OFF. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THIS WAS A DEFAULT FROM THE FACTORY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2004
Mar 2008

PURCHASED A USED 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA IN 2006, WHICH HAD [UNKNOWN TO ME] A TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY IN FORCE. ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER, AT APPROXIMATELY 67,000 MILES, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A "ROD KNOCK" AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, BY ATKINSON TOYOTA IN BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION TEXAS. COST $6000. THE DEALER COULD NOT FILE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR US SINCE WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND SO DID NOT FILE FOR TRANSFER. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME, AND REPORTED SIMPLY THAT THE LOW OIL INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NO WARNING INDICATORS REGARDING OIL LEVEL OR LIFE [AS DOES GM AND OTHERS], SO THAT THE 'WORD ON THE STREET' IS THAT IF THE OIL INDICATOR COMES ON, YOUR ENGINE IS ALREADY RUINED. MY SON AND I CHANGED THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE, AND IT HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 4,000 MILES SINCE THE PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2007
Dec 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 45 OR 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MAKES A SQUEALING NOISE. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TENSION PULLEY WAS CAUSING THE BELT TO DETACH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL DUE TO THE SMALL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 93,620 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2003
Sep 2007

MY TOYOTA COROLLA STARTED MAKING A HAMMERING NOISE WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR I WAS GOING DOWNHILL ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST TOWN AND CALLED TOYOTA WHO INFORMED ME I HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK AND GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I DID SO, AND THE NEXT DAY WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS IT HAD BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. I WAS SURPRISED SINCE MY CAR'S LAST SERVICE WAS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE JUST A MONTH AND TWO WEEKS BEFORE. AT THAT TIME THEY DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR AND SAID MY CAR WAS OK. MY CAR HAS 49,500 MILES AND I AM NOW FACING A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR (CHANGE ALL THE INTERNAL MOTOR PARTS) SINCE MY CAR'S 5 YEAR/60,000 WARRANTY EXPIRED JUST LAST MONTH. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2007

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2003 Toyota Corolla has 83 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.