2003 Toyota Corolla Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
VEHICLE LURCHES WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC.*JB
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
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
6853 MILES NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION
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
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2003 Toyota Corolla has 47 Power Train complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.