2000 Toyota Corolla Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about excessive engine oil consumption that typically appears somewhere around 50,000 to 90,000 miles, with many reports of low oil levels between changes, smoky exhaust, and in some cases engine damage. A second recurring theme is cooling and emissions-related work such as charcoal canister replacement, plus assorted steering, tire and restraint complaints spread across the sample.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   • 29 complaints (20%)
   • median 63,442 mi at 5.7 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,750 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2018

   Owners describe the engine using oil at a high rate, often a quart every few hundred to a couple thousand miles, with no drips or puddles visible underneath. Some report the oil warning never came on until the level was very low, and that the check engine light followed, sometimes with a catalytic converter diagnosis. Dealers and shops are described as monitoring oil use, suggesting engine replacement or rebuild, or attributing the problem to maintenance history. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, though several owners note it worsening with higher mileage.

   What to check: Check the dipstick level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, and ask the seller how much oil is added between changes. A compression or leak-down test and a look at service records help.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “66,760 miles on the engine #3 rod bearing completely wiped out. I bought the car used 8512 miles for 5 years I managed a repair facility then owned my own so I performed the oil changes never over 3000 miles between. Toyota acknowledges a sludge problem however my car was assembled in california plant (not included in recall) and 6000 miles over powertrain warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10243597, filed 2008-09, 66,750 miles

   “Started burning oil at the rate of about 1 quart every 750 to 1000 miles right around 60k it currently has 68k, and I just realized it was a Toyota problem rather than a failure on the part of my mechanics to properly fill my oil level. I have just initiated interface with a Toyota dealer and we are monitoring oil usage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10070859, filed 2004-01, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Tires

   Tire sidewall cracking and uneven wear

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 155,038 mi at 12.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2012

   Owners report deep cracks around the inside sidewall of all four tires after a couple of years and moderate mileage, described as causing handling problems. Other complaints describe rapid or uneven tire wear, repeated alignments, and vibration at highway speed. Mostly on tires a few years old; mileage in the sample ranges from about 15,000 to over 150,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the inner sidewalls of all four tires for cracking or age, check tread wear evenness and the DOT date codes, and ask when the alignment was last checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I also called Toyota about a recall. I have 72,000 miles on the car and I have already replaced the tires 4 times the first set (originals) after only 12,000 miles I have had it alignments front and back twice. I continue to have tire wear and the car is all over the road after hitting 55mph I should be on my second set of tires there is also no shock absorbant on this car even going slow you just hit hard reguardless. I can not keep the alignment right or the tires from wearing quick. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10020808, filed 2003-05, 40,000 miles

   “Tires driven on local streets and highways for 38,000 miles. All four tires suffered a deep crack, the full circumference of the tire on the inside sidewall approximately one inch above the wheel rim. The failure caused severe handling problems with the car. The tires had been on the car for 2 1/2 years.”

   NHTSA complaint #10455774, filed 2012-04, 155,038 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering wobble, noise or heavy steering

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • median 53,501 mi at 6.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2007

   Complaints describe a loose or wobbling steering wheel, noises traced by dealers to sway bar links or the rack and pinion, and in one case steering that suddenly became very heavy because the power steering pump was not working. Owners report repeat visits for the same noise and varying diagnoses between shops. Reported from as low as 15,000 miles up to about 137,000 miles, often after several years of use.

   What to check: Drive at highway speed and note any wheel shimmy or play, and listen for clunks over bumps. Ask whether the rack, links or power steering pump have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was purchased on 7/1/05 and since then has been in the shop to be fixed 4 different times and due to go back in again on 9/20/05 for the same problems...I took the car in on 28 july 05 and told service dept that I thought it was the rack and pinion steering and the checked it said it was the sway bar links and would order.....went back in on the 8 aug 05 and sway bar links put in and service dept said there was still a noise and needed it back when they had more time with it so it was taken back on 16 aug 05 and at that time check …”

   NHTSA complaint #10136562, filed 2005-09, 54,002 miles

   “For six years the steering wheel wobbled loosely. The auto had only 15000 on it when the problem arose. We continued to drive the auto. The vehicle was taken to a dealership after initial 3 year warranty period , and they announced that the rack and pinion system was worn out, but would not stand behind the vehicle. Toyota quality is an urban myth.”

   NHTSA complaint #10190813, filed 2007-05, 15,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag or seat belt not deploying or latching

   • 20 complaints (14%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2018

   Complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision and seat belts that either failed to restrain the occupant or would not latch. Some owners also report the seat belt reminder light blinking although the belt was fastened. Reported from about 70,000 to 135,000 miles in the sample, generally in older vehicles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Buckle and unbuckle each belt to confirm it latches and retracts, and ask whether the airbag warning light behaves normally on startup. Have any stored restraint codes read.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Traveling on a local hwy and a vehicle, two cars in front, made a sudden left turn causing the vehicle in front of me to lock down their brakes thus causing me to stop abruptly. My braking system locked my wheels down causing me to slide into the car in front of me at 35 MPH. Upon impact, my airbags did not deploy and my seatbelt did not keep me from hitting the windshield causing injuries to my head, neck and body injuries from hitting the steering wheel. I am also pregnant. Wellness followups are being conducted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10252093, filed 2008-12, 92,000 miles

   “Toyota Corolla 2000 gives false seat belt warning. Seat belt warning blinks eventhough seat belt is secured. False warning (in all the safety regulations that I have studied) is just as bad since trust can not be relied on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10381207, filed 2011-02, 86,000 miles

Buying note. Oil consumption is the item most worth verifying on this model year: check the level and service history before buying, and budget for possible engine work. Also inspect tires for sidewall cracking and confirm the belts latch and the steering feels tight.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.