2007 Toyota Corolla: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 24, 2015 · Electrical · 153,800 miles · FL · fire

I had my vehicle in idle and retracted my drivers side power windows down to pull my nephew into my lap to say goodbye to him. At this time about 5 minutes after starting my car the window panel, as well as below the door panel towards the speaker a heavy smell of burning plastic spread around the car and white smoke started billowing out through the slit the window glass retracts back into. At this time I shut the car off and waited until the toxic smoke had escaped. This issue with the master switch has been reported by toyota for 2009 corollas only. This could have posed a serious health risk had it gone unnoticed. After doing the diagnostic, it was found that it was in fact a faulty switch that probably "got wet". If a car is catching on fire after a simple florida rain shower, that is not the consumer's fault. Faulty manufacturing is the case here. Waiting on toyota corporate response or will seek prompt legal action.

Filed Aug 25, 2014 · Body · 80,000 miles · CA · crash

I was pulling into my parking spot at about 2 to 3 miles per hour as I was stepping on the brake pedal the car accelerated as if someone had push the gas pedal with 1000lbs of force. The car literally flew over the curve onto some bushes over the sidewalk sideswiped a light poll and onto the street the car slowed down when I was on the street. During this whole time my foot was on the brake pedal all the way down but the car would not stop, there are skid marks that show that and when I stopped my brakes where smoking and there was a very strong smell of burning brakes. Please advise me on what to do because I do not want to drive this car anymore, I am very scared.

Filed Aug 23, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · IL · fire

A fire started from underneath the car and came up through the back seat. Entire car engulfed in flames in seconds except for front hood area and engine. Faulty fuel line?

Filed Jul 19, 2013 · Engine · 74,000 miles · NJ

Dear officer, I bought this car (toyota corolla 2007) in dec 2012 from a private party. The car was totally running fine. I have been changing the oil every 3 months. Last month, I started noticing white smoke coming out from the rear exhaust pipe and the toyota dealer said it would be o2 sensor and changed it (charged $400). I started noticing white smoke again and this time they said there is a oil leakage and fixed it (charged $450). They also told me that the whole bottom part of the engine is full of oil sludge and that would take $4000 to fix. I bought this car for only 8500$ kindly investigate and let me know if this is a known problem in toyota corolla. I am sure there are lot of consumers like me might be running into this problem. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 13, 2012 · Fuel system · 53,138 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota corolla. The contact stated that the strap that held the heat shield and the fuel tank fractured. The fuel tank and heat shield were attached to the vehicle by a very small portion of the strap. The contact was concerned that the vehicle would possibly catch on fire or explode if driven over a massive road bump. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to determine if the failure was caused by a manufacturing defect. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who filed a complaint. The failure and current mileage was 53,138.

Filed Jun 29, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · CA · fire

I was driving uphill on a one-way street in downtown when I saw and heard the sparks about 1 minute apart from each other on the front left side between the crack of the hood, the car lost power and turned off. I started it again, and it only moved about two feet and turned off. The car started to roll back, and the steering wheel locked making it impossible to steer. An unknown driver who was in front of us was merging to park to the right told us to get off because the car was on fire, next the smoke was visible. It began to smell like burned plastic, and then we saw the thick grey smoke coming through the crack of the hood. I pulled the hand emergency brake to stop the car from rolling back down any further. I opened the hood we all got out of the car. I went back inside the car to unhooked the harness off my dog. I was so scared that I couldn't release my dog, and my son's girlfriend helped me, and we got my dog out. My son, his girlfriend and I got the super-size large drink we just bought at mcdonald's and dumped on the fire with the help of the unknown man who got a bucket of some liquid possibly water from the hotel next to us, and the fire was out. I was so terrifying of how rapid my car caught on fire and how fast everything happening. My car was well maintained by toyota regularly, and the mechanic told us that there is no known reason why the fire started. Toyota has replaced the defected computer twice, the transmission once, I had two electrical problems in the past, and I do not feel safe in a car with so many manufacturers defective parts. Unexplainable fire, is the response I got from the insurance and repair shop which does not make me feel safe to drive a car that could caught fire at any time.

