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

2008 Toyota Corolla — Known Issues & Recalls

6 Recalls344 Owner Complaints8 Categories Affected
344
Total Complaints
6
Open Recalls
77
Crashes
1
Fires
48
Injuries

Complaints from Jan 2016 to Dec 2016

The most reported issue is air bags problems (144 complaints). 77 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fire.

Open Safety Recalls (6)

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 19V741000

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 19V627000

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.

Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1Q and K0Q. Pontiac owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is N192273760.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Mar 2016

NHTSA Campaign: 16V127000

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured May 25, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 23, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-285.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Feb 2016

NHTSA Campaign: 16V128000

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008 that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 8, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-286.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 10V384000

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 COROLLA AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FOR THE SUBJECT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A CRACK MAY DEVELOP AT CERTAIN SOLDER POINTS OR ON VARISTORS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.

Risk: THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WARNINGS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT. THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP COULD BE ILLUMINATED, HARSH SHIFTING COULD RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START, OR THE ENGINE COULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. AN ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PRODUCTION NUMBER OF THE ECM AND REPLACE THE ECM IF NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA WILL MAIL AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2010 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT AND RECALL. THIS INTERIM NOTIFICATION WILL INFORM OWNERS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE FREE REMEDY PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Mar 2010

NHTSA Campaign: 10V036000

Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Risk: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 344)

Air Bags12 issues
criticalAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2024

Your car was involved in a crash where another vehicle hit the front passenger side, causing your car to spin 180 degrees. The airbags did not deploy during the impact, even though the collision was significant enough to detach the bumper and cause injuries to the driver (fractured wrist and whiplash). This is a serious safety concern because airbags are designed to protect occupants in exactly this type of crash.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11619918
criticalAIR BAGS
Filed: Mar 2024

Your air bag warning light is on. This means your air bags may not deploy properly in a crash. You should have a dealer diagnose and repair this as soon as possible to ensure your safety systems are working correctly.

NHTSA #: 11577645
criticalAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Sep 2023

Your airbag deployed during a front-end crash, but there was a delay in deployment that may have contributed to rib injuries you sustained. The airbag eventually did deploy, but the timing of deployment was slower than expected during the collision. Investigating the cause of the delayed airbag deployment would likely involve a diagnostic inspection of the airbag control module and wiring harness.

NHTSA #: 11544276
criticalAIR BAGS
Filed: Jul 2021

Your airbag warning light came on while you were driving. When you took the car to the dealer, they didn't diagnose or repair the issue because you declined to pay the diagnostic fee. This means there could be a problem with your airbag system that hasn't been identified yet. Getting this diagnosed is important for your safety, as a faulty airbag system won't protect you properly in a crash.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11426858
criticalAIR BAGS
Filed: Jun 2020

After Toyota repaired your airbag system in June 2020 as part of a safety recall, the airbag cover has started to pop up and a crease is forming across it. Additionally, the passenger airbag indicator light is not working correctly — it shows 'off' even when someone is sitting in the passenger seat, though it worked properly before the repair. The airbag cover and indicator light system may need to be inspected and adjusted or replaced to restore proper function.

NHTSA #: 11330029
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Nov 2024

Your airbag warning light has come on even though you haven't been in a collision or accident. This indicates a problem with your airbag system that needs to be diagnosed. A technician will need to scan your car's diagnostic system to identify what's causing the warning.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11624441
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2022

Your car is subject to an airbag recall, but the replacement part has been unavailable for over a month. The dealer (IRA Toyota of Danvers, Massachusetts) delayed ordering the part by two weeks, making it difficult to get the recall service completed in a timely manner. You may want to contact Toyota directly or another dealership if you need the recall work done urgently.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11496210
highAIR BAGS
Filed: May 2021

Your airbag warning light is turning on and off intermittently. This could indicate a problem with your airbag system that may require diagnostic work and repair, potentially costing around $600.

