Shiprock, NM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Engine light stays on
NHTSA complaint #11432235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2008 Toyota Corolla electrical problems
21 of the 378 complaints about the 2008 Toyota Corolla are about the electrical system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 36,088 miles.
21
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Electrical System
16
76.2%
Instrument Cluster/Panel
4
19.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery
1
4.8%
Electrical System across every Toyota Corolla year
1992
23
2.7%
1993
15
1.8%
1994
12
1.4%
1995
23
2.7%
1996
12
1.4%
1998
16
1.9%
2003
35
4.2%
2004
24
2.9%
2005
58
6.9%
2006
85
10.2%
2007
89
10.6%
2008
21
2.5%
2009
89
10.6%
2010
75
9.0%
2011
20
2.4%
2012
13
1.6%
2013
11
1.3%
2014
51
6.1%
2015
18
2.2%
2016
14
1.7%
2017
21
2.5%
2018
12
1.4%
2019
15
1.8%
2020
30
3.6%
2021
22
2.6%
2022
19
2.3%
2023
14
1.7%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 55 miles
Sacramento, CA
Crash
1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD FAILURE TO DISCLOSE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND BRAKE HAD DIFFICULTY. I HAD A BAD ACCIDENT AND HAVE REACHED OUT TO TOYOTA TO WITHER REPAIR MY CAR OR SETUP RENTAL OR MAKE A PAYMENT FOR RENTAL. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL REPAIRED, THEREFORE RENTING FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS
NHTSA complaint #10991877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 miles
Saint Charles, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I LOST POWER. I HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF OF ROAD SAFELY. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, IT SHIFTED HARSHLY INTO FIRST AND WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE PAST 25.
NHTSA complaint #10938403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Graham, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE RECEIVED NOTICED BACK ON 2010 THAT OUR VEHICLE HAS A RECALL REGARDING ECM BUT WHEN WE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP THEY SAID OUR VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. I JUST PUT MY VIN NUMBER IN THIS WEBSITE AND IT SHOWS TWO RECALLS OPEN IN MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10916693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,000 miles
Scottsdale, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STALLS WHILE DRIVING, FAULTY ECM. HEAVY TRAFFIC, HAD TO PUSH CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10817404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1 miles
Columbus, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING AFTER GETTING THE NEW BATTERY LAST MONTH, AND A COUPLE DAYS AGO MY ENGINE STALLED AS I SLOWED IT DOWN TO STOP IN THE BUSY TRAFFIC ROAD WHILE I WAS GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP ASSUMING THAT A WRONG BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD ECM. I HAD TO GET IT FIXED BY PAYING OVER $800. THE THING IS THE ECM UNIT IN MY CAR WAS A REPLACED ONE IN THE PAST AS THE TOYOTA RECALLED IT. I AM REALLY SCARED OF DRIVING MY CAR NOW BECAUSE IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, AND I WONDER IF TOYOTA KNOWS THIS ISSUE THAT THE ECM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A NEW BATTERY WELL. I READ THE SAME STORY WHILE SEARCHING FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10809862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,236 miles
Windsor HTS, IA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER, NO POWER BRAKES,STEERING ,ALL THE GAUGES LOOKED AS IF THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN STARTED. IT RESTARTED BY ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS WHICH WAS A GOOD THING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE SHOULDER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH VERY LIMITED STEERING AND BRAKE AND DECELERATING RAPIDLY.
NHTSA complaint #10597813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,200 miles
Amherst, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE ENGAGED INTO LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,200.
NHTSA complaint #10512372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,995 miles
ST Charles, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DURING BRIGHT CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT COULD NOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO REPAIR FOR THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,995 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
NHTSA complaint #10376425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 miles
Ferris, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DISPLAY THE INCORRECT MILEAGE WHICH WAS 10000, BUT THE ODOMETER DISPLAYED 0 MILES AND LATER DISPLAYED 17000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10000.
NHTSA complaint #10367255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,500 miles
Phoenix, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED A CLICKING SOUND RESULTING FROM THE NEEDLE ON THE RPM METER DROPPING TO 0. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, AND MY ENGINE STALLED. I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING, AND COASTED ON MOMENTUM TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF A FEW SECONDS LATER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME.
NHTSA complaint #10365963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lawrence, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH IN HER DRIVEWAY THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A CLANKING NOISE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, OBSERVED THE NOISE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AS SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT RESPONDED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT THE LONGER SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE THE MORE CONSTANT THE FAILURE BECAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SHIMS WERE MISSING WHICH HE ADDED ADDITIONAL ONES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN YOU ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EVERYTHING THAT WAS ELECTRICAL BEGAN TO DIM LOW AND THEN NORMAL. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,027.
NHTSA complaint #10354881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 miles
Nashua, NH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 TOYOTA COROLLA COMES WITH ANTI-THEFT PROTECTION. THERE IS A FLASHING RED LIGHT NEAR THE IGNITION WHICH STOPS FLASHING AFTER WE INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS THE ENGINE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. SOMETIMES (RARELY), WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT AFTER I INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND THE CAR DOES NOT START. THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR THINKS THAT THE WRONG KEY HAS BEEN INSERTED. AGREED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY RARELY, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS I CANNOT START THE CAR AND I GET STRANDED. I THEN HAVE TO TAKE HELP FROM FRIENDS TO PICK ME UP FROM WHEREVER I GET STRANDED. I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW, I CERTAINLY DO NOT EXPECT THIS QUALITY FROM A NEW VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10349457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 miles
Fountain Valley, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2008 TOYOTA COROLLA, ENGINE COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO STOP ACCELERATION ON FREEWAY NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10346802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 miles
Stafford, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 26,000. UPDATED 6/21/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE. UPDATED 06/25/10.
NHTSA complaint #10328266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,500 miles
Woodside, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT'S TOYOTA COROLLA 2008. THE ENGINE STALLING HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE LAST FRIDAY. ONCE AT TOLL STATION, TWICE AT HIGHWAY, WHEN I TRIED REDUCE SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLING. I HAVE TO TURN ON ALERT LIGHT, STOP CAR, MOVE TO PARK POSITION IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. THEN TURN ON THE ENGINE AGAIN. IT'S VERY DANGER AT HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10321648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,177 miles
Rosemead, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2008 4DR TOYOTA COROLLA SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ON OCTOBER 7, 2009 WITHOUT ANY EARLY WARNING SIGNS. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LONGO TOYOTA DEALER IN EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS ECM LOGIC ERROR. THE ECM MODULE WAS REPLACED UNDER PART NUMBER 89661-02R00.
NHTSA complaint #10321220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winchester, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, DISSATISFIED WITH NHTSA'S RESPONSE TO HIS CONCERNS RE THE DARKENING OF THE ODOMETER DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS ON HIS 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA, WANT TO KNOW WHY NHTSA WON'T OPEN AN INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #10248108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winchester, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
LTR FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT WHO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT DARKENING OF THE ODOMETER ON HIS 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. *KB THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMED IN THE SUNLIGHT AND WAS UNREADABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10231748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winchester, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2008 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH UNREADABLE ODOMETER DIAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DIAL BECOMES UNREADABLE IN THE SUNLIGHT BECAUSE IT DIMS. HE HAS STATED THAT THE DEFECT ALSO EXISTS IN OTHER 2008 TOYOTA COROLLAS.
NHTSA complaint #10229528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winchester, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS UNREADABLE IN DAYTIME.
NHTSA complaint #10226621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.