2008 Toyota Corolla: jerking or lurching

Filed Dec 3, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 50,000 miles · RI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota corolla. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the rpms increased and the vehicle lurched forward without warning. The contact depressed the brake pedal with force and the brakes responded. The failure recurred on several occasions while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Aug 25, 2010 · Engine · 40,308 miles · AR

Monday, august 23, 2010, while driving on a main highway with a hill my car stalled. My check engine light was the only thing showing in my dash. I pushed the gas pedal to the floor; the vehicle continued to slow down and I was frightened that someone would rear end me or that my car would start rolling back down the hill. Thank god no one was traveling at the legal speed of 65 MPH when this happened. I turned my vehicle back in the direction that I came from to have my husband help me look for why this happened. He said most likely it was the battery and replaced it that evening. Tuesday, august 24, 2010, late evening I parked my car in a poteau oklahoma shopping center for about an hour after driving some twenty plus miles. I returned to my car; it appeared to start ok; however, when I shifted to drive it shifted hard and the vehicle began lurching forward. The check engine light had come back on. I shifted toward park and noticed that when it reached the reverse on gear shift console the hard shift lessened but in park no harshness or lurching. I phoned my husband that it had happened again and he came with the car hauler and hauled my vehicle home. Please do not allow toyota corporation to issue only a technical service bulletin, my warranty (36,000) recently expired. I have not yet taken to service.

Filed May 7, 2010 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 5,570 miles · CA

On aug. 1, 2008 I bought a certified used 2008 toyota corolla with 5,420 miles on it from manhattan beach toyota, in manhattan beach, ca. After driving it for several weeks, I realized there was something troubling about the accelerator. Whenever I depressed the accelerator to make a standing start -- when a traffic signal turned green, for example -- the car would often lurch forward in an uncontrollable manner. I soon traced the problem to the position of my foot on the accelerator. If my foot was in just the right position -- low to midway on the pedal, with my heel closest to the floor -- I had complete control. But if I miscalculated and placed my foot ever so slightly higher on the pedal, the car would lurch forward even when I applied the same pressure. I could regain control only by quickly taking my foot off the accelerator and/or hitting the brakes. The toyota dealership that maintains my car repeatedly said I should not worry -- that as the car's computer got used to my driving habits, it would eventually adjust the action of the accelerator to my touch. But nothing changed. Now I take extra care to try and get my foot in just the right spot before accelerating from a standing start. Sometimes I am successful, other times not. In anticipation of trouble, I make it a point to leave plenty of extra space between me and the car ahead of me, so I won't rear end it if the accelerator sends me lurching forward. I have become resigned to the problem, because I am a toyota fan and like everything else about the car. I never thought to complain about this until a new york times story indicated that other toyota owners have had the same problem, and (I believe) had notified your agency. (pls ignore the dates I entered below; the problem persists to this day, but your form would not allow me to so indicate.)

Filed Apr 24, 2010 · Acceleration · 36,000 miles · VA

I was traveling less than 30 MPH and stopped at a stoplight. The moment the light turned green, my car stalled. The engine light and battery light went on. After I restarted, it drove all right for another 10 minutes. It stalled out again at another stoplight. Scared to go on the highway, I pulled into a hotel parking lot. The car made jerky vibrations and would go no faster than 10 MPH regardless of the pressure on the gas pedal. I took it to the toyota dealership, and they said the electronic control module was bad. It was still under warranty, and I was not charged for the replacement (thankfully!).

Filed Feb 3, 2010 · Acceleration, Transmission · 12,000 miles · MA

A run away full throttle engine in a 2008 toyota corolla (purchased in fall of 2007). I accidentally backed up into a tree at 2 to 3 MPH. The rear bumper of the car hit the tree squarely causing no visible damage to car. The engine of the car did not die out after the impact. Upon shifting from reverse to drive -- the car lurched full speed forward (with full acceleration) despite full application of the foot brake and no application of the accelerator. I quickly placed the car in neutral and shut off the engine to avoid running into pedestrians, building and trees. After inspecting the car for damage and any carefully placing the car in park with parking brake and foot brake engage I restarted the engine. The car has run normally since this incident which took place july of 2008.