2003 Toyota Corolla Body & Structure Problems

You recently purchased this 2003 Toyota Corolla and discovered a serious discrepancy with the odometer. The dashboard shows 126,000 miles, but your research indicates the car has actually traveled over 300,000 miles, suggesting the odometer may have been rolled back or tampered with.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V883000 (AIR BAGS), THE FUEL TANK COVER AND TRUNK COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION TOYOTA MALL OF GEORGIA AT 770-674-6083 (LOCATED AT 3505 BUFORD DR, BUFORD, GA 30519) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND LEFT A VOICE MESSAGE. THE DEALER HAD NOT CALLED BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,162.

CAR IS ROTTEN IN THE SPARE TIRE AREA, THOUGHT MINE WAS THE ONLY ONE BUT SEEN A LOT OF CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FLORIDA AREA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING TYPE NOISE NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,039. UPDATED 05/24/16*LJ *TR

MANY YEARS AGO I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT OF MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE FIX BY TOYOTA WAS TO INSTALL FLOOR ANCHORS TO HOLD THE FLOOR MAT IN A STABLE POSITION SO IT COULD NOT SLIDE AROUND. THE FIX WORKED FOR A FEW YEARS, THEN THE ANCHORS BROKE. I PAID TOYOTA FOR NEW ANCHORS WHICH AGAIN FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. RECENTLY, THE ANCHORS AGAIN FAILED AND I WILL AGAIN NEED NEW ANCHORS TO STABILIZE THE FLOOR MAT. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD COME UP WITH A MORE PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. UPDATED 7/20/15*CN UPDATED 11/13/15 *JS

2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PAINT FINISH ON HOOD IS DAMAGED WITH RUST. *SMD

CHROME ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES IS COMING OFF CREATING A CUT HAZARD. *TR

THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES OF THE 2003 COROLLA S HAVE CHROME PLATING THAT PEELS WITH NORMAL USE. THE PEELING CHROME IS SHARP AND HAS CAUSED LACERATION INJURY TO THOSE USING THE HANDLES. THE HANDLES NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH REQUIRES TAKING THE DOOR APART. MY REAR DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED IN 2006 AT MY EXPENSE AND NOW BOTH FRONT DOOR HANDLES NEED REPLACING IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO AVOID FURTHER INJURY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT NEED TO PAY. *TR

THE METAL ON THE DOOR HANDLES STARTED PEELING OFF. IT IS VERY SHARP AND WILL SLICE OPEN SKIN IF NOT CAREFUL. FRONT TWO DOORS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW BACK DOORS ARE STARTING TO PEEL AND ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE PLASTIC UNDERNEATH IS VERY UGLY AND CHEAP LOOKING...SO HAVE TO PAY TO BE REPLACED. *TR

BACK HATCH UNLOCKED AND FLEW OPEN ON HIGHWAY WHILE I HAD CUSTOMERS IN MY 4 RUNNER. PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO SHUT...WOULD NOT SHUT. HAVING TO DRIVE NOW WITH BACK TAILGATE TIED SHUT. EXHAUST COMES IN THROUGH BACK OF VEHICLE. HAVING REPAIRED ON 10/24 FOR A COST OF OVER $400! *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FOOTREST ON THE FLOORBOARD FRACTURED OFF. THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE PLASTIC FOOTREST WENT BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH DISABLED THE VEHICLE FROM BRAKING UNTIL THE PART COULD BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER.*AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA ON MAY 2003. DURING MAY - JUNE 2005 I NOTICED SEVERAL AIR BUBBLES (1.5" DIAMETER) ON THREE DOOR PANELS SKIN FROM INSIDE. THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR EXPIRED JUST ONE MONTH BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED - ON MAY 11 2004 THE CAR HAD ONLY 33000 + MILES. I CONTACTED AND SHOWED THE CAR TO BRIAN MURRAY. HE PROMISED THAT HE WILL TALK TO TOYOTA AND CALL ME BACK. HE NEVER CALLED BACK, SO I CALLED HIM AFTER ONE WEEK, HE PROMISED THE SAME THING AND NEVER CALLED BACK. I THREATENED THE DEALERSHIP OF GOING ON THE INTERNET WITH THE ISSUE. SERVICE MANAGER - CHRIS BROWN - WROTE ON 29TH AND MENTIONED THAT BRIAN CALLED MY CELL PHONE AND LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES (WHICH IS A FLAT OUT A LIE, I CAN PROVE THAT NO ONE CALLED FROM THE DEALERSHIP THROUGH MY CELL PHONE USAGE RECORDS) AND ASKED ME TO COME BACK TO SHOW THE CAR ONCE AGAIN. I REQUESTED HIM TO TALK TO BRIAN AS HE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THAT WOULD SAVE TIME FOR ALL INVOLVED. UNTIL THIS DATE HE HAS NEITHER CALLED NOR REPLIED TO ANY OF MY SUBSEQUENT EMAILS. I BELIEVE THAT AS THE AIR BUBBLES APPEARED JUST IN THREE YEARS TIME WITH ONLY 33000 + MILES ON CAR IT IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND COMPANY / DEALERSHIP SHOULD HELP CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. I ALSO FEEL THAT AS A LOYAL CUSTOMER FOR OVER THREE YEARS, I WAS ILL TREATED: NO RESPONSE, LIES THAT THEY CALLED WHEN THEY DID NOT, AND NO RESPONSE TO MY REPEATED EMAILS. SEE MY RECENT EMAIL TO THEM - MON, 12 SEP 2005 10:54:37 -0700 (PDT) FROM: "SUDHAKAR LAHADE" ADD TO ADDRESS BOOK TO: "BROWN, CHRIS" , BMURRAY@GROUP1ATLANTA.COM MR. CHRIS BROWN, IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE YOUR LAST EMAIL AND MORE THAN THREE WEEKS SINCE I WROTE THE FIRST TIME, MORE THAN 50 DAYS SINCE I SHOWED MY CAR AT YOUR DEALERSHIP, AND I AM STILL WHERE I WAS ON THE ISSUE. IN YOUR LAST EMAIL (THE ONLY) YOU MENTIONED "I LOOK FORWARD TO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE FOR YOU" AND I BELIEVED YOU MEANT IT. I HOPE YOU REALIZE THE FRUSTRATIONS!*JB

