This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated his vehicle was parked and as he turned the ignition on with his foot on the brake the vehicle accelerated into a cement wall. The vehicle's front fenderwas badly damaged.the contact stated he was injured but did not go to the hospital.the police was not called before towing the vehicle from the scene to a body repair center. At that time of the complaint the vehicle had not taken to the dealer.the Toyota manufacturer had not been called. There was only normal maintenance performed on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 58,479 and the current mileage is 116,000.
On 4/26/2006 my wife was driving our 2003 Toyota Corolla into a parking spot at her employment. The car did not stop when brakes were applied. She pressed the brakes hard enough to leave tire tracks on the concrete and dug through ground after jumping the curb. The car did finally stop after hitting a small tree and barely missing a light pole. At the time we believed that the floor mats\had got tangled up and the harder she pressed on the brakes the car went faster. With all the media coverage about problems with stuck gas pedals and floor mats. We are not sure that it was not a problem with the car.
Check cruise control wiring/electronics Toyota!! I had failed cruise control causing RPM 7,000-8,000; could not shut off; stomped on brakes to shut cruise off. Pulled parking brake; downshifted to neutral; turned car off. Turned it back on when recovered from hysteria and cruise had rotations going into red zone, though the accelerator pedal was pulled up and car wasn't going forward - it was gunning engine. Turned cruise off. Turned car off/on/off/on. Finally stopped. Took back to dealer. They had added Toyota cruise to 2003 new model Corolla, 5 speed manual after factory. Dealers weren't authorized to do it - Toyota wanted cruise control only added at factory. But dealer got ahold of one - they probably weren't sure how to wire and connect it in. Took it back. Demanded new one be installed. Has been okay. Still driving 2003, 5 speed manual transmission. But it was frightening to have cruise stuck on wide open like gas pedal was down stock. It wouldn't stop hitting brakes or anything. Check the cruise control wiring and electronics on these recall Toyota!!!!!!!
Purchased new 2003 Toyota Corolla le in 2003 and new 2006 Toyota Corolla le in 2006. From 2003 thru 2006 six incidents occurred with vehicle stopped and my foot on the brake pedal not on accelerator pedal where engine raced as if cruise control kicked into "resume" and vehicle began to accelerate. By reflex, I shifted into park or shut turned off the ignition key to control the vehicle. I reported the incidents to lassen Toyota, albany Oregon no response from them. The 2006 Toyota had the same incident occur once in the last four years. It has the same engine and equipment as the 2003 model I owned and I reported the incident again to lassen Toyota with no response. I am on my guard now that I know this occurs and I don't panic and know how to deal with it, but anyone who doesn't keep a clear head and know what to do instinctively could be in trouble. I am sure this is a computer problem that has some link to the acceleration program in the cruise control area even with the cruise control off and the car in drive with the foot on the brake pedal and the foot no where near the accelerator pedal. This problem existed in two different years of the same model Toyota. Just thought you should be aware that this does occur randomly in these cars and that complaints are ignored.
I have a 2003 Toyota Corolla. When stopped at a stop light/ sign the car will idle up. If you do not have enough pressure on the brake the car will jump forward. This happens more when it is raining out. I took it back to the dealer, they checked it out and could not find anything wrong. I asked if I could stop in when it is raining so they could look at it than. They said yes. I stopped in on a rainy day when the car was doing it. The service agent said that cars idle up when you use the defroster. That could be the problem but I have never had a vehicle do it as to try to leap forward. My 1999 Toyota Camry does not do it. Nothing has been done to fix this problem. Thank you!
- Bucksport, ME, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. While driving approximately 5 mph out of a parking space his vehicle accelerated into a pole and damaged his vehicle. The license plate also came off. There were no injuries. The vehicle was driven to his residence; however, the failure occurred three times. A claim was also filed with Toyota. The failure mileage was 181,000.
Was driving my 2003 Toyota Corolla last night and when I took my foot off of the gas pedal the car just started accelerating on its own - it did it 2 or 3 times when I pulled over and shut the car off.
I was driving on an interstate highway with my cruise control engaged and my car began to accelerate beyond the speed that I had set. I disengaged the cruise control but that did not slow the car down. Next, I tried braking, which slowed the car down a little, though I needed to use an unusually large amount of force to press the brake pedal down. Once I released the brake, the car began to speed up again. I made repeated attempts to brake but, eventually, the brake pedal locked up. At this point, I put the car into neutral and the engine revved (I don't know what the maximum RPM was, but I know it was well above normal driving RPM). I pulled off onto the shoulder and turned the car off. I tried turning the ignition on (my foot was not on the accelerator pedal) but the engine revved up so I immediately turned the car off. Over the next 30 minutes, I tried turning the car on a few more times with the same result. After I had been waiting for 1-1.5 hours, a tow truck arrived. The driver turned the ignition on and the car started normally; somehow the problem had resolved itself so we were unable to determine the cause.
