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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
92,788 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2005 Toyota Corolla engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Toyota Corolla Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Feb 212021

Corolla

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My toyoda corrolla had two recalls one is the defective ECM which causes the cae to be un risk of a serious accident because it can stall while driving, this problemas damaged my car transmisin after they supposedly changed the part, they either didnt fixed it or replaced it with another defective part, now my car hesitates abd chek engine light is always on due to the ECM again not functioning properly, I contactes Toyota corporate and al they did was to give me the run around I contactes the CEO and he rejected my emails, I want this to be reportes un case me abd my child can get injured due to that defect Toyota didnt fixed properly.any help will be appreciated.

- Eustis, FL, USA

problem #28

Jan 012011

Corolla 4-cyl

  • miles
The vehicle was bought in usa in 2004, and was legally transferred to another country in 2010. The recalls were not received in time to take action and fix the car in usa. The other country does not have the “know how” to fix what is stated in the recalls (takata airbag recall and a engine control module recall). Can you stop sending safety recalls in usa and redirect them to the other country" can you provide the “know how” to the new country to fix the car" Toyota has offices and repair stores in the new country. The vehicle is not registered in usa dmv since 2010, but it is in the new countrys dmv.

- Mountain View, CA, USA

problem #27

Feb 012019

Corolla

  • 84,000 miles
Engine may go dead usually on freeway speed

- Newhall, CA, USA

problem #26

Mar 072019

Corolla

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on the freeway going 65 mph and my car died. Oil was at normal level. Gas at 3/4 tank. Almost got into a major accident with big tanker trucks on side of me. Mechanic says that engine seized but doesn't know why.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #25

Dec 102018

Corolla

  • 155,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. While driving 40 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the electronic control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. David maus Toyota (located at 1160 rinehart rd, sanford, fl 32771, (407) 792-6524) was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V384000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #24

Nov 192017

Corolla

  • 170,000 miles
My car when left on in park will shut off by itself after a short time (this has happened twice), today when I was in drive and about to pull out of work it shut off. I restarted it and everything worked fine. The car was not moving when it shut off, but both times the engine and oil light came (there might have been another light) on but when restarted they went off.

- Rittman, OH, USA

problem #23

Nov 212016

Corolla

  • 25 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall my engine light is on I was told they have a recall in 2010 on Toyota Corolla but I didn't have the car at that time am I still eligible to get that fix for free

- New Iberia, LA, USA

problem #22

Nov 132016

Corolla

  • 230,000 miles
Air bags did not go off in a hard collision with a deer. Covering of bumper gone, hood bent 18"+-, radiator pushed into engine, frame bent on driver's side in front of the door. Car not driveable and yet the air bags did not deploy. State farm has the car policy 182 5776-C28-23A. Police report bec icr 16-17141, blue earth county, mn state farm claim 23-0177-0W2. This vehicle has been owned by family members since purchased new. Our concern is that the air bag did not go off and it possibly was unhooked.

- Vernon Center, MN, USA

problem #21

Nov 012008

Corolla

  • miles
In late 2004, I financed a brand new 2005 Toyota Corolla while residing in South Florida. In summer 2008, I relocated to Massachusetts. It was in winter 2008 that the engine warning lamp illuminated. I immediately took the vehicle to a Toyota dealership. I wasn't really given a real explanation of why the warning lamp was illuminated. I was quickly told it could be fixed. So I paid approx. $800 to supposedly have it fixed. Literally, two weeks later the engine warning lamp came back on. I took it back to the same Toyota dealership and they told me they don't know what's wrong and would have to run more diagnostic test that would cost additional money. At the time, I did not have additional money since I had just dished out nearly $800. I have taken the vehicle to independent auto shops in which they have not been able to diagnose the problem. In the state of Massachusetts, yearly inspections of an operating vehicle is required. For the past years, I have had to have the light manually turned off hoping that it would not come on in time for the car to be inspected. The car has failed on several occasions because the engine warning lamp illuminated. In addition to the engine warning lamp being illuminated, I have also and still experience harsh shifting. The harsh shifting started approx. In late 2009/2010. I also started noticing decreased lighting visibility in 2011. At night, I have to drive with my high beams to see properly. Out of frustration, I gave up on trying to find the cause for these issues. I just dealt with it. I don't frequently use the vehicle now because I live in an area that is accessible to public transportation that allows me to get to work. Most recently, I was informed by a fellow Corolla owner that in 2009-2010 Toyota recalled for engine and engine cooling and headlamps. I never received notifications of such recalls!

- Attleboro, MA, USA

problem #20

Mar 052016

Corolla

  • miles
There was a recall on Toyota's engine control modules. I took my car in and had it replaced in 2012 due to a failed emissions inspection. In 2016, im having the same issue again and Toyota refuses to do anything about it.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #19

Oct 162015

Corolla

  • 143,433 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. While driving at 65 mph, the vehicle stalled and the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was able to restart after the initial attempt. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine control module (ECM) failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 10V384000 (engine and engine cooling), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle continued to stall after the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,433.

