2003 Toyota Corolla: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Jan 4, 2018 · Engine · 177,000 miles · CA

I was driving at a track event and my engine started to knock, my oil pressure light came on. I drove it back to my parking spot, loaded it on a friends trailer and got it home. I checked and topped off my oil before leaving but we found out it was due to oil starvation.

Filed Oct 19, 2014 · Engine · 105,000 miles · MO

I was driving to go to school and I noticed my engine making a loud knocking sound. I took it to a mechanic and they told me that the engine is burning oil due a ring or rings torn up. One mechanics mentioned that he has had several corollas 2003 coming with the same problem and now I am stuck with a car that burns a lot of oil and the engine is in critical condition.

Filed Jun 20, 2014 · Airbags · 153,000 miles · MN

Toyota is not acting timely to fix the problem with air bag inflator module. It indicates now that it may be 18 months or longer from first notification, which was april 2013 where vehicles were to be inspected and fixed if equipped with affected module. Takata gave wrong serial numbers on the faulty module so vehicles fixed and/or not fixed or inspected need to be recalled as of june 11, 2014. I attempted to have mine fixed august 2014, however toyota service still didn't have the replacement parts. My daughter took car to college but no service dealer was available there. I just learned of this 2nd recall when my local toyota dealership cancelled the appointment I had for today (6/20/14) to have the first recall fixed. I am told that they need to redesign the part and will be replacing it in all vehicles affected, including those who received a replacement part under first recall. No redesign has been done, nor to they know when it will be done, likely more months! In interim I have a ticking time bomb being driven be a teen driver more prone to accidents. I do not want an safety device in car to cause serious injury! Toyota has had 15 months to fix this. It now halts the repair of affected vehicles indefinitely without any solution or remedy?! Yet are willing to fix vehicle where a airbag light is on? How? I was told by toyota corporate I could receive a loaner vehicle in the interim of this remedy and to contact my local toyota dealer. I did. They refuse to comply with this request since no light is on my dashboard. Your reports do not indicate that a light on the dashboard (10537899, 10568848, 10585224) occurred prior to incident. I live in a humid climate several months of the year another concern for owners. Toyota continues to ask about miles on vehicle, is that because they are older models and they secretly want them to die first!!!

Filed Aug 20, 2013 · Airbags · 190,000 miles · AZ

I received a recall on my airbags a few months back. I took it to dealership last week and was told that there were two parts recalled. The dealership fixed those but then told me that my airbag light will stay on because I also need a new spiral cord which is not recalled. They wanted $500.00 bucks! After reading multiple complaints for the same thing, I am outraged that people have been hurt over this issue. The airbag either won't go off when needed, or it can deploy at any given moment. As you can imagine, I am terrified to drive my car knowing that it could go off at any moment. I feel like its a ticking time bomb. I have always raved about toyota and what great cars they have and that I would never drive anything else. After calling the customer care line, I soon realized that they don't care at all. The rep was rude, and basically said that there was nothing she could do. This is a safety issue and can hurt people! I will never purchase another toyota again..and I have informed my family that if I die in an accident from this issue, that they go full force after toyota. They don't care for the owners well being. I am not the first to complain about this and won't be the last. Lets pray nothing happens to me or anyone else.

Filed Sep 20, 2010 · Acceleration · 94,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota corolla. The contact was driving 5 MPH and attempting to park when the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact was unable to control the vehicle and crashed into the cinder block wall, knocking a hole into the cinder block. The vehicle crashed into the wall with such force that is also caused a portion of the cinder block to shoot through a neighboring wood fence, fracturing the fence. The vehicle sustained moderate damages to the front end. The contact was uninjured. The vehicle was not repaired and the incident was reported to the manufacturer. The approximate failure and current mileage was 94,000.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Engine · SC

I purchased a used 2003 corolla. Vehicle came with all service records and it had been well maintained. I also checked all fluids. Mileage was 133,065 at the time I purchased it. I thought this was good because toyotas are suppose to last forever, right? A week after I bought it I noticed a knocking in the engine. I checked the oil and it was out. I have to put 3-4 quarts of oil in my car every 7-8 days. It does not leak, it burns it. The engine needs to be replaced. The emissions light stays on and I have also lost a hubcap cover. I've noticed that every other 03 corolla I pass on road is also missing at least one. After reading the complaints on here, I am very concerned and know I will never by toyota again.

Filed Feb 17, 2010 · Brakes · CA

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.

Filed Feb 16, 2009 · Engine · 43,451 miles · PA

I own a 2003 toyota corolla le. Car started to make a ticking noise for a few days prior to a complete engine failure with less than 45,000 miles.

Filed Feb 3, 2008 · Engine · 67,000 miles · TX

Purchased a used 2003 toyota corolla in 2006, which had [unknown to me] a toyota extended warranty in force. About one year later, at approximately 67,000 miles, the engine developed a "rod knock" and had to be replaced, by atkinson toyota in bryan-college station texas. Cost $6000. The dealer could not file for reimbursement for us since we were unaware of the extended warranty, and so did not file for transfer. My son was driving the car at the time, and reported simply that the low oil indicator came on and the engine started knocking. The vehicle has no warning indicators regarding oil level or life [as does gm and others], so that the 'word on the street' is that if the oil indicator comes on, your engine is already ruined. My son and I changed the oil in the vehicle, and it had only been driven about 4,000 miles since the previous oil change.

Filed Nov 8, 2003 · Engine · FL

Car making knocking noise in engine. Took car to dealership and was advised that there was sludge in the engine. I was told it was from not receiving oil changes on time. The car only has 22,456 miles, and I have had 3 oil changes. They tell me I will need a new engine. I just bought this car in march 2002. The car also has a rotten egg smell.

Filed Jul 22, 2003 · Engine · MS

While traveling on the highway and without prior warning. There was loud knocking noise coming from underneath the vehicle.