Purchased car new on 10/4/02. Within a month noticed a very significant sulfar odor expecially when coming to a stop at traffic lights particularly when the engine is cold. I have taken it to the dealer twice and they tell me that nothing is wrong. Their explanation is that some gas stations put additives in their gas that create this odor.. They have done nothing further to solve this problem.
2003 Toyota Corolla engine complaints
Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 108, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Rotten egg smell- poor gas mileage (29 mpg- mostly highway/interstate) we have a problem with a rotten egg smell. We have complained and were told the following: 1) there's nothing wrong- it operating correctly. 2) you're running the wrong type of gas (we've tried all types) 3) you need to run the car on recirculation all the time so that you won't smell it.
Bad smell inside and outside of car when running engine
I also have noticed an intermitent odor of sulfur in my 2003 corolla.
My 2003 toyota corolla emits an overpowering sulphur smell when I come to a stop. The smell enters the passenger cabin and lingers for 10 to 15 minutes. This is an on going problem. My car has only 13,000 miles on it.
In november 2002, I purchased a toyota corolla 2003. When the heat is on, the car emits a nauseating rotten egg smell through the vents. I brought the corolla into a toyota dealer to have this problem fixed. Immediately, the toyota representative handed me a memo explaining that this "rotten egg" smell (as they also referred to it) can occur from low-octane brands and that it had nothing to do with the car itself. This advice contradicted what the salesman told me when I purchased the car -- that I could use 87 octane gasoline. I assume that this is a common problem since they had a memo ready for corolla owners with this specific complaint. However, for several months I have been pumping 89-93 octane gasoline into my car with no luck -- the smell still exists.
Consumer stated while driving at any speed smelled strong chemical fumes. Dealer inspected vehicle and could not duplicate or correct the problem.
While driving the vehicle the driver would smell a rotten egg smell. The dealership has been contacted. *nlm both of the consumer toyota corollas exhibited a rotten egg/fuel smell. The smell caused the consumer to feel nauseated while driving. The consumer believes the problem is with the catalytic converter. The consumer went through arbitration but was denied her request for the manufacturer to replace or repurchase the vehicle. (second vehicle's VIN- [xxx] - purchased 5-27-03). *nlm information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Have noticed a strong sulfur/rotten egg smell from the exhaust that enters the inside of the car. I took it to the dealer and was told to change my brand of gas. No changes have been noticed.
Car emits a rotten egg smell while at idle when heater is on.
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.
The gas used in the state consumer lived in caused vehicle to accumulate sulfur. While driving consumer smelled sulfur. Which indicated that exhaust was entering the vehicle. Manufacturer indicated that this problem was caused by the exhaust getting caught underneath the vehicle. Although the manufacturer/ dealership were aware of this issue a remedy has not been found. There was a tsb on on this issue, not found in artemis.
Consumer noticed a rotten egg smell inside vehicle while traveling . Dealer had been contacted, technician said it was a gasoline problem.
Purchased 2003 toyota corolla in october 2002. Car is emitting a very noticeable sulfur odor especially when coming to a stop at traffic lights particularly when the engine is cold. I have taken it to the dealer twice and was told the problem is the gasoline I purchase. According to my dealer, some gas stations put an additive in the gas that creates this smell. I have never had this problem with any other car.
We are continuously experiencing problems with our toyota corolla (2003) creating a "rotten egg" smell. We have complained multiple times to toyota, including filing a complaint with their national headquarters. We have been told 1)the smell is normal, 2) we're using the wrong type of gas (we have tried all kinds) and 3) we need to run the car with the air recirculating at all times. We also do not get the gas mileage as expected. We are generally getting 29 mpg with mostly interstate driving. The two may be related. This started last fall shortly after purchase. The purchase date is listed below.
