2003 Toyota Corolla Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 32about this part
- Share
- 4%of 721 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,874miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Toyota Corolla, 4% of the 721 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,874 miles. 15 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was parking at about 3 MPH, took my foot off the accelerator pedal and pressed down on the brake pedal to slowly ease the car to a stop at the parking spot. The vehicle jolted forward and accelerated. I hit a pole and the vehicle sustained terrible frontend damage. I have a 2003 Toyota Corolla and it is over 188,000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #11088952, filed 2018-04, 188,000 miles“I drove my 2003 Toyota Corolla in highway yesterday, when I took brake to slow down, the car accelerate instead of stop, and lost the control to hit right side other car, and then drove to snow pile. This is not the first time event, but this time my car got crash, my car was pick up to insurance design repair store.”
NHTSA complaint #10307962, filed 2010-02, 49,751 miles“My daughter was driving our 2003 Toyota Corolla this morning when she reported that the cars brakes didn't appear to work properly. This resulted in a property damage crash into a guardrail. It was a frontal crash into a guardrail at low to moderate speed, the airbags didn't deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10311392, filed 2010-02, 104,000 miles“When I was driving the vehicle it started to make a rumbling and rattling sound in the rear of the vehicle. I notified Toyota corporation and they flat out refused to assist me or offer any good faith measure or any service whatever to assist me with the defect. The rear passenger wheel bearing hub assembly was leaking and was not detectable when the car was taken for services and inspection.”
NHTSA complaint #10176765, filed 2006-12, 57,000 miles“We were parked in a parking lot. My wife got into the car, put her foot on the brake to take the car out of park, and put the car in reverse. The car accelerated rapidly backward with the engine revving and no effect from the brakes, and hit a pole. With the engine still racing, my wife then put the car in drive, still with her foot on the brake, and it sped forward running into the back of a pickup truck. The engine was racing and there was no effect with pushing on the brake. The pickup truck was pushed forward about a foot hitting a guard rail in the front of the parking space.”
NHTSA complaint #10957607, filed 2017-02, 203,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10214323Mar 17, 2022TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
- 10210375Mar 9, 2022TSB: This Service Bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly. Follow the Repair Procedure in…
- 10190453Mar 12, 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10187241Dec 14, 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10186195Dec 14, 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10131928Feb 5, 2014A key part to maintain the proper function and safe operation of the vehicle's braking system is to perform a visual inspection when installing brake pads, calipers, and discs…
- 10132085Oct 1, 2013Some 2003 ? 2008 model year Corolla and Matrix vehicles installed with TCMC (Toyota Complete Maintenance Care) front brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various…
- 10075934Oct 1, 2013Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10061626Oct 1, 2013Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10131984Sep 9, 2013A new Special Service Tool (SST 09709-00002) has been introduced to aid in the inspection procedure for certain vehicles equipped with a floor pedal-type parking brake system…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 17% |
| 2025 | 8 | 26% |
| 2024 | 10 | 15% |
| 2023 | 7 | 9% |
| 2022 | 16 | 16% |
| 2021 | 9 | 5% |
| 2020 | 24 | 8% |
| 2019 | 16 | 8% |
| 2018 | 11 | 8% |
| 2017 | 26 | 15% |
| 2016 | 30 | 14% |
| 2015 | 18 | 8% |
| 2014 | 17 | 6% |
| 2013 | 24 | 12% |
| 2012 | 11 | 2% |
| 2011 | 21 | 4% |
| 2010 | 166 | 13% |
| 2009 | 120 | 8% |
| 2008 | 26 | 8% |
| 2007 | 45 | 5% |
| 2006 | 35 | 4% |
| 2005 | 37 | 4% |
| 2004 | 14 | 3% |
| 2003 | 32 | 4% |
| 2002 | 8 | 7% |
| 2001 | 12 | 9% |
| 2000 | 9 | 6% |
| 1999 | 7 | 5% |
| 1998 | 15 | 7% |
| 1997 | 9 | 7% |
| 1996 | 13 | 10% |
| 1995 | 21 | 12% |
| 1994 | 2 | 1% |
| 1993 | 2 | 2% |
| 1992 | 6 | 10% |
| 1991 | 2 | 3% |
| 1989 | 3 | 13% |
| 1988 | 1 | 4% |
| 1987 | 1 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Corolla
333 complaintsEngine cooling
92 complaintsVehicle speed control
77 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
61 complaintsSeat belts
38 complaintsElectrical system
34 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
32 complaintsBody and structure
31 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsTires
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota Corolla
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology