2003 Toyota Corolla brakes problems

Filed Mar 12, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA · crash · 1 injury

My mother got in the car and as soon as the car was put on drive, the car accelerated to its max potential, but when she attempted to hit the brakes they did not respond. So max acceleration, on its own, and brakes did not work. She ended up in the hospital for 9 days suffering a broken rib, front teeth missing, they had to sew her tongue back together, both cheeks shattered, broken clavicle and she has a hole right under the back of her skull. Miraculously, after she flipped to the side and took out two trees, the third tree flipped her back to right side up, and stopped the vehicle completely.

Filed Apr 19, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 188,000 miles · CA · crash

I was parking at about 3 MPH, took my foot off the accelerator pedal and pressed down on the brake pedal to slowly ease the car to a stop at the parking spot. The vehicle jolted forward and accelerated. I hit a pole and the vehicle sustained terrible frontend damage. I have a 2003 toyota corolla and it is over 188,000 miles.

Filed May 18, 2017 · Brakes, Transmission · 90,000 miles · PA

Rear wheel bearings failure (safety defect) -- 2003 toyota corolla. Excerpts from my e-mail to toyota motor sales, u.s.a. Inc. Follow: "the local toyota dealership has recently recommended replacing the rear hub axle bearings due to a humming noise, at a cost of over $1,000.00. This recommendation has floored me as this type of repair for a vehicle with only 90,000 miles does not seem to be consistent with the quality standards promulgated by toyota motor corporation. Apparently, this problem is widespread as a technical service bulletin (the federal safety agency #10015608) was issued." the toyota customer experience center subsequently acknowledged the rear wheel bearings issue addressed in my e-mail above, creating case # 1703301220. Despite toyota having issued technical service bulletin #00105 on this very matter, the toyota representative at the customer center clearly stated in a subsequent phone call there is no warranty coverage, no customer notification, and no-recall issued. After contacting the toyota customer experience center, I was reluctant to replace the rear wheel bearings for almost $1,000.00 if the only issue was with humming which blended in with normal road noise. But the mechanics at the local toyota dealerships subsequently warned me that failure to have the rear wheel bearings replaced meant I was driving a car with a serious safety hazard with a significant probability of wheel failure (I.e. The bearing(s) could completely fail at any time and cause the rear wheel to fall off the car). I then authorized the local dealership in april 2017 to replace the wheel bearings (at my expense). One cannot but wonder how many accidents or incidents in connection with rear wheel bearings have occurred with toyota corollas for drivers who unknowingly drive their vehicles with rear wheel bearings that have been compromised or failed.

Filed Feb 28, 2017 · Acceleration, Brakes · 203,000 miles · CO · crash

We were parked in a parking lot. My wife got into the car, put her foot on the brake to take the car out of park, and put the car in reverse. The car accelerated rapidly backward with the engine revving and no effect from the brakes, and hit a pole. With the engine still racing, my wife then put the car in drive, still with her foot on the brake, and it sped forward running into the back of a pickup truck. The engine was racing and there was no effect with pushing on the brake. The pickup truck was pushed forward about a foot hitting a guard rail in the front of the parking space.

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 6, 2013 · Brakes · 80,000 miles · CA

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

Filed Mar 13, 2012 · Brakes, Steering · 153,000 miles · GA · crash

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 toyota corolla s. The contact was in a crash. The contact stated that while attempting to stop the vehicle, after driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal and steering wheel seized. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the vehicle in front. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 153,000.

Filed Nov 28, 2010 · Brakes · 180,000 miles · 00

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.

Filed Jun 16, 2010 · Brakes · FL

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).

Filed Feb 17, 2010 · Airbags, Brakes · 104,000 miles · NY · crash

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.