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2006 Toyota Corolla Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 840 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota Corolla, most often about the air bags (54% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles). It is 4th of 27 Corolla model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2006 Toyota Corolla problems
Air bags
454 complaints · 54%Half of these problems showed up before 86,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. While driving 50 MPH, another vehicle on the driver's side switched lanes and side crashed the contact's vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy and the contact's head struck the dashboard. The contact was not treated for his injury. The manufacturer was not notified and the…
Car was rear ended at stop light, air bag lights came on, bags did not deploy, lights stay on. The 2005 model had an air bag recall, the 2006 did not, we believe Toyota should check this out under this recall at their expense.
Engine
128 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
My car stopped working while driving , I pulled over while coasting. I turned the key after stopping & it started back up and I started driving again and it stalled in the middle again. This happened a few times, and then I had it towed due to the hazard of being hit by someone. The problem was the computer had tied…
Going 45 MPH, car suddenly cut off without warning, would not restart. Had to be towed to dealership. Was told that the ECM failed and the part had to be ordered. I purchased the extended warranty when I bought the car new, so this is covered. In speaking with the service manager at dealership, he indicated there was…
Electrical
85 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, wiring, ignition, software.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light the check engine light came on and the vehicle stalled and shut off. The vehicle restarted after three tries. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The contact called the dealer and the dealer asked the contact to…
When I drive my car it feels like there is something wrong with the transmission when this started happening the engine light came on, so I took the care in to the dealership and they are telling me it's a computer problem that affects the transmission and that I need a new computer.
Speed control
75 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. While driving 55 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle began to accelerate without intention. Months after the failure he noticed the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the engine…
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light with the brakes applied, the vehicle abnormally accelerated and crashed into another vehicle. The passenger of the second vehicle sustained neck injuries as a result. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection…
Transmission
43 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, manual transmission.
Toyota Corolla 2006 had transmission replaced at 55000km was grinding gear wile I was up shifting an also down shifting all other gears were fine now the rebuild transmission that Toyota put in the car is now at 65000km and I am having the same problem
My car made a sound like rocks in a blender and stopped moving forward. I shifted in to neutral and coasted to a stop. The sound was from the automatic transmission.I tried to shift back into gear (drive) but was unable to get it to go into drive and the sound the trans was making was to say the least horrible . At…
Brakes
35 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 46,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Abs system on 2006 Toyota Corolla triggers too easily and when it does activate provides little or no braking force. Problem can be reproduced on cobblestone or broken pavement as well as on snow covered surfaces. Other cars with ABS driven over same surface do not trigger ABS. I've driven many cars with ABS and…
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle decelerated and simultaneously accelerated to 80 MPH without warning, failure occurred several times. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer for diagnostic testing, but a failure code could not be located. The dealer also test…
Other or unspecified
29 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles.
I have a 2006 Toyota Corolla. I was driving down the road 50 MPH when my car when my car just stopped without any warning. I had it towed to the dealership in el cajon, ca. They replaced the computer module on my car. My car now shifts odd at different times a hard jerking and then it shifts normally again. Also as…
Pulled into parking space with brake on and the car accelerated pushing me over a large rock which punctured transmission pan. Had to be towed home. If there were people in front of me they would be dead.
Steering
22 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages.
Wife was driving her 2006 Toyota Corolla and went into water during a rainy day in february 2010 and she said that the steering locked/ she couldn't turn it more than a quarter turn. She jiggle the steering wheel and then it was ok again. I looked under car the car and everything looks ok.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into another vehicle. The contact suffered minor injuries. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal became stuck and caused the vehicle to suddenly accelerate. The failure mileage was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Toyota Corolla recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began november 20, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are j0a, j0b, and j0c. Lexus' numbers for this recall are jli, jlj, and jlk.
Full defect summary
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 gx460, 2002-2010 lexus sc430, 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 and 2010-2015 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac vibe owners will be notified by gm. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are k1q and k0q. Pontiac owners may contact gm customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Gm's number for this recall is n192273760.
