2008 Toyota Corolla: engine stalls while driving

Filed Sep 10, 2026 · Electrical · CA

The engine will lose power and shut off while driving. It will proceed to not start and strand the driver. Other models in the genera of my car had this issue with the engine control module, so Im not sure why my VIN does not have a recall. My mechanic isolated the problem to either a fuse or the ECM. I took the vehicle for a test drive and it failed again. By shutting off when driving out of nowhere this is a huge safety issue and could cause an accident. The ECM is a component that should never fail on a vehicle. Improper soldering caused this issue.

Filed Feb 17, 2017 · Engine · 82,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota corolla. While pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle shook violently and stalled. The check engine indicator illuminated. The contact waited a minute and was able to continue driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the spark plug failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

Filed Jan 2, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 37,000 miles · AZ

Stalls while driving, faulty ECM. Heavy traffic, had to push car out of traffic.

Filed Dec 13, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 1 miles · OH

My car had difficulty starting after getting the new battery last month, and a couple days ago my engine stalled as I slowed it down to stop in the busy traffic road while I was going to the dealership to get it checked. I had it towed to the nearest dealership assuming that a wrong battery was installed, but it turned out to be a bad ECM. I had to get it fixed by paying over $800. The thing is the ECM unit in my car was a replaced one in the past as the toyota recalled it. I am really scared of driving my car now because it might happen again in the future, and I wonder if toyota knows this issue that the ECM does not recognize a new battery well. I read the same story while searching for this problem.

Filed Jan 12, 2015 · Engine · 56,600 miles · NJ

While stopping at a red light on a highway, the car engine stalled and shut off.

Filed Jul 16, 2013 · Engine · 70,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota corolla. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was included and repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v384000 (engine and engine cooling). After the repair, the contact was driving approximately 10 MPH when the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred three times. The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle after waiting approximately ten minutes. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Jun 6, 2013 · Engine · 78,200 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota corolla. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the rpms increased to 1500 and the vehicle stalled. The contact was later driving 65 MPH when the vehicle stalled and engaged into limp mode. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who replaced the electronic control module and cleaned the throttle body however, the failure recurred. The charcoal canister was then replaced and the failure was corrected. The failure was not reported to the manufacturer. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 78,200. The current mileage was 78,500.

Filed Jun 3, 2013 · Engine · NC

2008 toyota corolla. Consumer writes in regards to engine control module recall notice. *smd the consumer stated he received a recall notice. However, when he arrived at the dealership, the mechanic informed him the serial number was not on the list, to have the ECM replaced. On april 26, 2013, while the consumers wife was driving, the vehicle suddenly stalled. She waited a few minutes and restarted the vehicle, then check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. When they entered the VIN number into the computer, it showed the ECM had already been replaced. The consumer stated that was incorrect, as he had the receipts and recall notice. The consumer went to another dealership and their computer system showed the same information. It was discovered the first dealer, entered the information incorrectly. The dealer stated the ECM was covered by toyota. However, the part had to ordered. The consumer finally received a call, from the dealer, that the part had arrived and had been replaced.

Filed Dec 23, 2010 · Engine · 50,000 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota corolla. The vehicle was previously repaired for the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 10v384000, engine and engine cooling. While driving approximately 65 MPH the check engine light began illuminating on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken directly to an authorized dealer because prior to being repaired under the recall the vehicle would stall moments after the check engine light began illuminating. The ECM was replaced by an authorized dealer. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 50,000.

Filed Dec 17, 2010 · Engine · 35,000 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota corolla. While driving approximately 60-65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact engaged the accelerator which caused the vehicle to decelerate. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic who stated that the vehicle should be towed to an authorized dealer. The dealer replaced the engine control module. The failure occurred three additional times. The second time the dealer reprogrammed the ECM. The third and fourth failures, the ECM was replaced by the dealer. December 2010, the check engine light illuminated and the dealer replaced a part to the computer. The contact called the manufacturer, filed a complaint and was informed that the vehicle was not included in recall 10v384000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 35,000 and the current mileage was approximately 53,000.

Filed Nov 10, 2010 · Engine · 42,000 miles · AL · crash

Tl. The contact owns a 2008 toyota corolla. The contact stated after having the vehicle repaired for the engine and engine cooling (10v384000) four months later the vehicle is stalling and shut off without any warning. The stalling caused the vehicle to crash into the rear of another vehicle. No one was injured but the vehicle suffered damages to the front end. The contact has taken the vehicle back to the dealer and the dealer is waiting for the manufacturer to give the "ok" to replace the ECM again. The contact can not duplicate the issue with the vehicle stalling. The contact stated the stalling is very sporadic. The contact stated if the manufacturer does not repair the vehicle someone will get injured. The failure mileage was 42,000. Jo

Filed Nov 8, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 58,500 miles · AZ

While driving on the highway, I noticed a clicking sound resulting from the needle on the RPM meter dropping to 0. The check engine light went on, and my engine stalled. I lost power steering and power braking, and coasted on momentum to the shoulder of the highway. I was able to restart the car, but the check engine light was still on and the engine shut off a few seconds later. I had the car towed home.