NHTSA #: 11415322
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2020

Your 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix is subject to an airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign 19V627000), but the dealership has been unable to obtain the replacement part needed to complete the repair. Toyota has confirmed the part is not currently available, and you've been waiting longer than a reasonable timeframe to get the recall completed. While you haven't experienced an airbag failure yet, the repair will likely involve replacing the affected airbag component once the part becomes available.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11322878
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2020

Your 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix is included in an airbag safety recall (NHTSA campaign 19V627000), but the replacement parts needed to fix it have been unavailable for an extended period. You haven't experienced an airbag failure yet, but the recall repair has been delayed longer than expected. The fix will involve Toyota or your dealer replacing the faulty airbag component once parts become available.

NHTSA #: 11320138
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Mar 2020

Your 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix is part of an airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign 19V627000), but the dealership has confirmed that the required repair part isn't currently available. You've been waiting longer than a reasonable amount of time for this recall to be completed. The fix will involve replacing or repairing the airbag system once the necessary parts become available.

NHTSA #: 11317579
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Feb 2020

You received a recall notice for your airbags (NHTSA Campaign 19V627000), but the repair parts weren't available at the dealership. The manufacturer took longer than expected to make the parts available for this recall repair. You haven't experienced an actual airbag failure, but the recall fix may require replacement of airbag system components once parts become available.

NHTSA #: 11309246
Unknown Or Other2 issues
highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Dec 2024

The odometer on your vehicle has been rolled back to show 135,000 miles, but Carfax records indicate the car actually had 200,000 miles on it as of April 2024. This suggests the mileage history may have been altered by the seller before you purchased it. You should verify the vehicle's true mileage history through Carfax or contact the previous owner to confirm actual service records.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11630699
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2022

Your odometer stopped working in November 2021 and froze at 299,999 miles. When you took it to a Toyota dealership in Michigan for repair, they refused to fix it and directed you elsewhere. You also contacted Toyota's customer service, but they declined responsibility, stating this wasn't a manufacturing defect they would cover.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11482847
Air Bags,structure1 issue
criticalAIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
CrashFiled: Dec 2020

You were involved in a front-end collision at 40 mph after another vehicle pulled in front of you, causing significant damage to the front end, radiator, fenders, and hood. Your airbags failed to deploy despite the impact severity. You had already received a recall notice from Toyota for this issue and scheduled a dealer appointment, but the crash occurred two weeks before that appointment was due.

NHTSA #: 11385345
Air Bags,seat Belts1 issue
criticalAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: Nov 2020

During a crash, your seatbelt failed to tighten immediately on impact, allowing the passenger to move forward and sustain more serious injuries. The seatbelt then suddenly engaged with excessive force, yanking the passenger back into the seat and causing additional injury. This malfunction occurred in a collision under 50 mph where another vehicle ran a left turn signal.

NHTSA #: 11375558
Wheels,unknown Or Other1 issue
criticalWHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2020

Your car has repeatedly slid on pavement when braking suddenly. On June 2, 2020, you heard a noise while driving that turned into loud grumbling and vibration—your tire had developed a large bulge or belt separation despite having over half its tread remaining. Your car also slides more than other small cars you've owned when stopping, which could be dangerous at highway speeds. The tires were professionally installed in July 2012 and have about 23,000 miles on them since then.

NHTSA #: 11327341
Fuel/propulsion System1 issue
highFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2023

Your fuel tank has a heat shield with a plastic clip that holds a strap in place. This plastic clip snapped off on your car, causing the heat shield to rattle loose against the exhaust pipe and exposing the fuel tank. The dealer told you the only fix is to replace the entire heat shield and fuel tank strap assembly for $950, even though just the plastic clip appears to be the defective part.

NHTSA #: 11545726
Structure1 issue
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jun 2023

Your car's roof has developed large rust spots, even though you've owned it since new in 2007. This appears to be a widespread issue affecting cars from that time period, and may be due to improper paint application during manufacturing. You may need to have the roof professionally repaired or repainted to address the rust.

NHTSA #: 11527081
Electrical System,engine1 issue
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Sep 2021

Your check engine light remains on continuously. This warning light typically indicates that your vehicle's onboard diagnostic system has detected an issue with the engine, emissions system, or transmission that needs to be addressed. A mechanic will need to scan your vehicle with a diagnostic tool to identify the specific problem.

NHTSA #: 11432235

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