Print this page

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.

2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,978 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.

2008 Toyota Corolla drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Toyota Corolla:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Toyota Corolla Owner Comments

problem #9

Apr 172018

Corolla

  • 123,000 miles

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

When the car is first started in is reved up at 2000rpm. When driving 40mph & up or from third to fourth gear the rpms reve up to 3000rpm before shifting. Car also feels like hard shifting from first to second, lags when taking a turn and pressing gas at same time. Check engine light has now came on P0741. Feels like pushing the max when trying to get fast speeds. Also feels like when slowing down that the transmission is still in high gear and rmps are high. When stopped and foot on the brake the transmission still feels like it's trying to go forward. As driving on highway at 70 mph the transmission surges loses power at high speeds. I have been told the the torque converter solenoid is not operating correctly on the transmission which is causing these issues. This is also the same issue we have with our 2005 Toyota Corolla, same code same problems. This is a defective that seems to be the issue in Corolla automatic transmission.

- Lancaster, TX, USA

problem #8

Jan 052015

Corolla 4-cyl

  • miles
I purchased my car as the first owner in 2008 paid cash. Within a few years an engine light came on and they said it was the transmission. I kept up with all maintenance. I had purchased an extended warranty of which was still valid and because the dealership could not find what was exactly wrong - my warranty would not cover no replace and I was charged over $1500. I took this to bueru of automotive and they ruled in my favor so now I will be suing your company for monies owed on top of other things due to the company not being willing to give me my money back or fixing my vehicle. I have been a loyal driver of Toyota vehicles forever and a transmission should never go out in first 5 years - my car is still on the road but does not go backward - so there is something obviously wrong with this model amongst other things. The dealership manage to break my hood and the stick of which you put your car into drive with. I don't know if it is just clovis Toyota or what - but I am truly disappointed as to you how your company has handled my situation. Not only has your company robbed my family of a christmas, hard earned money as a single parent but also put us in danger. My air bags are bad as well and I never received notification and when I put my VIN in way back when- it said nothing was wrong. Ridiculous. My car is just a mess and unfortunately - I love my car. It has been most faithful and god is good to me and my family - but your company has not!

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #7

Jun 012016

Corolla

  • 82,000 miles
The driver side axle shaft assembly unexpectedly snapped when I went to shift the car into first gear when a light for which I was stopped turned green. There was enough of a connection for me to get off the busy rush hour road before being struck and killed or hurt by other vehicles. It was towed to a local Toyota dealer where they indicated the shaft had snapped and replaced it. They did not find any problems with the clutch or transmission (5 speed manual). The service rep identified the cause as a cut boot (shaft seal) which allowed grease to come out and dirt to get into the joint causing the failure. The rep noted this was "common". I asked if there were any warning for the condition. He noted there is none. The car is regularly serviced (this was noted by the rep); no abnormal conditions with the shaft seal were noted in any service visit. A catastrophic failure of a axle shaft assembly that renders the car immovable without warning is extremely unsafe and is not common. It risks the lives of anyone in the car or on the road near it when the shaft fails. I have never had a axle shaft fail on any other car I have owned and driven. I believe there is a defect and/or flaw with design, material specification, manufacturing process, and/or the quality of this component. I contacted Toyota to report the issue. They said to work with the dealer on inspections; I noted I have. They did not acknowledge the inherent large safety concern with such a failure. I had the car inspected by a independent mechanic a few days following return of the vehicle on 6jun2016; no issues were noted at this time. I question the safety and reliability of this car given the nature and significance of this failure. Toyota needs to review design and manufacturing to ensure such a unsafe failure is anything but common. Unsafe, unreliable cars should not be accepted as common.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #6

Oct 052014

Corolla

  • 133,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 mph, the engine warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission was overheating. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

May 012015

Corolla

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle's speed abruptly downshifted without warning. The contact stated that the failure recurred on several occasions while driving approximately 40 mph and down hills. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was 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 84,000.

- Lebanon, PA, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #4

Aug 302013

Corolla

  • 61,522 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and an authorized dealer for diagnosis and they both informed the contact that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 61,522.

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #3

May 312013

Corolla

  • 100 miles

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

Since, I bought this car brand new it would make noise rattle like something was loose. Every time I would take the vehicle in they would keep it the whole day for days and I was without transportation. They refused to lend me a vehicle. And at the end stated there was nothing wrong. Making it look like I was hearing things. The 2nd issue is when I put in reverse for example I want to parallel park and put it in reverse it gets stuck and reverses super fast. When I took back they said they heard it then they did not. Now the reverse part and rattle noise is worse. This has been happening and I go in to leave the car to complain about the same issues but on the paper they would always change the complaint to a new one. This is what has happened since I bought the car. At first they were nice but once I was out they were helpless. Then I had to return various times for a letter I got in the mail that the vehicle was on "recall". ever since buying a brand new car from Toyota has been a bad experience because I was with a new car but with the conditions of a used car. And to top it off they charge me to inspect the vehicle. Sadly to say these people don't car once they get you hooked on the car. Once you're out your alone and they won't back up their vehicles. And another issue the batteries died fast and I had to pay for a new one. And since they know one needs a car their is nothing to do but to suck it up this sucks!! warning!!

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 072009

Corolla

  • 35,177 miles
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.

- Rosemead, CA, USA

problem #1

Jul 152008

Corolla

  • 12,000 miles
A run away full throttle engine in a 2008 Toyota Corolla (purchased in fall of 2007). I accidentally backed up into a tree at 2 to 3 mph. The rear bumper of the car hit the tree squarely causing no visible damage to car. The engine of the car did not die out after the impact. Upon shifting from reverse to drive -- the car lurched full speed forward (with full acceleration) despite full application of the foot brake and no application of the accelerator. I quickly placed the car in neutral and shut off the engine to avoid running into pedestrians, building and trees. After inspecting the car for damage and any carefully placing the car in park with parking brake and foot brake engage I restarted the engine. The car has run normally since this incident which took place July of 2008.

- Marlborough, MA, USA

Not what you are looking for?