2001 Toyota Corolla
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 138 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 Corolla model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 33 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 58 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SuspensionFeb 11, 2010
RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
Campaign 10E002000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
138 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, May 9, 2007
OWN COROLLA 2001 WITH 45,000 MILES, ENGINE LIGHT ON. I TOOK IT FOR DIAGNOSTIC, IT WAS CHARCOAL CANISTER. EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER PART & LABOR. SEARCHING IN THE NET ME MANY SAME MODEL OWNERS WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS DEFINITELY IGNORED THIS ISSUE WHILE SELLING THE CARE. AWARE THAT AFTER 35,000 MILES THE PART MUST BE REPLACED. LABOR AND PART EVERYWHERE OVER $400.*AK
Seats, Apr 27, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WELDING ON THE SEAT FRAME OF THE MIDDLE ROW DETACHED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO SWIVEL AND MOVE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 109,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 16, 2007
I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY TOYOTA COROLLA 2001. I DO NOT KNOW WERE THE ENGINE OIL GOES, I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES BUT WHEN I CHECK THE OIL DIP STICK THERE IS NO OIL AND THEN THE OIL LAMP COMES ON. I CHECK FOR LEAKS AND MY CAR DOES NOT LEAK OIL.. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT BUT I STILL GET THE CHECK OIL LAMP IN DASHBOARD. WHERE DOES THE OIL GO? *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 16, 2007
THE DASHBOARD IS SHOWING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND VSV HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL TOYOTA 800-331-4331, IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CANISTER AND IS DELIBERATELY IGNORING INSTEAD OF RECALL OR FREE PARTS AND LABOR. I FOUND A SIMILAR KIND OF ISSUES RAISED BY OTHER COROLLA OWNERS ON THE NET. PLEASE DO THE NECESSARY INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER. *NM
Structure, Feb 16, 2007
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES: IN OCTOBER OF 2002, THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE (THE SPRING INSIDE THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE THROUGH THE PLASTIC), AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK SEAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE AS WELL. BOTH, DURING NORMAL USAGE OF OPENING THE DOOR. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 4, 2007
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OF MY 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA LE REPEATEDLY COMES ON. WHEN CHECKED IT STATES THERE'S AN PROBLEM WITH THE O2 SENSORS OR CONVERTER SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD THESE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. I AM TOLD OTHER YEARS OF THE TOYOTA COROLLA HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE STATED THE SENSORS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND THUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GETS TRIGGERED ON. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS REPLACING BOTH O2 SENSORS THREE TIMES, AND THE CONVERTER AT LEAST TWICE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON WITH THE SAME CODES FOR THESE SAME ISSUES. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Nov 13, 2006
ON MY 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WITH ABOUT 60,000 MILES, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD MY MECHANIC RUN THE OBD CODE, WHICH RETURNED THE CODE OF P0446 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM VENT CONTROL CIRCUIT). MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE EMISSIONS OF THE COROLLA. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY COROLLA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION. THE REPAIR OF THIS PART ON MY COROLLA TOTALLED ABOUT $640 AND I FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AS IT BEING REPORTED BY SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS OWNING COROLLA'S (AND OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTA). MY HOPE IS THAT TOYOTA WILL BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS PART DUE TO THE LACK OF ATTENTION GIVEN TO A MALFUNCTIONING SYSTEM. *NM
Child seat, Aug 25, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOCKS ON EACH SIDE OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WERE NOT SECURE. THE BELT THAT WAS THREADED THROUGH THE LOCKS BECAME LOOSE AND WAS FREE TO MOVE AROUND. THE SEAT WAS BRITAX, MODEL # E9L06-D5. THE MANUFACTURER DATE WAS 7-13-06. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 15, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD FAULTY EQUIPMENT WHICH CAUSED ENGINE OIL TO LEAK. THE OIL LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE DYING AND THE VEHICLE NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 7, 2006
HAVE A COROLLA 2001, 65K MILES ON IT TODAY. AT 56K MILES, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STARTED MISFIRING, TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, CHANGED OUT POINTS AND PLUS. ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, DEALERSHIP PERFORMED "INDUCTION" THROUGH ENGINE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND CAUSE BECAUSE COMPUTER READINGS VAGUE; GOT FRUSTRATED AND TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN FOREIGN CARS; THEY DETERMINED IT WAS A COIL. REPLACED COIL. CAR STARTED BURNING OIL PROFUSELY (1 QUART A WEEK IN IN-TOWN DRIVING). NOW SAME SHOP HAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET ON ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. (CAR HAS 65K MILES). CAR IS SCHEDULED TO GO IN FOR A COMPLETE ENGINE TEAR-DOWN AND HEAD GASKET REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1500-$1600. THIS 01 COROLLA IS THE 5TH TOYOTA AUTO I HAVE OWNED AND I HAVE HAD AN SUPERIOR EXPERIENCE WITH ALL -- EXCEPT THE 2001 COROLLA WHICH I BROUGHT BRAND NEW FROM A TOYOTA CAR LOT.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 27, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Steering, Jan 11, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS, AND BOTH DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WORE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM
