2003 Toyota Corolla: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Dec 31, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 120,000 miles · CA

While I was driving on the highway to work, driving at approximately 70-75 MPH, I started to brake. Instead of decreasing in speed, my car accelerated and everytime I would push the brake, my car would increase in speed (unintended acceleration). Within the span of about 3 months, this incident has occurred a total of 5-6 times, making it very unsafe to drive.

Filed Dec 1, 2014 · Acceleration · 136,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota corolla. While reversing at 3 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed May 10, 2013 · Acceleration · 86,000 miles · GA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota corolla. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact stated that the brakes were depressed but the vehicle did not respond. The vehicle did not stop until the contact crashed into a tree. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact's right foot was partially severed and the contact's left foot was fractured. As a result, the contact was confined to a wheelchair. A police report was filed of the incident and the vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 86,000.

Filed Nov 3, 2010 · Acceleration · 60,000 miles · CO

Sudden acceleration on 2003 toyota corolla. Just returned from first road trip with this car, from oregon to colorado, and car suddenly accelerated. It happened 5 times - 3 of the times while the car was in cruise control. In particular - while going up hill -- the car picks up speed to get over the hill but after reaching the top, car fails to slow down and only after hitting brakes several times would the acceleration stop and car would begin to slow. In one instance, I had to take the car off the freeway and onto an uphill on-ramp to get it to slow and brakes finally worked at top of hill. I could actually feel the gas pedal pushing down on its own - without my foot applying pressure. The first couple of times it happened, I thought it was because the car was going down hill and was just naturally picking up speed. It was only after putting the car in cruise control that I noticed the problem was the car, not the environment. In the first incident, the car went from 52 to 83, the second incident - 57 to 90, the 3rd incident - 65 to 88, the 4th instance 75 to 84 and the scariest incident of all - the car went from 70 to 105 MPH!! I could have been killed and the only thing that slowed the car down (besides my continual braking) was that I started climbing a large hill. One of the incidents was witnessed by a wyoming highway patrol officer - out in the middle of nowhere and many miles to a town - who thoughtfully gave me detailed instructions how to get the car to stop safely (turn on your emergency flashers, put the car in neutral and apply even pressure to brakes - putting car in neutral gives more power to brakes). This car has 60,000 miles on it and had never been on a long trip before and very rarely on a freeway. I had never used the cruise control before and will not be using it again. Toyota needs to add the 2003 corolla to the recall as it obviously has the same problem as the 2005 - 2010. Toyota will be hearing from me tomorrow.

Filed Jul 10, 2010 · Acceleration · 91,775 miles · PA

While attempting to park in a mall parking lot at a lot speed, the engine accelerated without using the gas pedal. This occurred twice within a span of 30 minutes. I was able to apply the foot brake, emergency brake and shift the vehicle into park without incident. Then I turned the car off. I then started the car after shutting it down and the car ran normally.

Filed May 4, 2010 · Acceleration · 65,000 miles · WI

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota corolla. While slowing down at a traffic light, the engine suddenly revved and accelerated through the intersection. The contact immediately turned the vehicle off and restarted it; the engine reset itself. The contact called the dealership and was told that the mats were probably the cause of the sudden acceleration. The contact pulled the mats away from the accelerator pedal and the failure had not occurred since. She also called the manufacturer in january 2010 and filed a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. The current mileage is approximately 85,000. Updated 09/21/10. *lj updated 09/23/10

Filed Mar 16, 2010 · Acceleration · 59,500 miles · MD

I had unintended acceleration on toyota corolla 2003 le model. This problem happened to me two times during one year of 30,000 miles drive. I suspected the cruise control system was the cause of the problem.

Filed Feb 27, 2010 · Acceleration · 180,000 miles · MA · crash · 1 injury

My car accelerated by itself while I was driving in a rotary and resulted in a head on collision with a guard rail. It continued to accelerate even after it hit the first guard rail and caused me to hit a second guard rail. This crash resulted in injuries and completely totaled my 2005 toyota corolla. I filed a complaint with toyota as well as an accident report with the police department and the massachusetts rmv and insurance company.

Filed Feb 17, 2010 · Acceleration · 60,000 miles · GA

2003 toyota corolla had a sudden acceleration while using cruise on highway.

Filed Feb 16, 2010 · Acceleration · CA

Unintended acceleration of 2003 toyota corolla. Occurred only once.

Filed Nov 6, 2009 · Acceleration · 57,000 miles · MD · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota corolla. While making a u-turn, her vehicle suddenly accelerated to over 100 MPH. As a consequence she crashed into a dump truck, and then into a pole. Two occupants receive minor injuries. There was a police report taken at the scene of the incident. The vehicle was completely destroyed. . He had not contacted the dealership or the manufacturer to-date. The current and failure mileages were approximately 57,000.

Filed Apr 25, 2005 · Acceleration · FL

Consumer complained about sudden acceleration about 5 times. Consumer has to step on the brake several times in order to slow the vehicle down.*ak