2003 Toyota Corolla: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed May 5, 2015 · Transmission · 139,000 miles · CA

Original transmission was replaced at 124,000 miles, and only 3 years later, and 25,000 miles later, it now needs another transmission. Not the dependability I was expecting. In both instances, the same thing occurred; although it went out on me a lot faster the second time around. I heard a grinding sound every time I accelerated, until it finally went out on me and locked up both times. The first time I was on a side street, and it happened while I was approaching red light (and only reverse worked, so I was able to reverse it into a gas station nearby). The second time was a bit more scary (and I'm pissed off about this even more, now that I'm reading everyone else's story, because I could've been in a major accident). I was driving 65 MPH down the freeway (in the 3rd lane in) when all of a sudden my car bucked (jerked back) on me. I immediately got off the freeway within 5-7 seconds (thank god I was able to), when all of a sudden it completely froze/seized/locked up on me and proceeded to skid out about 15 feet along the side of the freeway only a second or two after getting off. The more I think about it, the more I am thankful that I was able to get over so quickly or it could've been disastrous. Nevertheless, I just got it towed to the local toyota dealership, and am looking forward to what they have to say. I am printing out all the links/forums/articles that I have found about this very specific problem with this very specific year and model (with only manual transmissions have you). Not sure what they will do about (my guess is they'll say tough luck and tell me it's going to cost me $3600, and then I'll have to have it towed to another place that can do it with a rebuilt transmission for $2000), but I'm going to give it a try. It really angers me that they can allow this problem to persist and put people's lives in danger.

Filed Sep 4, 2014 · Transmission · 114,104 miles · CA

I am the original owner of a 2003 toyota corolla s with a manual transmission. In november 2011, the bearings in my transmission failed on a long trip at just over 93,000 miles. The failure in the bearings destroyed the transmission and disabled my car on the freeway. I had it towed to an auto shop where I purchased a brand new transmission from the local toyota service center. It was installed, as well as a new clutch. I reported this incident on your website previously. This last month, my transmission began to grind going into 3rd gear. I bought it in to my local mechanic and found out the transmission is failing. It will either need to be rebuilt or replaced. The transmission is not even 3 years old and has just about 21,000 miles on it. Toyota will not warranty it. Their coverage is for one year, unlimited mileage. A new car with a new transmission is covered for 5 years/60,000 miles. There is no reason this transmission should have failed. I take excellent care of my car and had hoped to drive it for 20+ years. I have had routine service performed on it and mostly drive my car on long trips as I ride to work most days. A simple google search shows that these issues I have had with my car are very common for my model car with a manual transmission. Toyota will not do anything about it simply because the overwhelming majority of cars they sell in the us are automatics so issues with manuals can be ignored. They need to be held accountable for producing a transmission that can't even hold up to an industry standard warranty. Transmission failures are dangerous is it is unacceptable that toyota continues to get away with not coming up with a repair that prevents this from happening.

Filed Sep 19, 2013 · Transmission · 121,900 miles · OR

The c-59 five speed manual transmissions in the 2003 corolla model year, both corolla and matrix, are known to be prone to early bearing failure, due apparently to a faulty batch of bearings. I was driving on a freeway when I first heard bearing noise from my transmission. I took it to a transmission shop that confirmed the noise was from one or more bearings in the transmission and offered me a choice of replacing just the bearings, a full transmission rebuild, or a new transmission. Should the bearing have failed on the highway and blown up my transmission, I could easily have lost control of the vehicle resulting in a nasty accident. Toyota refuses to do a recall, but there are dozens if not hundreds of anecdotal reports of this exact scenario scattered online. The earliest symptoms are a grinding or whirring noise coming from the transmission (or more generally, from the engine compartment). If the faulty bearings are not replaced, they will eventually grenade (shatter and act as shrapnel, destroying your transmission) and you'll need a new transmission. My vehicle has been maintained by toyota dealers for its entire life, save a single oil change while on a road trip. There is no reason a manual transmission should fail this early in its life. I've never raced it or abused it any way.

Filed Aug 18, 2013 · Transmission · 91,000 miles · IL

At just over 91000 miles my very well maintained 2003 corolla with a manual transmission had a complete transmission failure at highway speeds. While accelerating the transmission suddenly made a loud grinding noise followed by a "thud" and completely locked up on me. I ended up stuck on a busy highway with my two young boys in the back seat. In researching this problem I have found that it is a well documented occurrence with this specific year and model of toyota corolla. Ultimately I will be putting in a new transmission in from a different model of toyota and trading the car in with the hope that this will not happen to the next owner.