Power train, Nov 3, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATES VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH HAS REPEATEDLY MALFUNCTIONED. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLUTCH TWICE WITHIN THREE YEARS. ALSO, CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO FURTHER CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 7, 2005
DT: CONTACTS STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AUGUST 1, 2005, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED TWO DIFFERENT OXYGEN SENSORS. NOW, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN AND STAYED ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THEY PUT IN NEW SPARK PLUGS. THEY SAID IT COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS. IT HAD STAYED OFF A FEW DAYS. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND CONSUMER WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE INDEPENDENT FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD NOT CHECKED THE VEHICLE. *AK
Tires, Sep 20, 2005
TIRE BLOWOUT. *NM
Air bags, Sep 12, 2005, crash
AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE CAR WAS TOTALED AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Structure, Sep 6, 2005
DT: THE DASHBOARD HAS A BLACK BACKGROUND AND THE LETTERS ARE RED, AND WITH CERTAIN LIGHTING IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. CAN'T SEE QUICKLY. HAS TO CONCENTRATE AND STUDY, WHICH TAKES THE CONSUMER'S EYES OFF THE ROAD. CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, ON 2005 MODELS THEY HAVE CHANGED IT BACK TO WHITE.*AK *JB
Steering, Aug 23, 2005, crash
TRAVELING ON STRAIGHT HIGHWAY APPROX 60 MPH WITH CRUISE ON - LET RIGHT FRONT TIRE DRIFT OFF EDGE OF PAVEMENT. RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE RESULTING IN LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING. CAR TOTALED. SUFFERED SEVERE BRUISING.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 22, 2005
DT: THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABLE TO HOLD ONE OR TWO GALLONS OF GAS AT A TIME. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE ATTENDANT, WHO TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE WENT WITH OWNER TO THE GAS STATION, AND SAW THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER USING THE REST OF THE GAS THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE CARBON CANISTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. THE COST WAS $585. THE OWNER WROTE A LETTER TO TOYOTA, AND ASKED FOR THE OLD CANISTER FROM THE DEALER, AND THE THEY REPORTED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE GAS TANK. OWNER NOW HAS THE OLD CANISTER. TOYOTA ASKED FOR A COPY OF BILL, AND OWNER SENT ONE. SHE CONTACTED THEM AGAIN AND THEY ASKED FOR THE COMPLAINT LETTER AGAIN AND A COPY OF BILL AGAIN. THE OWNER IS UPSET BECAUSE SHE HAD TO PAY FOR A PART TO BE REPAIRED THAT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. OWNER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY SITUATION. BECAUSE IF SHE RAN OUT OF GAS FAR AWAY FROM A GAS STATION, AND SHE WAS BY HERSELF. THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jul 7, 2005
I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE FROM KEYES TOYOTA ONE YEAR AGO. IT WAS ADVERTISED CERTIFIED, HOWEVER WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY WOULD NOT HONOR IT. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH REPAIRS. RECENTLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I SPENT OVER $700 REPLACING THE 02 SENSORS AND FLUSHING MY BRAKES. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER $4-$500 REPLACING THE AIR FLOW METER. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THESE PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO SUCH A YOUNG CAR.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 25, 2005
VEHICLE WASENT RUNNING CORRECTLY FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO IRA TOYOTA IN TEWKSBURY, MA TOYOTA CALLED ME BACK STATING IT NEEDED A CHARCOAL CANISTER. VEHICLE HAS 40,000 MILES... JUST 4,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY, I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTER'S THEY DID NOT HELP, ALSO MELINDA ROSSO FROM IRA TOYOTA OF TEWKSBURY DECLINED TO HELP US AS LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMERS. TOTAL BILL WAS NEAR 450.00 US. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Feb 20, 2005
WE WERE TRAVELING FROM TX TO SC USING CRUISE CONTROL (CC) ON MY 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA LE. HEAT WAS NOTED ON THE CC SWITCH ON 2/16/05. ON 2/17/2005 THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT 75 MPH. THE CC FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED; CC FAILED TO DISENGAGE AT THE SWITCH. THE ACCELERATION WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE BRAKE APPLICATION. THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WAS STOPPED WITH FOOT AND EMERGENCY BRAKES THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AT HIGH RPMS UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AN I-10 ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT DISABLED THE CC BY REMOVING THE CC FUSE DISCONNECTING SOMETHING AT THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS INCIDENT NEARLY CAUSED A HIGH SPEED COLLISION. THE COROLLA 1NXBR12E5Z534307 WILL BE SERVICED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN FLORENCE, SC.
Power train, Dec 15, 2004
GEARS TEND TO POP FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD, ALMOST HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 2, 2004, crash
I WAS DRIVING ON THE 22 EAST ON NOV 27 '04 930 AM. ABOUT 6 SECONDS BEFORE I CHANGED LANES, THEIR WAS A 3 SECOND THEIR WAS A SPRINKLE OF RAIN. I CHANGED LANES AND NOTICED A STOPED CAR ABOUT 330 FEET IN FRONT OF ME, WHILE TRAVELING AT 60. I APLIED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND I SLID WITH BRAKES LOCKED. I THEN REPRESSED THE BRAKES AND AGAIN SLID WITH BRAKES LOCKED. I THEN REMOVED THE PRESSURE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T UNLOCK. I THEN APLIED AND REMOVED MY PRESSURE TRYING TO UNLOCK THE BRAKES, BEFORE HITTING THE CAR. MY CAR IS SITTING WAITING FOR REPAIR.
Tires, Oct 25, 2004
WHEN DRIVING TIRE WENT FLAT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIRE WORE OUT FROM THE INSIDE WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO FLAT. GOODYEAR, P185/65R14. *AK