2003 Toyota Corolla Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT TOLD WHAT CAUSED THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 04/14/14 MA UPDATED 04/18/14 *JS

EXACTLY APPEARANCE AS IN CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10311317. I AM WRITING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT I HAVE RESOLVED AN ISSUE MYSELF BECAUSE I KNOW THAT NETHER DEALERSHIP NOR PRIVATE MECHANICS WOULD NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO PROPERLY TROUBLESHOOT AN ISSUE. I WOULD GUESS THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN TOLERANCES BETWEEN GUIDES OF BRAKE PADS AND CYLINDER SLOTS. PADS ARE TOO TIGHT SITTING IN CYLINDER, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO BRAKE AND GETTING THEM ALMOST GET STACKED CLOSE TO ROTOR. THIS CAUSING UNEVEN ROTOR WORMING, VIBRATION AND HUMMING SOUND. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS. USING GRINDER I HAVE REDUCED THE SIZE OF PAD GUIDES. 2 MINUTES OF WORK. ISSUE IS GONE AND NEVER RECURRED. *TR

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA SEDAN BRAKES VIN# [XXX] BRAKES ARE SURGING FORWARD. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANIC GARAGE AND TWICE TO TOYOTA DEALER AND NOTHING CAN BE IDENTIFIED. BRAKE ISSUE HAPPENS ONCE A WEEK OR EVERY SO MANY MILES. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AS THERE IS NO INDICATION AS TO WHEN OR WHERE THIS WILL HAPPEN. ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN STOPPING THE CAR AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT CAR JUMPS FORWARD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW TOYOTA COROLLA 2003 MODEL IN NOV 2002. AROUND A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, IT STARTED PRODUCING AN UNUSUAL SOUND WHENEVER I HIT THE BRAKES. IT HAS SINCE PROGRESSED FROM A BARELY AUDIBLE (EXCEPT TO THE DRIVER) "KNOCKING" SOUND TO,AT SOME POINT, A VERY NERVE-WRACKING "THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK APART" KIND OF SOUND WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO CHECK IF IT WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF A SIMILAR CASE. I ALSO ASKED A FORMER TOYOTA MECHANIC, NOW RUNNING HIS OWN PRIVATE SHOP, TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM; HIS ONLY ANSWER WAS THAT IT WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR COROLLAS FROM 2003, SINCE THEY RE-DESIGNED THE CAR THAT YEAR. EVEN HIS OWN ASSISTANT MECHANIC HAD A LATER TOYOTA COROLLA WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE GIVEN UP TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS ASSESS THE SOUND, OPEN UP THE BRAKES, RECOMMEND AND CHANGED PADS, EVEN ROTORS. THE SOUND DISAPPEARS WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN NEWLY "OPENED" AND TAKEN DOWN FOR CLEANING, BUT AFTER A WEEK OR SO, THE SOUNDS RETURN, ALTHOUGH THE MECHANICS HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR BRAKES WORK WELL AND ARE SAFE. BUT DON'T THE SOUNDS INDICATE A PROBLEM IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM MAYBE? I ONLY WRITE NOW BECAUSE OF A NEWS ITEM THIS MORNING THAT SAID TOYOTA PLANS TO RECALL COROLLAS FOR A BRAKE-RELATED PROBLEM. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA THIS MORNING WHEN SHE REPORTED THAT THE CARS BRAKES DIDN'T APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY. THIS RESULTED IN A PROPERTY DAMAGE CRASH INTO A GUARDRAIL. IT WAS A FRONTAL CRASH INTO A GUARDRAIL AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEED, THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR

I DROVE MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA IN HIGHWAY YESTERDAY, WHEN I TOOK BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, THE CAR ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF STOP, AND LOST THE CONTROL TO HIT RIGHT SIDE OTHER CAR, AND THEN DROVE TO SNOW PILE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME EVENT, BUT THIS TIME MY CAR GOT CRASH, MY CAR WAS PICK UP TO INSURANCE DESIGN REPAIR STORE. *TR

THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 2003 COROLLA HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND HAD BEEN ADJUSTED. STILL WHEN YOU BRAKE, IT STILL MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. PADS HAVE BEEN CHANGE SEVERAL TIMES AND TEMPORARILY THE GRINDING NOISE WILL GO AWAY AND AFTER ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS IT RETURNS. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO SOMEONE FIXED THE PROBLEM, NOW ITS BACK AGAIN. *TR

VEHICLES INFRONT OF ME STEPPED ON BRAKES SUDDENLY. I APPLIED MY BRAKES WITH NO RESPONSE. TAPPED SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN AND TRIED HOLDING DOWN WITH NO RESPONSE AGAIN. TRIED TO SWERVE INTO SUICIDE LANE TO AVOID HITTING CAR THAT WAS 30 YARDS IN FRONT OF ME AND WAS FORCED TO HIT CAR AS VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR EVEN SLOW DOWN. BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. *TR

