FaultScore

2005 Toyota Corolla window and wiper problems

16 of the 972 complaints about the 2005 Toyota Corolla are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 42,000 miles.

A

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Visibility 10 62.5%
Glass, Side/Rear 4 25.0%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 2 12.5%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Toyota Corolla year

1994 10 5.1%
2003 34 17.2%
2004 30 15.2%
2005 16 8.1%
2007 11 5.6%
2009 22 11.1%
2010 26 13.1%
2014 16 8.1%
2020 18 9.1%
2021 15 7.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 49,875 miles Westminster, CA Fire

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

OCTOBER 2013, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA IN SOUTHERN CA, WHEN SMOKE STARTED TO FILL THE CAR. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH. THE SMOKE LASTED A FEW MINUTES, AND A BURNING SMELL OF PLASTIC ALSO FILLED THE CAR. THE CAR WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I TOOK A LOOK AT THE SWITCH, NONE OF THE SWITCHES AT THE MASTER CONTROL WERE WORKING AND ALL FELT COMPLETELY LOOSE. I PULLED THE SWITCH PANEL AWAY FROM THE DOOR AND COULD SEE HOW THE PLASTIC WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND HAD BURNED HOLES THROUGH THE SWITCH. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ALL THEY COULD SAY WAS THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS VIN# AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE AWARE OF PROBLEMS ON OTHER VIN #'S IN THE SAME MODEL. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A FIRE HAZARD WITH THIS CAR AND TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A LARGE COMPANY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A KNOWN PROBLEM? I RECENTLY CALLED THEM AGAIN TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL AND STILL HAVE NOT. NOW I AM EVEN MORE UPSET!

NHTSA complaint #10586830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,200 miles Brantford, Ontario Canada, 00

VISIBILITY

2005 TOYOTA COROLLA DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. MY NEIGHBOR WITNESSED THE ENTIRE EVENT HE SAID HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SAW THAT THE WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY TOYOTA, THANK GOD I WASN'T IN THE CAR DRIVING, IT COULD HAVE LEAD TO A MASSIVE ACCIDENT OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM FROM THE GLASS TO MYSELF.

NHTSA complaint #10399701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Torrance, CA

VISIBILITY

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE CLOUDED AND YELLOWED AND, AS A RESULT, OBSCURES THE BRIGHTNESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT AS THE HEADLIGHT IS DIMMED TO ONCOMING CARS AS WELLS AS IT LESSENS VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. IT SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE OWNER TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT LENSES REPLACED WHEN THE CLOUDINESS COULD BE DUE TO POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS AS THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ANY OTHER CAR THAT I'VE OWNED AND ANY THAT BELONG TO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. THE LENSES HAVE GRADUALLY CLOUDED STARTING ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10348569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,435 miles Wellesley Island, NY

VISIBILITY

ROCK FROM PASSING VEHICLE HEADED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION HIT AND CAUSED WINDSHIELD GLASS TO BREAK AND GLASS FRAGMENTS WERE SPRAYED ON DRIVER. WINDSHIELD DAMAGE INCLUDED CRACKS UPTO 14 INCHES IN LENGTH, A POWDERED GLASS AREA SLIGHTLY SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN A GOLF BALL, AND A PUNCTURE FROM 3/8 TO 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. LARGEST FRAGMENT OF GLASS FOUND INSIDE THE CAR WAS VERY THIN AND ABOUT 1/2 INCHES LONG BY 3/8 INCHES HIGH. CAR HIT WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10346380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,000 miles North Salt Lake, UT

VISIBILITY

THE HEATER IN OUR CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING, IT WOULD TAKE 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD GET WARM, WE TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP( ROUGHLY 03/31/2010 ) WHERE WE PURCHASED IT ( AND THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE, OIL CHANGES, TRANSMISSION FLUSH, ETC. ) THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND JUST SAID THAT IT NEEDED SOME COOLANT AND THAT WAS IT. THE HEATER WORKED FOR JUST A COUPLE DAYS AND THEN THE HEATER BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. ON THE NIGHT OF 04/17/2010 WHILE DRIVING HOME THE ENGINE GOT VERY HOT ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WE PULLED OVER AND PURCHASED SOME MORE COOLANT AND PUT IT IN THE CAR , DROVE THE CAR HOME AND THEN ON MONDAY 04/19/2010 WE TOOK IT BACK IN TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS A CRACK RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THAT IS WHY THE COOLANT KEEPS DRAINING. THEY TOLD US WE NEED TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. IT IS A 2005 COROLLA WITH ONLY 79,000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE 4,000 MILES PAST OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY SAID SINCE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE THAT THEY WOULD GIVE US BRAND NEW ENGINE BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $ 2274.00 FOR LABOR AND A THERMOSTAT. IT IS CURRENTLY AT TONY DIVINO TOYOTA IN RIVERDALE , UTAH BEING REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10326741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

VISIBILITY

THE FRONT PASSENGER AUTOMATIC WINDOW RATTLES AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO CRACK WHEN WINDOW IS ROLLED UP AND DOWN ON MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2003-2004 TOYOTAS, BUT NOT THE 2005. THE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE WINDOW BOLT, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR FOR FREE SINCE THE RECALL WAS FOR THE 2003-2004 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN THAT RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA complaint #10286986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Poolesville, MD

VISIBILITY

WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED STRESS CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM IN MIDDLE WHILE SITTING IN DRIVEWAY OF RESIDENCE.

NHTSA complaint #10278639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Chicago, IL

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS BEING MOVED, THE WINDOW INSIDE THE DOOR RATTLES AND SLIGHTLY MOVES. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000. UPDATED 09/02/09.