I was driving along a residential street (35 mph) and I was stopped at a stoplight. When the light changed, I began accelerating uphill. Once I reached my desired speed of 35 mph, I removed my foot from the accelerator but the car continued to increase in speed (I was still traveling uphill). I immediately put the car into neutral, pulled off to the side of the road, and turned the ignition off. Fifteen minutes later, I turned the car back on and the engine immediately revved up, although my foot was not on the accelerator; based on the sound of the engine, I would estimate that it surpassed 4000 RPM. I turned the car off and 15 minutes later I turned the car on only to meet with the same results. When the tow truck driver arrived, he noticed that the throttle valve was stuck in the open position. He closed the throttle and this fixed the problem. A few days later, I brought the car to a Toyota dealer. They told me that there was a kink in the throttle cable that may have caused it to get stuck. However, they were not able to provide a definitive diagnosis because the problem was not repeatable and, therefore, did not replace the cable. I have had the car for 6.5 years and this has only happened twice (the other time was in early 2008 and occurred on a highway). In light of recent media reports on acceleration problems in Toyota, I must note that I have the original floor mats and that they are, and always have been, properly secured in place. I did not notice whether or not the accelerator was stuck, but I was only traveling 35 mph, so the accelerator was not depressed enough to get caught under the floor mat. The parts are still available since I did not replace the cable.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. While making a U-turn, her vehicle suddenly accelerated to over 100 mph. As a consequence she crashed into a dump truck, and then into a pole. Two occupants receive minor injuries. There was a police report taken at the scene of the incident. The vehicle was completely destroyed.. he had not contacted the dealership or the manufacturer to-date. The current and failure mileages were approximately 57,000.
The contact has a 2003 Toyota Corolla. After proceeding from a stop light at 35 mph, the vehicle accelerated to 70 mph. Even after brake application. The vehicle continued to accelerate. She then shifted the vehicle into park and turned the engine off. The vehicle was towed to her home. A mechanic inspected the vehicle, but could not identify the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified, and she was advised that her model type does not have a defect. The failure mileage was 100,000. The vehicle identification number was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. While approaching a stop light between 2 to 10 mph the vehicle accelerated past the light without intention. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they could not find the problem. The failure mileage was 105,000.
2003 Toyota Corolla le revved up when brakes were applied. The consumer had to apply a good amount of pressure to the pedal and eventually, he shifted the gear into neutral. The vehicle came to a safe stop and the very fast idle which may have lasted for 10 seconds had returned to normal. The dealer was unable to duplicate what the consumer had experienced.
On April 27, 2006 my dad started the engine to go to church and the car accelerated in parking position. Car was turned off and started again, once started it drove fine. The same day when my dad was coming from church he started the car and when he put it in drive the car accelerated itself and itt bolted out and went over a pile of sand that was on the side on the road. The car flipped and stopped against the fence of a house. The air bags did not deploy. My dad was taken to the hospital and the car was a total loss. He was lucky to have his seat belt on. I've reviewed other complaints and it seems to me that this has happened too many times to just be a random defect. I hope this accident is investigated to avoid unnecessary deaths due to this problem.
While rolling to a stop between traffic signals foot off the gas pedal my vehicle suddenly revved itself up and bolted forward creating a 3 vehicle accident. I hit the brake when I felt the initial surge, but still hit the vehicle in front. Seat belts were worn in each vehicle and my airbag didn't deploy. My vehicle has suffered over $4,500 in damage and won't run while it sits at an auto body shop, the nose and bumper are badly damaged. I was told this sounds like "unintentional acceleration". the vehicle is awaiting the parts for repairs.
: the contact stated while slowing down behind another vehicle. It would not slow down so the vehicle was put in to neutral, the engine revved up. The gears were then put into drive and finally the engine slowed down. The vehicle was taken to the dealership to be checked, upon inspection the problem was determined to be the throttle body had stuck. The vehicle was driven for a short amount of time before experiencing the same type problems. The dealer said it could have been the floor mat getting under the accelerator pedal. The vehicle is still having the same type of problems. The manufacturer has been alerted. Updated 4/6/2006 -
Consumer states when trying to bring car to stop, he had apply an excessive amount of force to the brake, even though right foot removed from gas pedal engine did not stop. Bf the vehicle was still under warranty during the time of the failure. The consumer stated while he was backing the vehicle up at less than 35 mph the failure occurred. After the consumers foot was moved from the gas pedal he had to forcefully apply the brakes. The consumer stated that it was necessary to shift out of drive to bring the vehicle under control. The consumer shut the vehicle off and let it sit for a while and started it again and drove home with no incident.
The vehicle will surge forward when at a stop. This happens when the air conditioner is turned on. There has been several occasions that I almost hit the car in front.
When the brakes were applied, the vehicle surged, which forced the consumer to place the vehicle in park to stop. Toyota found nothing wrong with the vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Cumberland, VA, USA