This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that he was having problems with the catalytic converter failing and leaking oil. The catalytic converter was replaced two years ago and now it had failed again and needed to be replaced for $1200. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they reiterate that this failure needed to be replaced. There were no related recalls. The Toyota manufacturer was not called. The failure mileage was 69,000 and the current mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated while driving 35 mph. The mechanic stated that the catalytic converter was defective. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the vehicle was no longer under warranty and would not be repaired for free. The dealer did not question that the catalytic converter failed and wrote up the repair order. The current mileage was 93,450 and failure mileage was 93,400.
Sulfur odor/catalytic converter; original catalytic converter replaced by Toyota service department in Maryland at 69308 miles covered by warranty on 4/8/05. Check engine light turned on again on 5/30/07, went off by itself on 5/31/07. Took vehicle to Toyota service department in Pennsylvania on 6/4/07 for service. Catalytic converter failed again at 134939 miles. Annual inspection and emissions due by October 2007, and repair quote for the third catalytic converter was over $1200. Concerned not only about cost of the repair, but what was causing the 2003 Toyota Corolla to need another catalytic converter. Regular maintenance was performed on vehicle, and it was used mostly for errands and commuting to and from work.
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.
- Palatine, IL, USA
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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.
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 - townhall-talk.edmunds.com/webx?50@180.vn8lb6qryco.1@.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?
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.
Strong sulfur odor from exhast. Service department has said it cannot be repaired, and blames bad gas. Did say Toyota has acknowledged the problem. I have tested several brands and grades of gas with no improvements. Directly contacted Toyota, who referred me back to the dealer, who said it cannot be fixed. Said car computer is functioning normally.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Dearborn, MI, USA