- Jonesville, SC, USA

problem #18

Sep 012015

Corolla

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ECM module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V384000 (engine and engine cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 58,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Livermore, CA, USA

problem #17

Aug 122015

Corolla

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. While driving at 5 mph, the vehicle revved violently and suddenly returned to normal. The failure was recurring. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that there was no cable to adjust the idling because the vehicle had fuel injection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

- Lake Steven, WA, USA

problem #16

Jul 162015

Corolla

  • 113,198 miles
I had a malfunctioning timing chain and its parts, and an engine problem on my Toyota Corolla 2005 without prior warring, such as an engine check light, rattling, knocking, or stalling. Also I wasnt aware that these problems could happen because there isnt any timing chain system maintenance in the Toyota 2005 scheduled maintenance guide booklet. The independent mechanic who repaired my car thought that the tensioner on the timing chain may have had a problem that caused the cam gear to wear out, so that the timing chain slipped off the cam gear. Then, the problem caused the engine valves to be bent. Finally my car got fixed. The problem occurred in a shopping mall parking lot when I started the engine, I felt boom, boom, knocking coming from the front of the car. I drove out of the parking lot carefully, but I was concerned because it was the first time I ever had this knocking from the car. So I stopped in a different parking lot of the same mall. I looked under the hood and checked the drive belt, which was intact. There was no foul smell. I restarted the car and paid attention to anything unusual. I heard rattling and I decided to take my car to an auto mechanic shop, which is closer than going home. With my emergency light on, I drove into the street less mile when I heard sounds like metal or soda cans crushing around in the engine. Then my car slowly stopped and the engine stopped. I put the car in neutral and slid down to the side of the road, barely off the road. Eventually my car was towed to the auto shop. I have a worn out cam gear, a tensioner with a few fine cracks, bent valves and the timing chain. I called Toyota customer service on July 24, 2015. But I was told that since the car warranty of 60,000 miles had passed and I didnt take my car to a Toyota authorized auto shop they wont deal with my car problem.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #15

Jun 102015

Corolla

  • 90,800 miles
Dear all, in my Toyota Corolla 2005 car, check engine sign are coming and going. There is some issue with fuel pump or gas tank. I have asked the same to Toyota dealership but they have no answer for the same. They are saying for checking I have to pay 150+ usd. As this is a mechanical issue, please help me to deal with the same.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #14

Aug 282014

Corolla

  • 115,000 miles
This problem has occurred frequently since the first event: For no known reason, engine rpms drop to point where vehicle barely moving. Can shut vehicle off and restart and problem goes away. Check engine light comes on but no help in diagnosis. Been to dealer several times. Replaced ECM and tried other possible "fixes". so far, has only occurred in rural areas at speeds of 35 mph or less. Fortunately not much traffic. Check engine light will go off by itself as problem "fixes itself". a potentially dangerous situation but no answers from dealer or manufacturer.

- Merrill, NY, USA

problem #13

Mar 052013

Corolla 4-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The car pops out the 6th gear. It is also harsh when shifting gears, brakes have noise, air bags sign off.the car has shut off while driving and front suspension sounds horrible.

- Carolina, PR, USA

problem #12

Dec 012008

Corolla

  • 31,427 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, an abnormal sound emitted from the engine. The problem recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The mechanic diagnosed that the drive belt failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 31,427.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #11

Oct 082014

Corolla

  • 190,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving approximately 1 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The failure recurred five times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.

- New Hope, AL, USA

problem #10

Oct 162013

Corolla 4WD 4-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
Around 1:30 pm on 10/16/2013 as I was leaving a restaurant, I was parked, with my foot on the brakes. My car accelerated violently and I ran right into the back side panel of another car. It was a few feet up the road before I could get it stopped. My son was right behind me and can verify all details. My car was towed to bradshaw collision center in greer, SC. After they inspected my car "thoroughly", they said, "based on our inspection of your vehicle it has been determined it was not the result of any type of manufacturing or design defect. In June 2014, as I was parked in my son's yard it accelerated again but I had to slam it into neutral before I hit his car.once again, my son saw that.when my foot is on the brake, while waiting on a light to change it will lung forward. Therefore, I am resolved to have to take the back roads. As a result of this accident, I have started having vertigo, for which I have to take medication. I am a perfect driver. I am 68 and many times I have my 3 yr old granddaughter in the car with me. It scares me to drive my own car now. I have a letter from the legal claims administrator from Toyota motor sales, U.S.a Inc. Dated 12/04/2013. This letter tells me there is nothing wrong with my car.

- Greenville, SC, USA

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