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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:
28 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
23 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,830 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2008 Toyota Corolla Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #128

Mar 012024

Corolla

  • 130,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contacted stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #127

Jul 172023

Corolla

  • 168,841 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH a second vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle. During the crash, the front driver's side air bag deployed and the contact sustained multiple fractured ribs and a left ankle injury which required medical treatment. The contact indicated that upon the vehicle's impact, the air bag did not immediately deploy and was delayed contributing to the rib injuries sustained. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 168,841.

- Greenbelt, MD, USA

problem #126

Nov 112020

Corolla

  • 215,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact declined the diagnostic fees. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 215,000.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #125

May 052021

Corolla

  • miles

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

Airbag light comes on and off possibility of $600 fee

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #124

Jun 052020

Corolla

  • miles
Seatbelt didn't tighten up initially during a wreck causing more extensive injury. Then tightened up snatching passenger into seat from midair causing additional damage. Vehicle was going straight and was hit by a car who ran a left turn arrow on a city street. Wreck was under 50mph but passenger had extensive damage due to seatbelt malfunction..

- Leesburg, GA, USA

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problem #123

Dec 122019

Corolla 4-cyl

  • miles
2008 Toyota Corolla. Consumer writes in regards to passenger airbag inflator safety recall. The consumer stated the dealer was attempting to charge for parts and labor on a recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #122

Nov 162019

Corolla

  • miles

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

There has been a recall on my vehicle and the recall has been unresolved thus far.

- St. Thomas, VI, USA

problem #121

Aug 102019

Corolla

  • miles
Air bag was replaced and light won't go off, causing inspection failure

- Pawtucket, RI, USA

problem #120

May 132015

Corolla

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V285000 (air bags) and 16V127000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. North bakersfield Toyota Scion (19651 industry parkway drive, bakersfield, California, (661) 615-1100) was made aware of the recall in September of 2017 and stated that parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #119

Aug 182018

Corolla

  • 141,229 miles
SRS light is on not flashing. Continuously illuminated. Car was parked not moving I washed it and filled washer fluid reservoir fluid spilled so I rinsed it off when I was done I moved my car and SRS light was on. I believe the senor shorted out when it got wet.

- Ellensburg, WA, USA

problem #118

Feb 132018

Corolla

  • 260,000 miles

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

My car was involved in an accident that was bad enough that the airbags should have activated, but did not. This was after I had the recall on the airbags repaired at the dealer in late 2017. Who can I address this problem with?

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #117

Dec 122017

Corolla

  • miles
I had my car checked because a light came on on my dash on 12/6/17 so I had it checked and it ended up being my tire pressure was low, but the monitor they hook up indicated that my passenger airbag was affected, so I took it into Toyota and they looked at me like I was dumb and just told me that they put air in my tires and everything was fine. So on 12/12/17 my maintenance required light came on and I had O'reilys check with there monitor and again it red flagged the passenger airbag, I knew it was time for an oil change so I figured that's why my maintenance required light was on but what concerns me is the airbag. According to my notes, I had my airbags supposedly replace in July of 2016 and I am not sure if a light would come on indicating something was wrong with the airbags but I need to find out if after a 1 1/2 years why I would have a problem with my airbag"??" could this be related to the recall and how do I find out (other than going in to Toyota) that they actually replaced the recalled airbag"?") they tell me they did but doesn't my VIN number have to be kept track of somewhere besides the specific dealer that I went to"?" they treated me like crap and told me it was an $89 diagnostic fee and if it was an airbag would cost between $500-$700 dollars. I need to know more information on the previous airbag recall as I am beginning to wonder if it was never fixed because I have never had to have my car checked for lights coming on so I feel that I have been driving for 1 1/2 years with faulty airbags.

- Roy, UT, USA

problem #116

Oct 092017

Corolla

  • 198,000 miles
October 9, 2017 I was rear-ended, hit at 35 mph. This hit I was sitting. I was side swiped at 40- 45 mph, moving at this time. I was again rear-ended at 50- 55 mph, stopped. And then I was backed into, in the front end of my car at 20-25 mph. How come no airbags go off?

- Boone, IA, USA

problem #115

Nov 242017

Corolla

  • 98,000 miles
I found airbag recall number 16V340

- South Gate, CA, USA

problem #114

Apr 222017

Corolla

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. Upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained illuminated while driving. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Lisman, AL, USA

problem #113

Jul 182017

Corolla

  • 200,000 miles
I went to melody Toyota in san bruno, ca (summer 2016) to have airbag recall taken care of. They told me they didn't have the part and they would call me for an appointment when it came in. After a month with no word from them I stopped by again. They told me I didn't need to stop by because they would call me when the part came in. That was over a year ago and they still haven't called! I got a reminder about the recall summer 2017 and made an appointment at one Toyota of oakland for 10am 7/18/17. They told me car would be ready by 2:30. When 4:00 came and I had no word I asked. At around 4:30 I was told they hadn't started yet and they asked me if I wanted to make another appointment for another day. I walked out totally disgusted. Obviously the Toyota dealerships have put this airbag recall at the bottom of their priority list. I will try finding a third dealership today and hope to be done with this soon.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #112

Jun 292017

Corolla

  • 200,000 miles
Steering column damaged airbag wiring, causing SRS light to illuminate during normal driving.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #111

Jun 062017

Corolla

  • miles
Takata recall - it is unbelievable that I am unable to have passengers in the front seat of my car because of a risk of death and there is no date even to repair. This is a priority. I don't understand why I cannot have this fixed now. Unbelievable!

- Monrovia, CA, USA

problem #110

Jan 082016

Corolla

  • 55 miles
I have had failure to disclose issues with this car. I have had an accident in which the airbag did not deploy and brake had difficulty. I had a bad accident and have reached out to Toyota to wither repair my car or setup rental or make a payment for rental. I do not want to drive this car until repaired, therefore renting for the past 3 months

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #109

Apr 012016

Corolla

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V127000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Middlebury, VT, USA

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