2003 Toyota Corolla Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 77about this part
- Share
- 11%of 721 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 62,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 77 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2003 Toyota Corolla, 11% of the 721 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 62,500 miles. 25 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, 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 was driving along the street when I got hit by a car traveling opposite direction, person hit ne on a green light but besudes that my syspension brakes and tires not sitting right, I also I hear chains the car doesnt drive straight and car seems lopsided when driven and breaks squeel”
NHTSA complaint #11337160, filed 2020-07, 2 miles“Camelback Toyota took care of a recall on the wiring harness and since that date I have had numerous problems - lost my keyless entry, lost my speedometer, lost my horn. D & b auto found some problems at the tune of $428.70 (got my horn, speedometer and keyless entry working again - this was 8/12/13). …”
NHTSA complaint #10702997, filed 2015-03, 81,766 miles“While attempting to park in a mall parking lot at a lot speed, the engine accelerated without using the gas pedal. This occurred twice within a span of 30 minutes. I was able to apply the foot brake, emergency brake and shift the vehicle into park without incident. Then I turned the car off. I then started the car after shutting it down and the car ran normally.”
NHTSA complaint #10342388, filed 2010-07, 91,775 miles“I had a 2003 Corolla that I purchased in 2002, one of the first delivered to a worcester ma dealership. In 2003 when I was driving on a highway going up a hill the car started to accelerate. First I thought maybe I had hit the cruise control button but I hadn't. I was probably going at least 65mph when it started to accelerate, I had to keep hitting the brakes to make it stop accelerating.”
NHTSA complaint #10316585, filed 2010-03, 7,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10045140Jun 13, 2012Toyota: accelerator pedal sensor assembly information regarding the inspection, removal, and installation, if lubrication or oil, is applied.
- 10015669Apr 4, 2005Diagnostics - cruise control system repair manual correction. 00400-rm938-u1.
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 11% |
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 3 | 3% |
| 2021 | 7 | 4% |
| 2020 | 5 | 2% |
| 2019 | 13 | 6% |
| 2018 | 11 | 8% |
| 2017 | 29 | 16% |
| 2016 | 22 | 10% |
| 2015 | 18 | 8% |
| 2014 | 29 | 11% |
| 2013 | 18 | 9% |
| 2012 | 16 | 4% |
| 2011 | 46 | 8% |
| 2010 | 198 | 16% |
| 2009 | 197 | 14% |
| 2008 | 54 | 17% |
| 2007 | 95 | 11% |
| 2006 | 75 | 9% |
| 2005 | 66 | 8% |
| 2004 | 60 | 13% |
| 2003 | 77 | 11% |
| 2002 | 11 | 9% |
| 2001 | 14 | 11% |
| 2000 | 7 | 5% |
| 1999 | 13 | 8% |
| 1998 | 18 | 8% |
| 1997 | 9 | 7% |
| 1996 | 7 | 5% |
| 1995 | 3 | 2% |
| 1994 | 8 | 5% |
| 1993 | 9 | 7% |
| 1992 | 2 | 3% |
| 1991 | 3 | 4% |
| 1989 | 3 | 13% |
| 1988 | 1 | 4% |
| 1987 | 3 | 21% |
| 1984 | 1 | 17% |
| 1982 | 3 | 60% |
Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Corolla
333 complaintsEngine cooling
92 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
61 complaintsSeat belts
38 complaintsElectrical system
34 complaintsBrakes
32 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