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2003 Toyota Corolla Common Problems

Known issues & solutions

Model Years

All 2003

Problem

Critical - affected Takata airbag inflator passenger side [stop driving immediately]

Models affected

  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Sportivo ZZE123R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ultima Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ultima ZZE122R

Problem

Critical - affected Takata airbag inflator passenger side [stop driving immediately]

Models affected

  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Sportivo ZZE123R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ultima Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ultima ZZE122R

Problem

As it gets older, a combination of high temperatures and humidity can cause the airbag inflator propellant to degrade.
If exposed to long periods of high air humidity and temperature fluctuations, the airbag may deploy with too much force in a collision. This may result in metal shrapnel entering the vehicle cabin at high speed, striking vehicle occupants and potentially causing severe injury or death.

Solution

Toyota is contacting all known owners of affected vehicles. Consumers should contact their nearest Toyota dealership to arrange for inspection and repair, free of charge.

For further information, consumers can contact Toyota on 1800 987 366 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm AEDT) or email recallsupport@toyota.dataresponse.com.au

Consumers can use Toyota’s VIN look-up tool to see if their vehicle is affected by this recall: https://toyotamanuals.com.au/#/recall

Models affected

  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Sportivo ZZE123R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ultima Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ultima ZZE122R

Problem

Takata airbag inflator: As it gets older, a combination of heat and humidity can cause the airbag inflator propellant to degrade. If an affected vehicle is involved in a collision triggering the airbag, the metal inflator housing may explode/rupture under too much internal pressure.
In the event of an airbag inflator rupture, metal fragments could propel out through the airbag cushion towards the vehicle occupants causing serious injury or fatality.

Solution

Owners of affected vehicles are advised that the vehicle is under 'critical recall’. It is recommended that you stop driving the vehicle and immediately arrange for airbag replacement as the vehicle has a heightened risk of causing injury or death. The critical recall category applies to alpha airbags and also includes other airbags specified by Toyota. 

Toyota will offer to arrange for your vehicle to either be towed to the place of replacement or for a mobile technician to be sent to the vehicle (or some similar arrangement), so that you do not have to drive the vehicle in order to receive a replacement airbag.

Owners of affected vehicles should contact their local Toyota dealership or Toyota’s head office directly by phoning 1800 987 366 or emailing guestexperience@toyota.com.au to arrange for a replacement airbag inflator free of charge.

Consumers can use Toyota’s VIN look-up tool to see if their vehicle is affected by this recall: http://recalls.toyota.com.au/#/

Alternatively, consumers can use their registration plate number to check if their vehicle is affected by going to http://www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au

We also recommend you visit https://www.productsafety.gov.au/newsletter/subscribe to subscribe to receive updates about current and future recalls as they are published.
 
Further information for consumers is available at: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/compulsory-takata-airbag-recall.

Models affected

  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Sportivo ZZE123R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ascent Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ultima Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Levin Seca ZZE122R
  • 2003 Toyota Corolla Ultima ZZE122R