PAINT BUBBLED AND PEELING ALL OVER CAR. *JB

ON SEPT. 10TH, 2004 MY SON TRIED CLOSING MY TRUNK ON MY COROLLA LE AND THE PLASTIC MECHANISM BROKE AND PREVENTED THE TRUNK LID FROM LOCKING. HE REPORTS THAT HE DID NO MORE THAN TO TRY TO CLOSE THE TRUNK AFTER OPENING IT. THIS SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THOSE INCIDENTS WHERE THERE IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM AND MOST OWNERS FEEL THEY ARE THE CULPRET OF ITS' MALFUNCTION. I HAD ONE OF THOSE COROLLA'S THAT HAD A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE TOYOTA AGENCY AFTER 1 1/2 YEARS REPLACED IT FREE AFTER SMELLING LIKE ROTTEN EGGS FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME. I WAS TOLD ORIGINALLY BY THE SERVICE DEPT., IT WAS THE GAS I PUT INTO IT, OR THAT IT WOULD TKAE LONGER THEN NORMAL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BREAK IN. FINALLY, IT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF SO MANY REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS WHO SUFFERED FROM THE SAME SMELL. I WONDER IF THIS IS THE SAME ABOUT THE TRUNK LID MECHANISM?*AK

I HAVE PURCHASED THE NEW COROLLA 2003 ON AUGUST 2002,ONLY SEVEN MILES AT THE DELIVERY TIME. AND I HAVE FOUND WATER INSIDE THE CAR (WET RIGHT REAR CARPET) AFTER THE HEAVY RAIN TWICE. THE FIRST TIME HAD HAPPEN ON JUNE 2003, THE FAWLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD REPLACED BODY SEAL AND DOOR SEAL. THE SECOND TIME ON JUNE, 28TH 2004, THE JOHN EAGLE SPORT CITY SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD FOUND THAT WATER WAS LEAKED INSIDE THE CAR THROUGH THE SEAL OF REAR WINDOW. IT IS NOT RIGHT BECAUSE WITH IN TWO YEARS AND AT THE 24000 MILES THE SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACE AT SEVERAL PARTS. IS IT THE DEFECTED PARTS OR CARS BECAUSE THE BODY OF THE COROLLA HAD JUST REDESIGN FOR THIS MODEL. *LA

INTERIOR NOISE, RIGHT FRONT DOOR AND DASHBOARD NOISE, RADIO/CD PANEL NOISE, SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED AND REFIXED BUT NOISE IS NOT GONE YET. EVERYTIME I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TELL ME THAT NOISE CAN'T BE DUPLICATED. AS A RESULT I USUALLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH SOMEONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO PROVE THAT NOISE IS THERE. IN MY OPINION SOME INTERIOR PARTS DO NOT FIT CAR'S STRUCTURE. AND SO MANY TIMES I TOOK TO DELERSHIP AND THEY SAID TI SI FIXED AND AFTER CERTAIN TIME IT WILL COME AGAIN.I EVEN TRIED TO GIVE MY CAR BACK AND THE ARBITRATOR SAID I HAVE LESS ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE. *AK

CONSUMER DISCOVERED A WATER LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. *PH WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, WHICH WAS A 2004 COROLLA, SHE DISCOVERED MOLDING AT THE BASE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. *JB *NM

INTERIOR NOISE, SEVERAL PARTS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOISE IS NOT GONE YET. NOW RIGHT FRONT DOOR AND DASHBOARD STARTED MAKING A NOISE. EVERYTIME I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TELL ME THAT NOISE CAN'T BE DUPLICATED. AS A RESULT I USUALLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH SOMEONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO PROVE THAT NOISE IS THERE. IN MY OPINION SOME INTERIOR PARTS DO NOT FIT CAR'S STRUCTURE. *LA

PURCHASED NEW 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA ON 05-27-03 -- VEHICLE DELIVERED WITH METALLIC RATTLE IN DASH -- BROUGHT INTO DEALER SERVICE ON 07/11/03 -- INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS -- TOYOTA HAS TO COME UP WITH A NEW PART BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT FIT INTO THE BODY CORRECTLY - WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A PART IS AVAILABLE -- THERE IS NOT ONE AT THIS TIME. *JB

COMPLAINT CONCERNING ADDITIONAL FLOOR PADDING ADDED TO ALL 2003 COROLLA'S MANUFACTURED AFTER 1/03 TO IMPROVE CRASH TEST RATING. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL TO INSTALL THIS SAFETY PADDING ON ALL 2003 COROLLA'S. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ALL 2003 COROLLA OWNERS. *JB

MFR CASE #200209030112; DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR WILL STRIKE REARVIEW MIRROR, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW. THIS IS A DESIGN FEATURE THAT NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED. *AK *YH

SUNVISOR MOVES DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WHILE TRAVELING. CONSUMER WILL FILL IN FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING DURING THE DAY, HE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE DASH INDICATOR DUE TO SUN LIGHT. *AK DUE TO EXTREME GLARE, IT REDUCED THE CONSUMERS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. INSTRUMENT PANEL BECOMES UNREADABLE. *PH *JB