2003 Toyota Corolla: complete transmission failure

Filed Feb 24, 2018 · Airbags, Driver assistance · 295,000 miles · CA · crash · 3 injuries

Takata recall I have submitted papers of numerous accidents and also engine and transmission failures my vehicle has given me. When I first obtained it, it had no struts nor do my air bags deploy when I get into vehicular accidents. I am unable to go to a dealership and get my vehicle checked but because it's non operating at the moment. I do however have open availability for a car inspection at my home if you guys were to send someone to come take a look at it.

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 Dec 22, 2014 · Transmission · 16,000 miles · MD · crash

I was stopped at a red light. When it turned green I started to accelerate and turn the transmission blew. Subsequently, I was read ended. I started to do research and found that the 2003 toyota corolla has excessive transmission issues.

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 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 18, 2012 · Transmission · 106,072 miles · AZ

While driving on the freeway, there was a sudden loud whine and loss of power. Since I was in the middle of nowhere, I continued down the road until I got to a service station. There, I checked all fluids, which were fine; I then continued on my way to an appointment with an eye specialist I had, and at that time I noticed the clutch was difficult to use. Once I had the appointment with the specialist, I had the car towed to the nearest auto transmission service center, where I had to have a new transmission, clutch, and axle put on my car for over $4,000 because they said "no one rebuilds toyota transmissions". I am a 60-year-old woman who always takes the car for regular oil changes, and had a pre-trip car check just 6 weeks before that by a very reliable, honest mechanic. I stay close to home, and only took this trip because I had to see an eye specialist. This car has only 106,000 miles on it!

Filed Nov 18, 2011 · Transmission · 92,000 miles · CA

I was driving on the freeway at about 60mph when the transmission failed. It felt like there was something stuck under the wheels of my car. I was able to pull off the road safely. It wouldn't go into any gear after that, but luckily, I was in neutral so it could be towed. The shop I took it to said this is a very common problem for the 2003 corollas with the 5-speed manual transmission. It cost me $3,700 for a new transmission (and labor) from toyota, which will most likely end up with the same failure. I am the original owner and my car has 92,000 miles on it. I have kept up on all the maintenance; there is no reason this should have happened. I have mailed a complaint to toyota corporation and am awaiting a response. This vehicle is unsafe for the road and should be recalled.

Filed Oct 12, 2011 · Transmission · 123,410 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota corolla. The contact stated that the driver was traveling approximately 55 MPH when the vehicle would no longer shift gears. The vehicle was maneuvered to the shoulder and shut off. The vehicle was then towed to an independent repair shop where the driver was informed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 123,410.

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 Apr 14, 2010 · Acceleration · 110,000 miles · NY · crash · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota corolla. While driving at speeds of 45 MPH, the cruise control light illuminated. She was unable to deactivate the cruise control since the rpms began increasing excessively. The vehicle abnormally accelerated and would not stop despite her attempts to apply the brakes. The contact was able to shift into neutral gear and continue to apply the brakes. There was smoke present in the vehicle as it began to decrease in speed to 15 MPH. Since the contact was unable to stop the vehicle, she then jumped from the drivers side as the vehicle proceeded and plowed into a snow bank before stopping. The vehicle sustained substantial body damage. The dealer stated that the transmission was destroyed due to her shifting into neutral gear from the park position. The transmission was replaced and a representative from toyota was scheduled to further investigate the failure. The investigator could find no failures within the vehicle speed control. There were no repairs made to the body of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000 and the current mileage was approximately 118,000.