CarComplaints.com Notes: Beware of the NHTSA complaint data for the 2008 Corolla. It is almost certainly misleading.
The problem with NHTSA data for the 2008 Corolla is that for months on end, the news media repeatedly told the public that several Toyota models have an unintended acceleration defect, & to go to safercar.gov (the NHTSA's website) to file a complaint.
So, the NHTSA received a disproportionate number of complaints about Toyota unintended acceleration issues because of the national news media attention, to the point where now the NHTSA data is unreliable taken in context with any other vehicle that did not receive national news attention.
CarComplaints.com typically receives more complaints per day about vehicles than the NHTSA does, but the news media did not repeatedly say "go to CarComplaints.com to report your Toyota acceleration problems" like they did about the NHTSA -- so although we have less complaint data than the NHTSA for the 2008 Corolla, our data for the Corolla is a far more statistically accurate representation of the Corolla's reliability than what the NHTSA data shows.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,280 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.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact was driving 55 mph with the cruise control activated. When the contact applied the brakes, the vehicle did not respond. The contact then veered off the road and pumped the brakes while releasing the clutch. The vehicle then became responsive. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,742 and the current mileage was 39,782. Updated 09/14/11 updated 12/05/11
I bought a 2008 Toyota Corolla ce brand new from the dealer. Only a few months after, I started hearing a very loud clunking sound in the brakes when I backup and brake and then when I pull forward and brake. It is an alarming sound so I took it to the dealer it was purchased from at least three times since and they say it's the brake pads sliding when I brake. They say the only thing they can do for me is grease them, which they have done each time but it keeps returning. I called another Toyota dealer to inquire about it and they told me the same thing. I recently started searching to see if I am the only one that complains of this problem and apparently I am not!! shouldn't Toyota have some kind of a fix for this by now? please help I cannot even sell the car because everyone thinks there is something wrong with it.
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.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. While the contact was driving down an incline approximately between 40-45 on wet road surfaces, the brakes were engaged and suddenly the compression braking system activated. The front wheels began to lock resulting in the vehicle to skid sideways. When the gear was shifted into the neutral position the contact was able to gain complete control of the vehicle and resumed normally. The contact stated when encountering wet, icy or snow covered roads the failure would occur. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician was unable to locate a problem and informed that there was not a recall related to the failure. An incident report was filed with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 37,500.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact was driving approximately 25 mph in rainy weather when the vehicle began to skid abnormally. The contact attempted to apply the brakes and the vehicle then turned 180 degrees before crashing into a pole. The vehicle sustained substantial body damage. The vehicle was then towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was advised that there were no failure found within the vehicle. The dealer stated that the vehicle would be further inspected. The failure and current mileage was 31,000.
- Tampa, FL, USA
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Twice, upon severe braking from freeway speeds my 2008 Toyota Corolla experienced severe instability and wandered all over the highway. My Toyota dealer inspected the vehicle and determined the brakes were operating as designed, but blamed the instability on the lack of ABS or skid control on my vehicle. I think all vehicles should stop in a straight line without these aids, as all my previous automobiles dating back to 1936 all have done.
TL-the driver owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. While driving at 37 mph the brakes were applied but failed. The vehicle stopped when one of the tires went flat. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop. The failure and current mileages were 30,850. Sm.
Problems with the brakes were reported to the Toyota dealer in 12/08. They dismissed the complaint. In Feb. 2009, the car brakes did not work and the car crashed into another vehicle. The police report clearly states that the brakes did not work. Vehicle was towed and taken to the Toyota dealer, again, the dealer dismissed the complaint saying everything was ok. The dealer and the sales and technical specialist. Said that everything was ok and alluded to the age of the driver as a possible cause of the accident. I am concerned that the problem may be with stuck gas pedal but they never checked or mentioned this as a possible cause. As a consumer, this would not even occur to me. I can simply state that the car crashed because the brakes did not work. Toyota refuses to check to see if the 2008 Corolla also has problems with sticky gas pedals with this vehicle. We need your help in insuring our safety because we are afraid that Toyota will not.
My wife was driving her new (one month old) 2008 Toyota Corolla (basic 4-door sedan) on a local expressway when the car in front braked abruptly. My wife applied the brakes but could not bring the car to a complete halt even though there was considerable distance between the two vehicles. She complained that the brakes were "loose". we took the car to the dealer immediately, but they told us there was no problem with the brakes. We left thinking maybe it was our driving- though we are very safe drivers. Since then, whenever I drove the vehicle, a number of times I found that the car does not stop when I brake, and I usually have to swerve to the side to avoid the car in the front. We have found this problem when we are driving usually between 35-45mph speed. Now with Toyota discovering problems with the brakes in 2009-10 vehicles, I suspect this problem also exists in the 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles as well.
2008 Toyota Corolla. Vehicle was parked, started and then put in reverse. Upon applying the brakes while in reverse the car would not stop. Seems as if the brakes would not engage. Vehicle hit a mailbox and then stopped. Same problem occurred approx 1 month later. Again low vehicle speed and no accident reported.
I own a 2008 Toyota Corolla ce. When I drive and then stop and or go in reverse my car makes a weird noise. I took it to the dealer it was purchased from three times and they say it's the brake pads sliding when you use the brake. They say they don't know how to repair it. They say if they replace the brakes the noise will return once I use the brakes. They say when the brakes are used the brake pad slides forward or reverse depending on direction of travel. I call another Toyota dealer in my area and they told me the same thing.
Brakes are locking the wheels without application of brakes and the disks are getting smokey and hot. This problem is appearing randomly. The vehicle was taken to the fort bend Toyota dealership (20465 southwest freeway, richmond, Texas, ph: 281-341-5900) where it was purchased from. On 04/13/2009 the vehicle stayed at the service department all the day and was returned with comment "no problem found" (customer #: 349764, invoice #: 184059). The problem appeared again on 04/17/2009 evening and 04/18/2009 morning. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealership again. It seems the dealership is trying to coverup the manufacturer's defect and not repairing it. This could damage the vehicle. Please advise us.
2008 Toyota Corolla with several brake problems. Consumer states that the brake caliper almost fell off. Mechanic determined that the front brakes needed a shim kit and then told the consumer they only checked one side not both.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. While driving approximately 50 mph with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle decelerated to 40 mph. The contact released the brake pedal and when she attempted to reapply the brakes, the pedal would not move. After 30 seconds, the pedal moved slightly, but the vehicle would not stop and crashed into the rear end of another vehicle. The road conditions were wet. A police report was filed. The vehicle was driven to the dealer. While at the dealer, the gear would not shift from park into drive. The vehicle remains at the dealer and has not been repaired. The front license plate was dented. The current and failure mileages were 1,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. While driving 35 and 65 mph, the steering wheel began to shake and the vehicle lost power. When the contact stopped the vehicle, the front brakes made a crunching sound. He exited the vehicle and noticed smoke coming from the wheel well. The number of cylinders was unknown. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they were unable to duplicate the failure.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lookout, CA, USA