Filed Oct 20, 2012 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · FL

Vehicle began making a grinding or chatter type noise when in any gear. Took the vehicle to private mechanic and found the issue to be the transmission. While looking for replacement transmission found a site where many other 2003 toyota corolla owners with manual transmission were having the same issues. All have had to have the transmissions replaced. This does not eliminate the issue as the replacement transmissions seem to be having the same problems.

Filed Oct 20, 2012 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · FL

Vehicle began making a grinding, chatter type noise. I took the vehicle to a private mechanic and found that the transmission has to be replaced. In looking for replacement transmission I found several complaints for the exact same issue. Many have had the transmission replaced only to have the issue resurface with the new/refurbished transmission. This would seem like a manufacturing flaw and could be very problematic if the car will no longer shift into gear, as several complaints have noted.

Filed Jun 19, 2012 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · CA

I was driving and heard loud noise. Pull into a gas station and called husband. When he got to me he tried to put car in reverse and it just made a grinding noise. It wouldn't do anything. I had the transmission rebuilt. Now just 3 years later june 4, 2012 I was driving and heard same noise. I got home turned off car and when tried to put car in reverse it just made a grinding noise and wouldn't move.

Filed Mar 13, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 191,000 miles · NJ

I was driving home from work when the transmission locked up. I pulled over turned the car off and back on. I managed to put the car in first gear and make it back home even though the transmission was making this loud grinding noise. I brought the car for repair and they tell me I need a new transmission. Just 6 weeks ago I had the clutch replaced. After investigating this issue I have learned this is a very common problem. Something must be done about this.

Filed Jan 15, 2012 · Transmission · 87,000 miles · PA

2003 corolla s & manual transmission with under 90k miles. Driving at approximately 25 MPH in third gear. Car began making a grinding noise and the car stopped completely in the middle of a busy 3 lane street nearly causing an accident. It was still running, but couldn't get it to drive. Almost felt as if something was holding it back or stuck under the car. Had to manually move car to the side of the road. Car has not been officially diagnosed yet, but all indications point to the transmission. This seems to be a common theme with this year, make & model.

Filed Dec 11, 2010 · Transmission · 126,000 miles · OH

I purchased this car used in 2006 with 76,000 mostly highway miles on it. I trusted the reputation of toyota and thought I got a good deal on a dependable car that would last me until at least 200,000 miles with regular maintenance. This car currently has 126,000 miles on it. Last friday, after getting off the highway, I noticed the gears/transmission running a little louder than usual. During the next 7 residential miles home, the gears/transmission continued to sound louder and more grinding in nature. By the time I arrived home, the car would not go into reverse. I took it to the dealership the next morning and learned that the transmission had failed and I would need a new one. After a little online research, I read that more than a few people had replaced with rebuilt transmissions only to have the rebuilt one fail. I chose to purchase a new transmission (at least it's under warranty for 3 years/36,000 miles) along with a new clutch and other accessories to the tune of $3,500. When I asked how my dependable little toyota could possibly have a transmission failure, the service man told me something about the clutch beginning to show some wear, causing some parts (bearings?) to get into the transmission and wreak havoc. All I know is that I no longer associate toyota with dependability.

Filed Dec 3, 2010 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · MA

2003 toyota corolla le with only 120,000 miles needs new manual transmission at the cost of $3800 for a rebuilt transmission. Car was making loud grinding noise when shifting and having convulsions which forced us to get off the highway and onto the emergency lane. There were no previous "warning signs" this was going to happen. All warranty maintenance has been kept up to date on this vehicle at the right time. Toyota needs to issue a recall on these transmissions since they now seem to be more and more a common problem amongst this particular model year corolla.

Filed Sep 29, 2008 · Engine · 80,000 miles · RI

I recently traded in a ford explorer on a 2003 toyota corolla.. 2 weeks after I bought the car the tensioner started to squeal and got worse progressively. At first I thought the belt was worn and got a new one,went to replace it and found that the bolt that holds the tensioner had snapped off due to the poor design of it. I was just notified by toyota that I had to buy the new(correctly )designed tensioner at an additional cost to me of $180.00 plus the labor to do it which involves unbolting the motor mounts and jacking the engine up!I am a contractor and if I do something wrong or something the customer doesn't like I eat the cost. Shouldn't toyota's bad design be paid for by toyota. I was going to trade in my ford truck on a new toyota truck but after this little experience I think I will stick with ford.