UNDER IDEAL NIGHTTIME ROAD CONDITIONS (DRY ROAD AND CLEAR VISIBILITY), I SWERVED TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. I MISSED HITTING THE OTHER CAR, BUT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP AND PUT THE CAR INTO A SKID FROM WHICH THERE WAS NO RECOVERING. THE CAR SPUN OUT AND CAME TO REST AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE CENTER DIVIDER TWICE. THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT HAVE LOCKED UP, AS THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). IF THE ABS HAD WORKED PROPERLY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AVOIDED THE SPIN AND CONTACT WITH THE CENTER DIVIDER.

WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT STARTED TO MAKE A RUMBLING AND RATTLING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THEY FLAT OUT REFUSED TO ASSIST ME OR OFFER ANY "GOOD FAITH" MEASURE OR ANY SERVICE WHATEVER TO ASSIST ME WITH THE DEFECT. THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING AND WAS NOT DETECTABLE WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICES AND INSPECTION. *JB

I BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA FROM A CERTIFIED CAR DEALERSHIP, AND WAS SOLD A CAR THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND WAS NOT REPORTED. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR HAS NONE OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS TO THE CAR WHICH DEPRECIATED THE VALUE OF THE CAR, BUT IT WAS STILL SOLD TO ME AS SLIGHTLY USED IN GREAT CONDITION,LOW MILEAGE AND SUPPOSE TO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ANY ACCIDENTS, I ALSO FOUND OUT THE THIS CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES STARTING FIVE DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I TRIED GIVING THE CAR BACK AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE CONTRACT IS ALREADY SIGNED, AND BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE CAR THEY WILL ONLY GIVE $6,000 FOR THE CAR WHEN IN FACT THEY SOLD IT TO ME FOR OVER $15,000. *NM

ON JANUARY 7, 2006 AT ABOUT 2:30 A.M. MY DAUGHTER, [XXX] DROVE BACK HOME TO SAN MATEO FROM SANTA CRUZ IN A TOYOTA COROLLA LE OF 2003 WITH A[XXX] AND [XXX]. AS SHE DROVE ON HIGHWAY 17 NEAR SAN JOSE SHE TRIED TO STEP ON THE FOOT BRAKE TO MAINTAIN SAFETY CONTROL AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MILES PER HOUR WHILE GOING DOWN THE WINDING SLOPE. HOWEVER THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE NO BRAKE AND STARTED SPINNING WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT FIRST HIT THE CENTRAL CONCRETE DIVIDER THEN THE TAIL ALSO HIT THE DIVIDER AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. NO THIRD PARTY WAS INJURED AND NO PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT MY DAUGHTER GOT SOME BRUISES ON HER LEFT THIGH AND THE CAR ENDED UP WITH A TOTAL LOSS. MY DAUGHTER THEN UNBUCKLED HERSELF FROM THE CAR SEAT AND CALLED THE POLICE WITH HER CELL PHONE THROUGH WHICH SHE WAS ADVISED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AT THE SCENE THE DRIVER SAID TO MY DAUGHTER THAT THE CAR GOT NO BRAKE AND HE HAD TO PUT ADDITIONAL CHAINS AND STOPPERS TO SECURE THE CAR WHILE TOWING. SURPRISINGLY NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR WAS DEPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO MY RECORDS, THE CAR WAS FULLY SERVICED BY THE DEALER, TOYOTA 101 IN REDWOOD CITY JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND AS RECENT AS A WEEK AGO THAT I HAD THE CAR'S ENGINE BELT CHANGED ALSO BY TOYOTA 101 BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING I SUSPECT THAT THERE MUST BE SOME DEFECT IN THE CAR SAFETY SYSTEM INCLUDING THE AIRBAGS AND FOOT BRAKE. I AND MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANAGER OF TOYOTA 101 BY PHONE FOR NUMEROUS TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT CAN HELP AND BRING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF TOYOTA 101 WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH AN INCIDENT DUE TO THE DEFECT. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ENGINE REPLACED AT 55874 MLS DEALERSHIP SAID "VEHICLE WAS NOT MANTAINED". EVEN THOUGH OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 55 TO 7500 MLS. 3 WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON HWY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW IT DOWN THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES & 3 NEAR COLLISIONS I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HWY AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES WERE STILL LOCKED UP AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL ACCELERATING, CAR WOULD NOT STOP! I THEN THREW CAR IN PARK AND CUT ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO AVOID INJURING SOMEONE ELSE OR MYSELF . SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER HOOD. HAD TOWED TO DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE SAID THEIR WAS NOTHING WRONG! 2ND INCIDENT 3 DAYS AFTER GETTING CAR BACK TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY ONCE AGAIN SAID COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND THAT THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM!THIS CAR ALMOST KILLED ME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS!!!!*AK

BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED SINCE THE BRAKES FAILED ONCE BEFORE, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION.*AK

MY BRAKES SEAMED TO BE FAILING BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALER JUNE 2003 SAID NO PROBLEM KEEP HEARING SQUEAKING NOISE IN BACK. NOW BRAKES GRINDING, HAS 22500 MILES 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE HAD FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED 09-30-2003 STILL HEARING SQUEAKING NOISE IN BACK . SAID NO PROBLEM WITH BACK BRAKE S,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD CHECKED EARLY 2003, SAID NO PROBLEM. SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL MAKING STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED OR ACCELERATED UPON FINAL PARKING WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND ON BRAKE. THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A COUPLE FEET. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR SHE EXPERIENCED ENGINE SURGES AND THE VEHICLE LUNGING FORWARD UPON BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY ADMITTED THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD SHE HAD A DESIGN FLAW IN HER VEHICLE WHERE THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE. *TC *JB

BRAKE FAILURE ! TRAVELIN APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL. TAP BRAKE TO RELEASE CRUISE. BEGIN COASTING. APPROACHING 4 WAY RED FLASHER. BEGIN BRAKING. NOTICE NOT SLOWING DOWN AS USUAL. BEGIN BRAKING HARDER. REALIZE NOT SLOWING DOWN. ATTEMPT TO STEER THROUGH INTERSECTION, BUT HIT TRAILER OF CROSSING VEHICLE.*AK

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. ON DECEMBER 2003 CONSUMER HAD A ACCIDENT BRAKE TOOK LONGER TO STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER.*AK

BRAKE SHOES, ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR.*AK *TS *NLM

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST FROM DAY 1. *MR THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE OUT BY 15K MILES. (THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS. *SCC *JB

MY BRAKES AND ROTORS WENT OUT AT 15,000 MILES ON MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOU EMAIL ME AT SDENNIS@KMTG.COM. *JB

REAR-END ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM INSUFFICIENT BRAKING ABILITY OF 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE, PURCHASED IN APRIL 2002. DURING A NORMAL MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK, I WAS INVOLVED IN A SLOW-SPEED ACCIDENT, IN WHICH I "REAR-ENDED" THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, WHEN TRAFFIC ABRUPTLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. PRIOR TO BRAKING, TRAFFIC IN MY LANE, WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AND I HAD ~2-2.5 "CAR LENGTHS SPACING BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE FRONT VEHICLE. WHEN THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED, I ALSO IMMEDIATELY APPLIED FULL PRESSURE ON MY BRAKE PEDAL. HOWEVER, THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PREVENT COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, RESULTING IN $2700 IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HIGHER INSURANCE RATES FOR MYSELF, FOR FAILING TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. SINCE I HAD TOYOTA REPAIR THE COROLLA, I ALSO REQUESTED THEY CHECK THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THEY STATED THAT ALL THE DAMAGE WAS STRICTLY COSMETIC AND THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES (AS I EXPECTED THEY WOULD). HOWEVER, EVEN AT LOWER SPEED OF 10-20 MPH, I FIND THAT MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA TAKES CONSIDERABLE LONGER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP (UNDER NORMAL BRAKING FORCE) THAN I'VE COME TO EXPECT FROM ANY PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN VEHICLE (DURING 24 YEARS AS A LICENSED DRIVER). NOTE: THE EXACT DATE OF THE ACCIDENT IS APPROXIMATE. *NLM

WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, OUR 2003 COROLLA WAS INVOLVED IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE BRAKES FAILED, BOTH OF WHICH RESULTED IN COLLISIONS. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (JUNE 12, 2002), WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE (OVER WHICH THE DRIVER NO LONGER HAD CONTROL) COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE IN FRONT. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THIS COLLISION RESULTED IN INJURIES TO THE DRIVER OF THE COROLLA, AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE COROLLA. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT (AUGUST 29, 2002), THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR. THIS COLLISION ALSO RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE COROLLA.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY DIDN'T HOLD,RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH REAR BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT AND INJURIES.*JB

BRAKES FAILED-BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME IN BUSY FREEWAY CONDITIONS. I FEARED FOR MY LIFE AS I STRUGGLED TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. THANK GOD I DID. THAT 2003 COROLLA ALMOST KILLED ME. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND EXCHANGED ME INTO ANOTHER COROLLA.*AK