2004 Toyota Corolla Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 3%of 477 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2004 Toyota Corolla, 3% of the 477 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,500 miles. 2 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.
“Car was running perfectly. Very suddenly it started making this horrible grinding noise. I went to pull into a parking lot and the car just stopped. I did not hit the brakes yet and was glad I was going slow. Transmission is blown with no warning, no leaks, and no noise except at the last few minutes. Had to have it towed.”
NHTSA complaint #10886081, filed 2016-07, 148,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10308673, filed 2010-02, 17,356 miles“My manual transmission failed this evening. Fortunately I was only an eighth of a mile from home and was able to use my momentum to safely get off the road. I heard a loud pop, then the clutch began to grind horrifically. I was able to bring the car to a stop, but unable to shift out of neutral. The front axle is completely siezed, and the car is inoperable. I had the car flatbeded to my mechanic, the flat bed driver had to winch the vehicle on to the truck. …”
NHTSA complaint #10669212, filed 2014-12, 128,000 miles“At 94,000 miles the transmission started to make a grinding noise. I took it in to the dealer and they told me that the transmission was shot and had to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10458023, filed 2012-05, 94,000 miles“I am having what could be a serious problem with my almost new Corolla 2004 automatic transmission with only 8000 km. If I leave the car parked for say more than a week, I then start it, and try to go forward or in reverse the car takes (lags) like 5 or 6 seconds to sort of engage the gear. At first it sort of like starts to go but not fully (slips) and after that it goes solid. I hope you understand my explanation?? Dealer has performed the hydraulic test, reset the memory, and changed the atf oil. …”
NHTSA complaint #10308135, filed 2010-02, 6,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10132084Oct 1, 2013The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or…
- 10133836Feb 20, 2013This bulletin contains general vehicle pulling diagnosis and repair procedures along with specific information to help correct pulling complaints.
- 10061578Jun 13, 2011Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10017613Sep 1, 2005Whistle/hoot noise from automatic transaxle.
- 10015608Feb 14, 2005Humming noise from rear hub axle bearing. *tt update
- 10011810Nov 22, 2004Malfunction indicator light on with diagnostic trouble code p0741 (torque converter clutch solenoid performance).
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 6% |
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 8 | 12% |
| 2023 | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 | 17 | 17% |
| 2021 | 19 | 10% |
| 2020 | 40 | 13% |
| 2019 | 55 | 27% |
| 2018 | 12 | 9% |
| 2017 | 15 | 8% |
| 2016 | 22 | 10% |
| 2015 | 30 | 14% |
| 2014 | 28 | 10% |
| 2013 | 9 | 4% |
| 2012 | 8 | 2% |
| 2011 | 18 | 3% |
| 2010 | 49 | 4% |
| 2009 | 45 | 3% |
| 2008 | 13 | 4% |
| 2007 | 26 | 3% |
| 2006 | 43 | 5% |
| 2005 | 37 | 4% |
| 2004 | 16 | 3% |
| 2003 | 61 | 8% |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% |
| 2001 | 9 | 7% |
| 2000 | 7 | 5% |
| 1999 | 6 | 4% |
| 1998 | 9 | 4% |
| 1997 | 6 | 4% |
| 1996 | 4 | 3% |
| 1995 | 13 | 7% |
| 1994 | 6 | 3% |
| 1993 | 3 | 2% |
| 1992 | 8 | 13% |
| 1991 | 8 | 11% |
| 1990 | 5 | 19% |
| 1989 | 4 | 17% |
| 1988 | 2 | 8% |
| 1987 | 1 | 7% |
| 1984 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota Corolla
236 complaintsVehicle speed control
60 complaintsEngine cooling
46 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
29 complaintsElectrical system
24 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsSeat belts
14 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsEngine
9 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 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