Filed Feb 11, 2010 · Fuel system · 39,000 miles · TX · fire

On july 29, 2008 I went to get into my 2007 toyota corolla and smelled gas. I crouched down to look under the car and noticed a gas leak coming from the gas line under the gas tank. I got up to walk into the garage and when I closed the car door, the car exploded into flames. The explosion pushed me into the garage and I was able to get the garage door closed. The car was a total loss. After looking at other 2007 toyota corolla's it seems there is a defect in the fuel line under the car. The fuel line is the same consistency as a radiator hose and is the lowest hanging structure under the car, with an area that is not protected and could very well get punctured by normal road conditions causing a gas leak in the fuel line which is very dangerous, obviously, since ours exploded into flames and burned so hot that it melted the top of the engine. Toyota maintained no blame in this and did nothing to correct the problem.

Filed Feb 2, 2010 · Engine · 14,200 miles · NJ · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 toyota corolla le. While driving at speeds of less than 25 MPH the vehicle stalled and the driver was able to restart the vehicle and drive home safely. The next day, the vehicle stalled again. Within 20 minutes, he was able to restart the vehicle and drive home. Within minutes, he was notified by the fire department that the vehicle was on fire. The front end of the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire; however, the vehicle was destroyed. The contact was unable to speak with toyota of america. The failure and current mileages were under 14,200.

Filed Jun 24, 2009 · Fuel system · 22,000 miles · OH · fire

My husband and I just dropped our two kids off at my mother-in-laws house and were on our way back home when I started to smell gas. I told my husband and he stated to pull the car over and he would check it out. He popped the hood and flames shot out from under the hood. The first thing that I thought was my husband was on fire. I jumped out of the car and found my husband on the other side of the car looking for the kids in the backseat and he was screaming get out of the car. I jumped out of the car and we ran. We looked back and all I saw was a big ball of fire. When the fired department put out the flames all that was left of my car was a burnt frame, the 2 back tires and the spoiler. My husband and I are really upset by this situation. What if our five months old and nine year old was in the car at the time? What if my husband was burnt severely by the fire? What would happen to the children if both of us died in the fire?

Filed Dec 28, 2007 · Fuel system · 26,071 miles · PA

1- an undetectable event caused a small hole in the fuel line of a toyota corolla. The air in the garage where the car was parked overnight was permeated with the odor of gasoline, and introduced the real possibility of an explosion. 2- the failure is a weakness in the strength and durability of the fuel line of toyota corollas. The fuel line had a small puncture and filled the confined area with gasoline vapor. 3 - toyota required a replacement of the fuel line and gas tank, claiming that a rodent chewed through the fuel line. The new gas tank has the same design flaws and weaknesses as the old gas tank and can easily be punctured. Fuel line problems have happened in more than one toyota corolla that the company has owned; one of which burst into flames. (these are to be the subjects of separate complaints.) that a rodent (or any other insignificant cause) may damage a fuel line in this way is a serious weakness that presents a clear danger to anyone owning and driving this car. Toyota customer service refused to acknowledge or escalate this as a problem to management. The toyota dealer also refused to recognize this fire hazard as a problem and communicated that it should be accepted as normal. The damaged plastic fuel line is available.

Filed Dec 27, 2007 · Fuel system · 14,000 miles · PA

1- an undetectable event caused a small hole in the fuel line of a toyota corolla. The air in the garage where the car was parked overnight was permeated with the odor of gasoline, and introduced the real possibility of an explosion. 2- the failure is a weakness in the strength and durability of the fuel line of toyota corollas. The fuel line had a small puncture and filled the confined area with gasoline vapor. 3 - toyota required a replacement of the fuel line and gas tank, claiming that a rodent chewed through the fuel line. The new gas tank has the same design flaws and weaknesses as the old gas tank and can easily be punctured. Fuel line problems have happened in more than one toyota corolla that the company has owned; one of which burst into flames. (these are to be the subjects of separate complaints.) that a rodent (or any other insignificant cause) may damage a fuel line in this way is a serious weakness that presents a clear danger to anyone owning and driving this car. Toyota customer service refused to acknowledge or escalate this as a problem to management. The toyota dealer also refused to recognize this fire hazard as a problem and communicated that it should be accepted as normal. The old part is currently available.