2003 Toyota Corolla electrical system problems

“My car is accelerating when my foot is off of the pedal and when in park, it is revving like I am pressing down on the gas pedal. I put it in reverse to test it to make sure I was experiencing what I just thought had happened. As soon as I put the gear in reverse, and released my foot from the break, the car spead down my driveway. I breaked, put gear in drive, and when I released my foot from the break pedal, again it sped up almost crashing into my house. When I put the car in park, the engine became louder as if I was pressing down on the gas pedal. I checked the pedals below. The rug or nothing else was near the pedal, as can happen at times. This morning I tested it out again on my way to work. It was a repeat of yesterday. The car is speeding up without me putting my foot on the drive pedal, by me simply lifting my foot of of the break. And when I park, it gets loud as if I am pressing on the gas pedal. This is very dangerous and I am afraid to drive my car until I can get it to a mechanic.”

“AFTER TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE AIRBAG, THE CAR AUDIO STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND HANG UP ON THE PHONE. MY EMAIL TO TOYOTA COMPANY WAS NOT RETURNED.”

“I'VE TRIED TO REPORT BOTH ITEMS TO TYSONS TOYOTA IN THE PAST. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS "EXPLODED" IN, ONCE WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR. I'M ON MY THIRD WINDOW AND IT RATTLES WHEN THE WINDOW IS PARTIALLY OPEN. I FEAR ANOTHER EXPLOSION. SECOND, THE PAINT ON THIS BLUE CAR HAS RUSTED AND PEELED ON THE ROOF AND TRUNK. WHEN I GOOGLED THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND COLOR, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF 2003-04 CARS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. DESPITE BEING AN OLDER CAR, THERE ARE MANY STILL ON THE ROAD. TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WITH SO MANY OCCURANCES, ONE WOULD THINK TOYOTA WOULD LOOK INTO THE QUALITY OF BLUE PAINT USED. IT WOULD COST OVER $900 JUST TO HAVE THE ROOF AND TRUNK REPAIRED AND REPAINTED. THE SIDE BACK PANELS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO RUST. I SAW WHERE SEQUOIA WHITE SUVS WERE AFFORDED FREE REPAINTING BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR ISSUE. (IF SOMEONE CAN AFFORD A SEQUOIA, THEY COULD PROBABLY AFFORD TO GET THEIR CARS REPAINTED!)”

“MY SMOG LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON EVEN AFTER I HAVE IT REPAIRED. I KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS THE SAME EXACT CAR THAT I HAVE AND SHE GOT THE RECALL ON THE ECM AND THEY REPLACED IT AND SHE DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO PASS THE CA SMOG. I REPLACED IT ALREADY AND IT IS SUPER EXPENSIVE...1,600!! LAST YEAR I HAD MY CAR SERVICE FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT COST ME 1,000. AFTERWARDS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. THEY ARE SAYING I HAVE TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AGAIN. I FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR IF MY FRIEND HAD THAT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AND NO LONGER HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM LIKE I AM HAVING. I BELIEVE IT COULD BE THE MECHANISM IS FAULTY. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE I HAVE TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALL OVER AGAIN. I DID NOT DRIVE THAT MANY MILES. PLUS IN CA THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE US MONEY TOWARDS THE REPAIR BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND I WAS LED TO BELIEVE I COULD GET 500 PLUS 800 SO I THOUGHT I WOULD BE PAYING THE BALANCE AFTER 1300 WHICH WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN 300 PLUS BUT I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET 500 TOWARDS THE REPAIR SO I STILL HAD TO PAY 1,100! IT REALLY BOTHERS ME BECAUSE MY FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME MAKE AND…”

“VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH ENGAGES STARTER ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS WHEN TURNING THE KEY. AFTER A UNSPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME HAS LAPSED, THE VEHICLE WILL ENGAGE STARTER AND START. VEHICLE HAS BEEN STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES AROUND TOWN.”

“INSTRUMENT DISPLAY PANEL FAILS TO LIGHT UP IN THE STATIONARY POSITION FOR APPROX. 15 SECONDS. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND VEHICLE IS MOVING INSTRUMENT DISPLAY MAY NOT COME ON.”