Full defect summary
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 temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 2003-2004 corolla and corolla matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15v-043 and 15v-285 are under a do not drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac vibe owners will be notified by gm. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on july 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-762-2737. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v-312 in its entirety.
Full defect summary
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, toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 sequoia, 2005-2006 tundra, 2003-2007 corolla, 2003-2007 corolla matrix, 2003-2007 pontiac vibe and 2002-2007 lexus sc vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been ins
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 2003-2004 corolla and corolla matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15v-043 and 15v-286 are under a do not drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac vibe owners will be notified by gm. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on july 13, 2015. Pontiac vibe owners may contact gm at 1-800-762-2737. Gm began the recall on june 29, 2015. Note: this recacl
Full defect summary
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 coast, puerto rico, hawaii, the u.s. Virgin islands, guam, saipan and american samoa. On june 16, 2015 toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 lexus sc, toyota sequoia, 2003-2004 toyota corolla matrix, toyota corolla, pontiac vibe, and toyota tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the may 13, 2015 notification in the portions of georgia, alabama, louisiana, mississippi and texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessit
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: There are a variety of warnings and consequences associated with the defect. The engine warning lamp could be illuminated, harsh shifting could result, the engine may not start, or the engine could shut off while the vehicle is being driven. An engine shutoff while the vehicle is being driven increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the production number of the ECM and replace the ECM if necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Toyota will mail an interim owner notification the middle of september 2010 to advise owners of this defect and recall. This interim notification will inform owners that they will receive a future notification when parts become available to have the free remedy performed on their vehicle. The safety recall began on november 29, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 corolla and corolla matrix vehicles. The engine control module (ECM) for the subject models equipped with the 1zz-fe engine and two-wheel drive may have been improperly manufactured. There is a possibility that a crack may develop at certain solder points or on varistors on the circuit board.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Equipment: labels
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Low-speed surging
Summary
The agency received a petition on september 11, 2014 requesting an investigation into, low-speed surging in the 2006-2010 toyota corolla [vehicles] with etcs-I, in which the brakes fail to stop the vehicle in time to prevent a crash.NHTSA conducted a technical review of the material cited and provided by the petitioner, material toyota submitted in response to a NHTSA formal request, interviews with complainants and manufacturer representatives, as well as the results of testing of the complaint vehicle.taking into account the allocation of agency resources, agency priorities, and the likelihood that an additional investigation would result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle
Engine stall
Summary
On august 26, 2010, toyota submitted a defect information report to the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) regarding problems with engine control modules that could result in engine stall while driving in certain model year (my) 2005 through 2008 toyota corolla, corolla matrix and pontiac vibe vehicles equipped with the 1zz-fe engine and two-wheel drive and manufactured between april 19, 2004 and january 2, 2008.toyota's report indicated that cracks may develop at certain solder point or on varistors on the ecms.according to toyota, such cracks generally resulted in engine warning lamp illumination, harsh shifting or engine no-start.in some cases, if the cracking occurs o
Engine stalling
Summary
On november 30, 2009, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe09-054) to investigate alleged engine stalling, while driving in model year (my) 2006 toyota corolla and corolla matrix vehicles .in its response to odi's information request submitted on march 2, 2010, toyota indicated that it had identified two possible causes of production defects of the engine control units (ecu) used in the my 2005 through 2007 corolla and matrix vehicles equipped with the 1zz-fe engine.failure mode a1 - bga ball failure caused by improperly cured conformal coating applied to ecu circuit boards. This can cause cracks to form in the soldered joints of some components. Failu
Questions about the 2006 Toyota Corolla
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Toyota Corolla?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (454 complaints, typically around 86,000 miles); engine (128 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles); electrical (85 complaints, typically around 52,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Corolla have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Toyota Corolla?
- It is 4th of 27 Corolla model years by number of complaints, with 840 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.