TOYOTA COROLLA · model year

2004 TOYOTA COROLLA

557 NHTSA complaints, 85 crash reports, and 13 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004TOYOTACOROLLA carries 557 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 85 crashes, 3 fires, 66 injuries, and 5 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 COROLLA is air bags with 220 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (57) and electrical system (18). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 13 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2004 COROLLA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

557
Complaints
85
Crashes
3
Fires
66
Injuries
5
Deaths

Total Complaints

557 filings

Crashes Reported

85 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS220
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL57
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL13
SEAT BELTS12
STEERING11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM10
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE10
VISIBILITY9
POWER TRAIN9
ENGINE9
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS7

Recalls (13)

13V02900030/01/2013

AIR BAGS

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits are susceptible to internal shorting. The electrical short may create an abnormal current flow and increased heat which can dam

19V62700028/08/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperatur

15V04300028/01/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5,

19V74100017/10/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX4

06E06400017/07/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED

15V28500013/05/2015

AIR BAGS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, T

15V28600013/05/2015

AIR BAGS

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf

06E02300013/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME

18V88300012/12/2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modul

09E02500011/05/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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

08V16200010/04/2008

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND PO

09E01200007/04/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

03V36600006/10/2003

WHEELS

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS, THE LUG NUT(S) MAY NOT SECURE THE WHEEL PROPERLY TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY DUE TO OVER-DRILLING OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE LUG NUT HOLES ON THE ALLOY WHEEL. IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IN THIS CONDITION, THE LU

Recent Complaints

20250609STRUCTURE:BODY

This complaint concerns two separate incidents, both involving defective interior door handles. First, in 2023, the driver side driver door handle broke abruptly when the driver attempted to exit the vehicle. As a result, the driver, [XXX] , was trapped in the vehicle and required someone else to let him out from the outside. This was repaired privately at substantial cost to the owner. Then, the exact same thing happened to the passenger side front seat interior door handle in January 2025. The handle mechanism seems to be made of cheap plastic and seems to have broken, preventing the passenger from exiting the vehicle at all and leaving them effectively trapped in the front seat. This has been a major issue recently when transporting family members to the hospital, as time was lost when they tried to get out of the driver side passenger door and found that the door handle mechanism was inoperable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552

20231204CrashAIR BAGS

I got in an accident with a car who ran a stop sign when I didn't have one. I was going approximately 15-20mph and my entire front end collided with their passenger side. My air bags did not go off at all.

20220810AIR BAGS

I have repaired all the safety recalls on my 2004 Toyota Corolla S. However, I just had another warning signal for the seatbelt/airbag today. Since this has been a recall previously, can I have the dealer look at the car and repair again? I wouldn't think the airbags/seatbelt warning would come back so fast after being repaired for the recall. Please advise. Thank you.

20220810SEAT BELTS

I have repaired all the safety recalls on my 2004 Toyota Corolla S. However, I just had another warning signal for the seatbelt/airbag today. Since this has been a recall previously, can I have the dealer look at the car and repair again? I wouldn't think the airbags/seatbelt warning would come back so fast after being repaired for the recall. Please advise. Thank you.

20220615AIR BAGS

We received the enclosed NHTSA notice about a vehicle repair that is need for a recall. However we no longer own this vehicle. We sold the vehicle in 2018 or 2019 and transferred the pink slip to the new owner. We have no way to contact him and he is responsible for the vehicle now. So we are just notifying you that we cannot take any action on this.

20220516AIR BAGS

The contact's mother owned a 2004 Toyota Corolla. The contact's mother received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list as the vehicle was totaled. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

20220112AIR BAGS

Hello, In January 3, 2022. I took the vehicle to the Toyota Hamer dealer about one issue of the air bag recall in the Toyota Corolla with the VIN: [XXX] there after around 4:pm on the Sunday the vehicle it was released with unsolved problems by the dealer and now I am requesting that it be properly repaired due to chronic and faulty problems. That the vehicle has. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

20220112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Hello, In January 3, 2022. I took the vehicle to the Toyota Hamer dealer about one issue of the air bag recall in the Toyota Corolla with the VIN: [XXX] there after around 4:pm on the Sunday the vehicle it was released with unsolved problems by the dealer and now I am requesting that it be properly repaired due to chronic and faulty problems. That the vehicle has. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

20211014SERVICE BRAKES

SHIFTER CABLE BROKE OFF AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BRAKE/STOP. HAD IT TOWED AND DORAL TOYOTA REINSTALL SHIFTER CABLE ASSY ON. 09/03/2021. IF YOU NEED IT HAVE THE INVOICE AND PROOF OF PAYMENT, TOO. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK! CABLE ASSY TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF. VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. HAD IT TOWED AND DORAL TOYOTA ORDER PARTS AND PERFORMED THE LABOR ON 04/08/2015. HAVE THE INVOICE AND PROOF THE PAYMENT, TOO. THIS HAS HAPPED TO THIS VEHICLE TWICE AND THERE IS NO RECALL(?)

