14 of the
560 complaints about the 2004 Toyota Corolla are about the
braking system — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
24,472 miles.
SHIFTER CABLE BROKE OFF AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BRAKE/STOP. HAD IT TOWED AND DORAL TOYOTA REINSTALL SHIFTER CABLE ASSY ON. 09/03/2021. IF YOU NEED IT HAVE THE INVOICE AND PROOF OF PAYMENT, TOO. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK! CABLE ASSY TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF. VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. HAD IT TOWED AND DORAL TOYOTA ORDER PARTS AND PERFORMED THE LABOR ON 04/08/2015. HAVE THE INVOICE AND PROOF THE PAYMENT, TOO. THIS HAS HAPPED TO THIS VEHICLE TWICE AND THERE IS NO RECALL(?)
NHTSA complaint #11436818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 184,000 milesDavie, FLCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK A UTILITY POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THEIR LAWYERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11101350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lithonia, GA
SERVICE BRAKES
2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD
NHTSA complaint #10733127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesStaten Island, NYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER A VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ THE CONSUMER NO LONGER HAS POSSESSION OF THIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/30/2013
NHTSA complaint #10489485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Erieville, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
I DRIVE A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA AND I HAVE HAD MANY INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IN EVERY CASE IT HAS BEEN IN WINTER, WHICH IS WHEN I WEAR LARGE SOLED BOOTS. IT IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF THE BRAKE BEING PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR SO THAT IF I STEP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAKE MY BOOT SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR. MY CAR IS MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO THERE IS ALSO A CLUTCH. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR ARE PARTICULARLY CLOSE TOGETHER IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODEL. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT IT IS SOMEWHAT ALARMING WHEN IT HAPPENS AND I CAN IMAGINE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS HAPPENING HAVING AN ACCIDENT. OR I COULD TOO -- THE NATURAL RESPONSE UPON UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IS TO CONTINUE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, WHICH IN THIS CASE JUST CONTINUES THE ACCELERATION. I AM INCLUDING A DATE BELOW BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED TO SEND THE FORM. IN FACT I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE DATES BUT IT HAPPENS A COUPLE OF TIME PER YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10381203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesST. Joseph, MO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON 4 OCCASIONS, OUR 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA ENGINE HAS RACED WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING BACKED UP AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH MANY PEOPLE MILLING AROUND TO WATCH A FIREWORKS SHOW. THE HARDER I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE FASTER THE ENGINE RAN. FORTUNATELY, THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR BEFORE I RAN OVER ANYONE. APPARENTLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN SO FAR THAT MY FOOT COULD HIT THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO, THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #10347442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesLaurel, MDCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ENGINE WILL SURGE WHEN AT A STOP AND UNLESS BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR, VEHICLE MAY MOVE FORWARD. THIS SURGE IS NOT CONSISTENT, OCCURRING BETWEEN 10-20% OF THE TIME AND MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 10 SECONDS OF STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR TO PARK VEHICLE AFTER BEING ON HIGHWAYS AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10340455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,162 milesAbbotsford, BC, Canada, 00
PARKING BRAKE
MARCH 24, 2010, I STARTED MY CAR FROM DEWDNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MISSION, BC PARKING LOT HEADING HOME IN ABBOTSFORD, BC. ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON HIGHWAY 11 HEADING ABBOTSFORD DIRECTION, I FOUND THAT I COULD NOT BRAKE THE CAR TO STOP. LUCKILY, I MANAGED TO STOP. THEN I SAW SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE BACK WHEELS, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER WAS HIGH UP, WHICH IT HAD NOT BEEN RELEASED BEFORE I STARTED TO DRIVE. I WAS SCARED AND CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, SUNRISE TOYOTA IN ABBOTSFORD TO TOW THE CAR. THE NEXT MORNING, THE STAFF AT THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME THAT I HAD TO PAY ABOUT $1200.00 TO FIX THE CAR MYSELF AS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT DUE THE FAULT I MADE MYSELF. THEY CLAIMED THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOT UNRELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH WHY IT BURNED THE WHOLE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT I FORGOT TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE BEFORE I DROVE. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO THAT I REALIZED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASED IMMEDIATELY, AS I FELT THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I DID NOT FEEL ANY DIFFICULTY OR RESTRICTION TO MOVE THE CAR WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASED THIS TIME, AS I DID NOT REMEMBER IF THE RED LIGHT OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR MOVED SMOOTHLY EVEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS UP HIGH. THAT WAS WHY I DID NOT REALIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASED. MY CAR IS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD, WITH 80,000KM, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN I EXITED THE HIGHWAY, AS THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS BURNING OFF WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT BEING RELEASED. IT IS NOT A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR AN EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP FUNCTION IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS. IN OTHER WORDS, TOYOTA INC. SHOULD HAVE WARNED ALL THE DRIVERS WHO DRIVE TOYOTA COROLLA 2004 MODEL TO REPLACE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES OF THEIR CARS IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS, OTHERWISE THEY WILL RISK THEIR LIVES.
NHTSA complaint #10322697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,356 milesWaldorf, MDCrash
PARKING BRAKE
ON FEBURARY 12, 2010, MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA WAS PARKED AND RUNNING, WHILE I BROUGHT GROCERIES INTO MY HOME. WHEN I WENT BACK OUT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A DITCH CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND MUFFLER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10308673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waldorf, MDCrash
PARKING BRAKE
ON JANUARY 12, 2010, MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA WAS PARKED AND RUNNING, WHILE I BROUGHT GROCERIES INTO MY HOME. WHEN I WENT BACK OUT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A DITCH CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND MUFFLER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10308742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesST Paul, MN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WE OWN A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA (A MODEL NOT IN THE RECALL) BUT HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING AT AN INTERSECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10305280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,945 milesTampa, FLFire
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE TWO CLAIMS ON TOYOTA COROLLA'S. EACH VEHICLE HAD A FIRE START IN THE WHEEL WELL AREA. THE DEALER IS BLAMING BRAKE FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE IS AN 06 COROLLA AND THE OTHER IS AN 04 COROLLA. NEITHER VEHICLE HAS EVER HAD ANY BRAKE WORK DONE AND BOTH HAVE VERY LOW MILES. CERTAINLY THE 06 COROLLA SHOULD BE HANDLED BY TOYOTA UNDER WARRANTY BUT SO FAR THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO HANDLE THIS LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10174172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 500 milesST. Marks, FL
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
HAND BRAKE DOESN'T HOLD WELL. ALSO, WHEN THE HAND BRAKE IS ON AND YOU OR YOUR PASSENGER GETS OUT OF THE CAR IT MAKES A NOISE LIKE YOU WEIGHT 5000 POUNDS A VERY LOUD SQUEAK. IT'S NOT EXACTLY A SQUEAK, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY FORGOT TO GREASE THE SUSPENSION ITS THAT KIND OF NOISE. OR IF YOU PUT A LITTLE WEIGHT ON THE FENDER WHEN THE HAND BRAKE IS ON IT DOES THE SAME THING. NOT A LOT OF WEIGHT JUST YOUR HAND PUSHING DOWN GENTLY..THIS SHOULD BE AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR TOYOTA. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I BEG TO DIFFER! I PROBABLY WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10111838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,186 milesPalo Alto, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN ANALYSIS AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. THE BRAKES SCREECHED, BANGED AND PULLED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10046734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.