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2004 Toyota Corolla Brakes Problems

10 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data

10
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
Feb 2010Dec 2003
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (10)

criticalSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2021

Your car's shifter cable broke off twice, making it impossible to brake or stop the vehicle — a serious safety problem. Both times (in 2015 and 2021), the car had to be towed to the dealer and the shifter cable assembly was reinstalled. Fixing this issue involves replacing the shifter cable assembly and ensuring it's properly secured to the transmission.

NHTSA #: 11436818
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2018

2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD

NHTSA #: 10733127
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Filed: Feb 2011

I DRIVE A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA AND I HAVE HAD MANY INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IN EVERY CASE IT HAS BEEN IN WINTER, WHICH IS WHEN I WEAR LARGE SOLED BOOTS. IT IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF THE BRAKE BEING PLACED TOO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR SO THAT IF I STEP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAKE MY BOOT SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR. MY CAR IS MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO THERE IS ALSO A CLUTCH. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR ARE PARTICULARLY CLOSE TOGETHER IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODEL. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT IT IS SOMEWHAT ALARMING WHEN IT HAPPENS AND I CAN IMAGINE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS HAPPENING HAVING AN ACCIDENT. OR I COULD TOO -- THE NATURAL RESPONSE UPON UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IS TO CONTINUE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, WHICH IN THIS CASE JUST CONTINUES THE ACCELERATION. I AM INCLUDING A DATE BELOW BECAUSE IT IS REQUIRED TO SEND THE FORM. IN FACT I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE DATES BUT IT HAPPENS A COUPLE OF TIME PER YEAR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10381203
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Aug 2010

ON 4 OCCASIONS, OUR 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA ENGINE HAS RACED WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING BACKED UP AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH MANY PEOPLE MILLING AROUND TO WATCH A FIREWORKS SHOW. THE HARDER I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE FASTER THE ENGINE RAN. FORTUNATELY, THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR BEFORE I RAN OVER ANYONE. APPARENTLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN SO FAR THAT MY FOOT COULD HIT THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO, THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA #: 10347442
mediumPARKING BRAKE
Filed: Mar 2010

MARCH 24, 2010, I STARTED MY CAR FROM DEWDNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MISSION, BC PARKING LOT HEADING HOME IN ABBOTSFORD, BC. ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON HIGHWAY 11 HEADING ABBOTSFORD DIRECTION, I FOUND THAT I COULD NOT BRAKE THE CAR TO STOP. LUCKILY, I MANAGED TO STOP. THEN I SAW SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE BACK WHEELS, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER WAS HIGH UP, WHICH IT HAD NOT BEEN RELEASED BEFORE I STARTED TO DRIVE. I WAS SCARED AND CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, SUNRISE TOYOTA IN ABBOTSFORD TO TOW THE CAR. THE NEXT MORNING, THE STAFF AT THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME THAT I HAD TO PAY ABOUT $1200.00 TO FIX THE CAR MYSELF AS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT DUE THE FAULT I MADE MYSELF. THEY CLAIMED THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOT UNRELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH WHY IT BURNED THE WHOLE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT I FORGOT TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE BEFORE I DROVE. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO THAT I REALIZED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASED IMMEDIATELY, AS I FELT THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I DID NOT FEEL ANY DIFFICULTY OR RESTRICTION TO MOVE THE CAR WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASED THIS TIME, AS I DID NOT REMEMBER IF THE RED LIGHT OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR MOVED SMOOTHLY EVEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS UP HIGH. THAT WAS WHY I DID NOT REALIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASED. MY CAR IS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD, WITH 80,000KM, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN I EXITED THE HIGHWAY, AS THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS BURNING OFF WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT BEING RELEASED. IT IS NOT A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR AN EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP FUNCTION IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS. IN OTHER WORDS, TOYOTA INC. SHOULD HAVE WARNED ALL THE DRIVERS WHO DRIVE TOYOTA COROLLA 2004 MODEL TO REPLACE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES OF THEIR CARS IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS, OTHERWISE THEY WILL RISK THEIR LIVES.

NHTSA #: 10322697
mediumPARKING BRAKE,POWER TRAIN
CrashFiled: Feb 2010

ON FEBURARY 12, 2010, MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA WAS PARKED AND RUNNING, WHILE I BROUGHT GROCERIES INTO MY HOME. WHEN I WENT BACK OUT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A DITCH CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND MUFFLER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10308673
mediumPARKING BRAKE
CrashFiled: Feb 2010

ON JANUARY 12, 2010, MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA WAS PARKED AND RUNNING, WHILE I BROUGHT GROCERIES INTO MY HOME. WHEN I WENT BACK OUT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A DITCH CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND MUFFLER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10308742
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 2010

WE OWN A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA (A MODEL NOT IN THE RECALL) BUT HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING AT AN INTERSECTION. *TR

NHTSA #: 10305280
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FireFiled: Nov 2006

I HAVE TWO CLAIMS ON TOYOTA COROLLA'S. EACH VEHICLE HAD A FIRE START IN THE WHEEL WELL AREA. THE DEALER IS BLAMING BRAKE FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE IS AN 06 COROLLA AND THE OTHER IS AN 04 COROLLA. NEITHER VEHICLE HAS EVER HAD ANY BRAKE WORK DONE AND BOTH HAVE VERY LOW MILES. CERTAINLY THE 06 COROLLA SHOULD BE HANDLED BY TOYOTA UNDER WARRANTY BUT SO FAR THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO HANDLE THIS LOSS. *JB

NHTSA #: 10174172
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2003

THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN ANALYSIS AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. THE BRAKES SCREECHED, BANGED AND PULLED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA #: 10046734

Other 2004 Toyota Corolla Issues