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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
22,841 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.
Accelerator stuck "on" after car started and would not disengage. Owner/driver could not avoid striking other vehicles. Owner/driver is assisted by [xxx]attorney at law [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).... updated 03/19/15
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. While driving approximately 35 mph, there was a loud banging noise outside of the vehicle. The contact stated the front end of the fuel tank shield partially detached due to a loose bolt which completely rusted. The contact planned to take the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,500. The VIN was unavailable.
On Aug. 1, 2008 I bought a certified used 2008 Toyota Corolla with 5,420 miles on it from manhattan beach Toyota, in manhattan beach, ca. After driving it for several weeks, I realized there was something troubling about the accelerator. Whenever I depressed the accelerator to make a standing start -- when a traffic signal turned green, for example -- the car would often lurch forward in an uncontrollable manner. I soon traced the problem to the position of my foot on the accelerator. If my foot was in just the right position -- low to midway on the pedal, with my heel closest to the floor -- I had complete control. But if I miscalculated and placed my foot ever so slightly higher on the pedal, the car would lurch forward even when I applied the same pressure. I could regain control only by quickly taking my foot off the accelerator and/or hitting the brakes. The Toyota dealership that maintains my car repeatedly said I should not worry -- that as the car's computer got used to my driving habits, it would eventually adjust the action of the accelerator to my touch. But nothing changed. Now I take extra care to try and get my foot in just the right spot before accelerating from a standing start. Sometimes I am successful, other times not. In anticipation of trouble, I make it a point to leave plenty of extra space between me and the car ahead of me, so I won't rear end it if the accelerator sends me lurching forward. I have become resigned to the problem, because I am a Toyota fan and like everything else about the car. I never thought to complain about this until a New York times story indicated that other Toyota owners have had the same problem, and (I believe) had notified your Agency. (pls ignore the dates I entered below; the problem persists to this day, but your form would not allow me to so indicate.)
On four separate occasions the engine revved up to 6000rpm on my 2008 Toyota Corolla ce when I was stopped. My foot was off the accelerator and no floor mats were near the accelerator. I brought it to my dealer but they did not find anything wrong with it. I reported it to Toyota corporate but they have not responded other then to say that to tell me that my car was not covered by the recall.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Athens, GA, USA