Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving as usual and suddenly the air bags exploded inside the dash causing damage to the passenger window and the front crystal. Seconds after the drivers airbag also opened and consequently the alarms. I did not impact anything and the car won't start again.
A vehicle was stopped in middle of street without running or lights on. Our vehicle hit parked vehicle in rear and smashed front in so not drivable but airbags did not employ at impact. Police officer verified the driver side at least should have employed upon impact. Driver is sore and bruised but not needing medical treatment to our knowledge (at this point) there are two recalls regarding misfunctioning airbags on our vehicle but the remedy is not yet available :-(
Got into what could've been a minor accident, but the car was totaled, however, the airbags did not even deploy. Before the accident, the seatbelt would lock at random times, which could cause an accident. I was making a u-turn on a state road. Once hit, the entire tire went under the car and the entire front came off, which was why I was surprised that the airbags did not go off.
I am writing with concern to see if the recall on my daughters 2003 Toyota air bag issue was truly fixed, she was involved in a traffic accident where according to everyone's opinion the airbags should have went off however they did not. Is there any way to see if the recall work was actually done by the company who states they did the repair ??
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. …
Many years ago I received a recall notice for the driver's side floor mat of my 2003 Toyota Corolla. The fix by Toyota was to install floor anchors to hold the floor mat in a stable position so it could not slide around. The fix worked for a few years, then the anchors broke. I paid Toyota for new anchors which again fixed the problem for some time. Recently, the anchors again failed and I will again need new anchors to stabilize the floor mat. I think Toyota should come up with a more permanent fix for this safety issue. Updated 7/20/15 updated 11/13/15
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. After the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 18V883000 (air bags), the fuel tank cover and trunk could not be opened. The contact called autonation Toyota mall of georgia at [phone] (located at 3505 buford dr, buford, ga 30519) where the recall repair was performed and left a voice message. The dealer had not called back. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 128,162.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained on for approximately three months. The dealer and independent mechanic were not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The consumer stated only the paint of the car is peeling.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. While driving various speeds, the vehicle made a clunking type noise near the front passenger side. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger side subframe was corroded and rusted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,039. Updated 05/24/16
I barely bought the car and I looked at the odometer and it's at 126,000 and I serched and it has more then 300,000 i need help
Body complaints in other Corolla years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2003 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the body & structure of the 2003 Toyota Corolla, 4% of the model year's 720 complaints. The component named most often is body (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Toyota Corolla body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2003 Toyota Corolla, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Corolla body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.