NHTSA complaint #10275251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Bristol, TN

VISIBILITY

THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER IS MOUNTED IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR AND IS NOT PROTECTED FROM ROAD DEBRIS IN ANY MEASURE. ONCE HIT BY A SMALL ROCK OR SIMILAR ITEM THE CONDENSER HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $600. A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY TOYOTA ADVISES INSTALLATION OF A DEFLECTOR SHIELD WHICH COMES WITH THE REPLACEMENT CONDENSER FROM THE DEALER. SIMPLE CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM IS INSTALLATION OF A DEFLECTOR SHIELD BEFORE THE PROBLEM ARISES. AIR CONDITIONING IS A POSSIBLE HAZARD IN HOTTER AREAS OF OUR COUNTRY AS WILL AS THE CONDENSER DOES NOT WORK WHEN USING DEFROST OR DEFOGGING ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A SIGHT HAZARD. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA complaint #10266057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,000 miles Irving, TX

VISIBILITY

MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA CE, THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST WENT OUT AND THERE IS NO AIR COMING OUT AT ALL, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FREON, IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE CAR. NO AIR HOT OR COLD.

NHTSA complaint #10251725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresno, CA

VISIBILITY

SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR USED LAST YEAR, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAS BEEN STICKING SOMETIMES. I THOUGHT THAT IT USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS WARM BUT REALIZED THAT IT EVEN HAPPENED WHEN IN COLD WEATHER, SO IT IS PROBABLY NOT WEATHER RELATED. WHEN I WANT TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN, IT HAS BEEN POPPING DOWN LIKE IT WAS STUCK ON SOMETHING, I DON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE PUTTING IT DOWN SOMETIMES BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IM GOING TO BREAK THE WINDOW MOTOR. THEN YESTERDAY WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN...THE DOOR PANEL WAS POPPING OUT AS IF THE WINDOW RUBBER WAS CURLING DOWN INTO THE WINDOW CHANNEL...ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT WHAT I SAW OCCURRING. AT THAT TIME IT ALSO MADE A POPPING NOISE WHICH I HAVE HEARD LOUDER THEN OTHER TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10250445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Banos, CA

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

THE REAR GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE MOLDING.

NHTSA complaint #10234438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Miami, FL

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 23, 2007 THE CONTACT WAS INSTRUCTED TO COLLECT THE KEYS THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE NEXT WEEK,THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO PURCHASE THE KEYS FOR $200.00. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,000.*AK THE CONSUMER STATES WHEN PURCHASING VEHICLE THE DEALER NEVER PROVIDED HER WITH THE MASTER KEY TO THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS INSTRUCTED BY ALFREDO AT THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK THE KEY UP A WEEK LATER. AFTER 10 DAYS, THE CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE AND DID NOT TRUST THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE KEY REPROGRAMMED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE DEALER STATES DRIVER'S WINDOW MOLDING AND COMING APART, THE DEALER CHECKED AND ADVISED WILL CALL WHEN SPECIAL ORDER PART COMES IN. THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED A COPY OF THE INVOICE. UPDATE 05/04/07

NHTSA complaint #10187548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,800 miles Monrovia, CA

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

I BOUGHT TOYOTA COROLLA LE 2005 IN MARCH 2005 AT THAT TIME I GOT 3 YEAR WARRANTY/36,000 MILES AND THE AUTOMOBILE HAS 36,800 MILES AND IT IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2007 AT 9:00 AM SOMETHING UNUSUAL HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I WOKE UP AROUND 8 :00 AM IN THE MORNING AND THEN I DECIDED TO BUY SOMETHING FROM THE MARKET FOR MY BREAKFAST AND WENT TO THE GARAGE AND LOOKING AT MY CAR I DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW GLASS WAS BROKEN INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES. FORTUNATELY MY FAMILY AND I WERE NOT INSIDE THE CAR AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE BE HURT BY THOSE GLASS. NOW I AM SCARED OF TAKING MY SON AND WIFE INTO THE CAR BECAUSE THE OTHER GLASS MAY SHATTER AND HURT ME AN M Y FAMILY. DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS PUTTING MY FAMILY AND ME IN DANGER OF BEING HARMED BY THE GLASS BECAUSE THE GLASS CAME WITH A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE GONE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN PERSON TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW GLASS. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF TOYOTA AND THEY DO NOT EVEN WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE IT. I THINK MOST OF THESE MODELS WINDOW GLASS COMES WITH A DEFECT SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE A TEST IN THE LAB AND ASK THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THE WINDOWS OF MY CAR. I AM REPORTING AND MAKING A COMPLAINT TO PROTECT THE CONSUMERS AND ME SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS AGAINST THIS MANUFACTURER. PLEASE THINK OF MY SON AND WIFE BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE TO TRANSPORT THEM TO DIFFERENT PLACES. RIGHT NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THINKING THAT ANY TIME THIS WILL BREAK AND HURT ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I HOPE YOUR CONSIDERATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10181836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72 miles Philadelphia, PA

VISIBILITY

RPM'S INCREASE WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND THE FORCE OF THE RPM INCREASE DECOMPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY FOOT SLIPS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS BUT IT WORRIES ME THAT IT MAY. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. I HEARD THIS MAY BE NORMAL BUT NOW READING THAT OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THIS, I PLAN TO GET IT CHECKED. ASIDE FROM THIS, THERE IS DASH BOARD RATTLING, SEAL ISSUE WITH WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY WHISTLE AND ALSO PAINT FLAKES OFF FROM A SMALL DING.

NHTSA complaint #10107525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sylmar, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE REMOTE FAILED TO WORK WHILE PRESSED TO ROLL UP AND DOWN THE WINDOWS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10102049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Toyota Corolla problems

← Full 2005 Toyota Corolla report