Vehicle Data Hub

2004 Toyota Corolla engine problems

54 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2004 Toyota Corolla, which is 10% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
54 10% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
23,000 miles 35 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 1
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2004 Toyota Corolla Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 23,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 17 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 3 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 3 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 2 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 4 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 3 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 2 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 23,000 miles
Based on 35 complaints that include mileage. 66% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles17
20k to 40k miles3
40k to 60k miles3
60k to 80k miles2
80k to 100k miles4
100k to 120k miles3
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles2

What the data shows

Of the 35 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 23,000 miles, and 66% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire.

What owners wrote

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota corolla. The contact was driving in the highway when the contact noticed a burning smell from the engine area. When the contact took the vehicle to an authorized dealership, the dealer informed the contact that the radiator was cracked; the dealer could not determine if the burning smell was caused by the cracked radiator or the engine overheating. The failure mileage was 74,766. The current mileage was approximately 80,000.

Reported at 74,766 miles, February 2010 Fire

Unexpected and without warning while car is in drive and stopped in traffic or at red light, engine idle speed increases when compressor from heating/air conditioner unit engages (when heater/defroster or air conditioner are in use) resulting car to lunge forward. If hard and constant pressure is not applied at all times on brake pedal while stopped, car could lunge forward resulting in; rear-end collision with another car; auto/pedestrian mishap while stopped at a crosswalk or hitting another vehicle board side…

Reported at 200 miles, September 2003

Other problems reported for the 2004 Toyota Corolla

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Toyota models