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CarComplaints.com Notes: Beware of the NHTSA complaint data for the 2008 Corolla. It is almost certainly misleading.

The problem with NHTSA data for the 2008 Corolla is that for months on end, the news media repeatedly told the public that several Toyota models have an unintended acceleration defect, & to go to safercar.gov (the NHTSA's website) to file a complaint.

So, the NHTSA received a disproportionate number of complaints about Toyota unintended acceleration issues because of the national news media attention, to the point where now the NHTSA data is unreliable taken in context with any other vehicle that did not receive national news attention.

CarComplaints.com typically receives more complaints per day about vehicles than the NHTSA does, but the news media did not repeatedly say "go to CarComplaints.com to report your Toyota acceleration problems" like they did about the NHTSA -- so although we have less complaint data than the NHTSA for the 2008 Corolla, our data for the Corolla is a far more statistically accurate representation of the Corolla's reliability than what the NHTSA data shows.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,600 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Toyota Corolla seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2008 Toyota Corolla Owner Comments

problem #5

Jun 052020

Corolla

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Seatbelt didn't tighten up initially during a wreck causing more extensive injury. Then tightened up snatching passenger into seat from midair causing additional damage. Vehicle was going straight and was hit by a car who ran a left turn arrow on a city street. Wreck was under 50mph but passenger had extensive damage due to seatbelt malfunction..

- Leesburg, GA, USA

problem #4

Jan 052015

Corolla 4-cyl

  • miles
I purchased my car as the first owner in 2008 paid cash. Within a few years an engine light came on and they said it was the transmission. I kept up with all maintenance. I had purchased an extended warranty of which was still valid and because the dealership could not find what was exactly wrong - my warranty would not cover no replace and I was charged over $1500. I took this to bueru of automotive and they ruled in my favor so now I will be suing your company for monies owed on top of other things due to the company not being willing to give me my money back or fixing my vehicle. I have been a loyal driver of Toyota vehicles forever and a transmission should never go out in first 5 years - my car is still on the road but does not go backward - so there is something obviously wrong with this model amongst other things. The dealership manage to break my hood and the stick of which you put your car into drive with. I don't know if it is just clovis Toyota or what - but I am truly disappointed as to you how your company has handled my situation. Not only has your company robbed my family of a christmas, hard earned money as a single parent but also put us in danger. My air bags are bad as well and I never received notification and when I put my VIN in way back when- it said nothing was wrong. Ridiculous. My car is just a mess and unfortunately - I love my car. It has been most faithful and god is good to me and my family - but your company has not!

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 212013

Corolla 4-cyl

  • miles
2008 Toyota Corolla le, driven by 5'2" female, approximately 125-130 lbs. Vehicle was involved in a driver's side, offset, frontal impact crash while traveling at ~30 mph. Other vehicle made left turn in front of the Corolla. The driver's airbag deployed. The driver's side airbag did not deploy. The driver was wearing her seat belt, which locked on impact. The driver sustained a flexion-distraction fracture of her cervical spine and is now quadriplegic. The vehicle was totaled and not repaired.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #2

Jan 082013

Corolla

  • 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, she was involved in a head on collision and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact mentioned that the seat belt failed to retract causing her to go slide forward and hit her head on the steering wheel. A police report was filed. The contact sustained minor bruises. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure and deemed the vehicle destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 37,000.

- Madison , MS, USA

problem #1

Dec 172009

Corolla

  • 31,000 miles
Had a car accident. My 08 Toyota Corolla flipped and spun. The airbags did not deploy. The seatbelt latch got broken.

- Niles, IL, USA

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