My wife purchased a 2003 toyota corolla. She purchased it because of its implied economy. But despite the owner's manual claims that the car can use 1987 octane or higher, such is not the case. In two words, rotten eggs. In two other words, hydrogen sulfide.as we decelerate for any reason, if the windows are open, or if the ventilation system is set to intake outside air, the odor of rotten eggs is overpowering. (note that if the airflow pattern control is turned to either partial or total windshield defrost, the control will automatically enforce fresh, outside air intake.) when I took it to the dealer, the service manager didn't bat an eyelash. Just opened a drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper which states that tmc assumes no responsibility for the problem, and will do nothing to remedy it. The paper further suggests that I should change brands of gasoline (we had already tried that) or change to a higher grade of gasoline. The dealer refused to write up the problem on a report. Searching the web, I tripped into an edmunds.com web site. Specifically - http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/[email protected]@.ef0a161!make=toyota&model=all&ed_makeindex=.ef0a161 - which will get you into a discussion. (to follow the path from their home page, choose the car discussions tab, then toyota > corolla > corolla & matrix problems.) y' gotta read the moaning on this very subject. Search this discussion (bottom of the page) for rotten egg or hydrogen to bring them up. Please help!! This should not be happening. My '88 corolla uses the same 87 octane fuels, from the same brands (that we've tried on the '03 corolla) and does not have this problem. Consumers deserve a better product than this. My son's '02 honda civic doesn't seem to have this problem. Why should we - and our fellow road users behind us and to the sides of us - be forced to tolerate this deplorable stench?
This complaint regards the terrible smell emitted by my 2003 toyota corolla. The very strong smell fills the entire car, and often lasts several minutes. I do not know if the smell is harmful or not, but there should be something that toyota can do to fix the problem.
Rotten egg smell when idling.
While traveling on the highway and without prior warning. There was loud knocking noise coming from underneath the vehicle.
Consumer states while driving at any speed smelled strong chemical fumes in the passenger compartment. Dealer has been notified.
In our 2003 toyota corolla, exhast fumes with a sulfurous smell often vent into the passenger compartment. Toyota claims that this is a problem with the gasoline, not the exhaust system. In other words, when the car is functioning properly, it is supposed to draw exhaust into the interior of the car, it is just not supposed to be noticeable. The national center for dispute settlement agrees.
Strong sulfur smell while driving car. Has been present since I bought the car almost one year ago this august. Dealer said had to do with additives in gasoline and should stop, but hasn't stopped. Especially strong in the mornings after car has sat over night.
Bad rotten egg smell ever since I purchased my 2003 toyota corolla. I have contacted toyota and they say it's my gas, but I've had two other toyota's that have never done this and I've used the same gas in them. This is getting on my nerves that I purchased a new car and have to continually smell this odor and they won't do anything about it.
After I had begun driving my 2003 corolla I smelled a terrible odor in the car. This continued (and still does) but, I was able to identify the odor...eggs/sulfur. It only begins to fade after a few miles. It occurs every time I drive. I notified toyota who referred me to the dealership. Koons said it's a known issue, but nothing can be done. Something to do with emissions. I drove a 2003 highlander and did not experience this. Also, an awful draft comes through the driver's side control (power windows/locks) panel. I've also noticed a sudden surge when stopped at a light. Thanks
My 2003 corolla has a rotten egg smell, especially when I am stopped, and it has been going on since I got the car. The dealer said to change gas and it would probably wear off, but it hasn't and I have been reading on the internet that other people are complaining about this, so I'm not the only one. Also, when I am stopped, sometimes the corolla will surge forward. I read where someone else is having the same problem about this, too. I am ready to trade this car because I didn't buy a brand new car to smell this continually. It is very disturbing and may be unsafe smelling the emissions from this.
Twice while driving the car has suddenly dropped out of overdrive while coasting on flat road or going down a slight hill. In addition, the engine makes an unusual and very loud 'tingy' or high pitched reving noise when accelerating, which disappears when at cruising speed. The first incident occured about 2 weeks ago and was followed by the inability to go above 15 MPH. This persisted despite pressing the accelerator fully to the floor. The only way to stop this was to pull over and restart the car. The most recent incitent only involved dropping out of overdrive. Dealership has been contacted and has tried to find problem with no success. Manufacturer will be contacted.
Strong sulfur odor enters vehicle, presumably exhaust gases.
Sulfur like smell enters the car while running, especially evident in wet weather. Garage says toyota has sent out a technical advisory stating the gasoline is the problem. Have not had a problem with any of the other vehicles I drive. I believe the issue may well be the placement of the fresh air intake in relation to the exhaust system (?). It tends to make one have headaches while driving. This has been ongoing for at least 4-5 months. 2003 toyota corolla, new.
There is a very foul sulfur smell that regularly enters the inside of my vehicle.
There was a sulfur smell inside the vehicle.
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