There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2003 Toyota Corollain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
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.
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAGS AND BELT TENSIONER DEPLOYED IN VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISION. *SMD
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
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
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.
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
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. I PULLED OVER TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. I MANAGED TO PUT THE CAR IN FIRST GEAR AND MAKE IT BACK HOME EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING THIS LOUD GRINDING NOISE. I BROUGHT THE CAR FOR REPAIR AND THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. JUST 6 WEEKS AGO I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
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
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, A TOYOTA COROLLA 2003 ON JULY 12 AND WHILE DRIVING IT TURN ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NEXT MORNING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN A HIGHWAY THE CAR TURN OFF. I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING, AFTER COUPLE ATTEMPTS THE CAR TURNED ON, I CALL A TOYOTA PLACE, WHERE I DO ALL MAINTENANCE OF MY CARS, AND AFTER I CALLED I WENT THERE SO THEY CAN RUN A TEST. THE RESULT WAS SHIFT SOLENOID "E" MALFUNCTION. THE WORKER TOLD ME THAT MOST LIKELY THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER, THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT ON THE COROLLA 2006 NOT 2003. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS. HE TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAIN SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE. *TR
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
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
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE DIAGNOSTIC SAID IT WAS THE O2 SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. A MECHANIC CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I READ WHERE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS DON'T GO BAD BY THEMSELVES, THEREFORE THE PROBLEM HAS TO STEM FROM A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR CONTINUAL REPAIRS. *TR
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026