20210514UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IIT SOUNDS BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM, IN MOTION ON ANY ROAD.

Mileage: 150,000

20210514SUSPENSION

IIT SOUNDS BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM, IN MOTION ON ANY ROAD.

Mileage: 150,000

20210423AIR BAGS

I KEEP GETTING RECALL LETTERS. SO I CALL THE NUMBER AND THE PERSON CLAIMED I COULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND IT COULD BE DONE IN 1 OR 2 HOURS. THAT IS WHAT THE LETTERS CLAIM. I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BUT WHEN I SHOW UP AT TOYOTA THE HAVE NO APPOINTMENT FOR ME. BUT HE CLAIMS IT WILL TAKE A "COUPLE HOURS". OKAY I WILL WAIT. SO HE SIGNS ME UP AND SAYS BE BACK AT 2 PM. SO NOW ITS GONE FROM 1 HOUR MIN TO 4 HRS MIN. MY CAR SITD INA PARKING LOT FOR 1 HOUR AND I HAVE AN "APPOINTMENT". THOSE [XXX] CLAIM THEY WANT TO FIX MY CAR BUT THRN THEY WANT TO JERK ME AROUND. I SCHEDULED MY DAY FOR 2 HOURS. IF ITS GONNA TAKE 4 HRS DONT SAY 1 OR 2. THIS DAY COSTS ME ALOT OF MONEY TAKING OFF FOR THIS [XXX]. ANYWAY I MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT BUT IF YOURE GONNA LIE TO ME JERK ME AROUND AND SCREW UP MY SCHEDULE THEN THEY ARE TRYING TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GOING THRU THE INCREDIBLE HASSLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

20210402AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. BAY RIDGE TOYOTA (6401 6TH AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11220) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20210105AIR BAGS

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON FOLLOWING THE FIRST AIRBAG RECALL SERVICE. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, CLAIMING THEY ONLY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, AND THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SERVICE LIGHT IS THE SPIRAL CABLE, WHICH IS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP MUST HAVE CHECKED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN ORDER TO SEE IF THE INFLATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH MUST BE WHAT TRIPPED THE LIGHT.

Mileage: 120,000

20201215AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I FELT THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN VERY HARD AND I SAW THE AIRBAG ICON ON THE DASHBOARD. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED RED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AT THAT MOMENT THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. I DID NOT HIT MYSELF SO I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND I SAW THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED. MY CAR DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.*DT*JB*JB

Mileage: 166

20200526AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA OF DALLAS (972)-584-9144) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20200214AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT MILLER TOYOTA OF ANAHEIM (LOCATED AT 1331 N EUCLID ST, ANAHEIM, CA 92801) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20191023AIR BAGS

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL TELLING ME THAT THERE IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK INVOLVING THE AIRBAGS OF MY CAR.

20190311AIR BAGS

TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE AIRBAG REPLACE TWICE IN SEPTEMBER 2018 AND WAS TOLD ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THEN FEBRUARY 2019 WAS TOLD THEY HAD AIRBAG WENT TWICE WAS TOLD THEY HAD IT WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN AND SAT THERE FOR THREE HOURS FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THEM TELLING ME THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH BUT SURE THEY WOULDN'T I ASKED ABOUT THE BUY BACK AND ABOUT THE TOYOTA LEMON LAW I KEEP GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND I'M TRIED OF IT THIS IS MY ONLY WAY OF GOING I HAVE PUT OFF DR APPT IN NORTHPORT AL DUE WITH THE FACT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND ALSO WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT.

20190311UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE AIRBAG REPLACE TWICE IN SEPTEMBER 2018 AND WAS TOLD ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THEN FEBRUARY 2019 WAS TOLD THEY HAD AIRBAG WENT TWICE WAS TOLD THEY HAD IT WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN AND SAT THERE FOR THREE HOURS FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THEM TELLING ME THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH BUT SURE THEY WOULDN'T I ASKED ABOUT THE BUY BACK AND ABOUT THE TOYOTA LEMON LAW I KEEP GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND I'M TRIED OF IT THIS IS MY ONLY WAY OF GOING I HAVE PUT OFF DR APPT IN NORTHPORT AL DUE WITH THE FACT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND ALSO WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT.

Compare 2004TOYOTACOROLLA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA have?
The 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA has 557 NHTSA complaints, 85 crashes, 3 fires, 66 injuries, and 5 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA?
Yes, the 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA has 13 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA?
The most-complained component for the 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA is AIR BAGS with 220 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.