2020 EPA-estimated 29 city/36 highway/32 combined mpg for Corolla SE with 6-speed manual transmission. Actual mileage will vary. SiriusXM ® audio services require a subscription sold separately by Sirius XM Radio Inc. If you decide to continue service after your trial, the subscription plan you choose will automatically renew thereafter. Toyota manual 5 speed transmission 0 from the C50 gearbox family. A 5-speed manual transmission for FWD cars. This gearbox is known to develop a fifth gear pop-out problem as it ages. Mar 16, 2009 Corolla S 1.8L. Bought my 2003 Toyota Corolla S (manual transmission) brand new when I was 24, because I was looking for a dependable car and chose practicality and dependability over looks and style (not that it's a bad looking vehicle). I heard about all these great stories involving Toyotas and how they regularly go 200k without a hiccup. Dec 08, 2018 This video is unavailable. Watch Queue Queue. Watch Queue Queue. This is a guide to help you with your manual transmission fluid change, It doesn’t cover automatic transmissions in which different steps, parts, and tools are required. Notes: I am doing this on my XRS with a C60 6-Speed Manual Transmission (same as the Matrix XRS and Celica GT-S).
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2003 Toyota Corolla (Page 1 of 3)
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,830
Average Mileage:
116,400 miles
Total Complaints:
44 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
Replace transmission (35 reports)
not sure (5 reports)
rebuilt transmission (4 reports)
transmission problem
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Helpful websites
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - File your complaint with the 2003 Toyota Corolla Transmission here.
2003 Toyota Corolla Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)
problem #44
Corolla CE 1.8L
Manual transmission
130,000 miles
My transmission and the front tires locked up heading down the highway. This is a known problem with these transmissions. Called Toyota customer service. Asked if they could help me out with the repair: Nope. Asked if they could give me a discount on a new Toyota: Nope. I bought brand new from a Toyota dealer. This is my second Corolla. Shame on you Toyota, if someone died you would have had a recall. You know about this problem. I am glad it didn’t happen on an icy road or down a mountain pass. Car went to the junk yard. You are short-sighted Toyota because it’s Hondas for me and the kids this time around. You showed your true colors.
Oct 09, 2018 SOURCE: 2002 Honda CBR 1100 XX Super Blackbird high beam bulb location Hi, Pierre for this scenario you will need your service manual that has all fastener torque specs and a wiring diagram on the back pages, parts fiche, and owners manual if you can't find the best tool you ever bought for your Honda, despair not, for a mere $15 you can download another one. May 30, 2013 Honda Cbr 1100 Manual Blackbird Cbr1100xx 1996-2007 Download. DOWNLOAD HERE. This is the COMPLETE official full factory service repair. 1997 honda cbr 1100xx super blackbird manual download. View and Download Honda CBR1100XX owner's manual online. CBR1100XX Motorcycle pdf manual download. Motorcycle Honda CBR 1000RR FIRE BLADE Ownes Manual. Honda (166 pages) Motorcycle Honda CBR1000RR Fire Blade Owner's Manual (168 pages). 1997 honda cbr 1100xx super blackbird-location idle adjusting cable Hi, Raymond for this scenario you will need your service manual, parts fiche, and owners manual if you can't find the best tool you ever bought for your Honda, despair not, for a mere $15 you can download another one.
- Some D., Minneapolis, US
problem #43
Corolla S
Manual transmission
155,128 miles
The car was going perfectly until I let my brother in law drive it. Started having clicking and grinding noises while we were on vacation 350 miles away. So we drove it home. Barely made it home before the tranny seized. So took it to the local shop and they gave us a fair quote, but it took them nearly 3 weeks to get the transmission shipped to them. Luckily for us we had a spare car, but it wasn't cheap to fix.
- Chad H., Rexburg, ID, US
problem #42
Corolla S 1.8L L4
Manual transmission
93,206 miles
Transmission failed after being noisy for some time. When it finally gave up the ghost the car came to a very sudden stop (thankfully in a low-speed situation). The transmission was completely non-functional - it could not even be shifted into neutral, and the car would not roll at all to be pushed out of the intersection.
I was told by the shop that one of the bearings flew apart, and that the projectile pieces irreparably damaged several gear teeth. If I had addressed the problem (i.e. the noisy transmission) sooner I could have saved a few bucks and a tow by having the transmission rebuilt before it completely failed, but that was going to be an expensive repair as well.
The repair consisted of putting in a scrap yard transmission. This is less than ideal, as it has a bad synchro on 4th gear (i.e. a grinding shift only if done rapidly). My advice to anyone with one of these transmissions: if it starts making noise, bite the bullet and have the problem taken care of early. I tried to wait it out, figuring that a full replacement would be just more effective and as cheap or cheaper than a refurbishment. It wasn't.
The attached photos show the disassembled transmission. In the wide shot you can see the inner race of the bearing still on its shaft at top-left, sever bearing balls lying around, and the bearing cage on the bench between the two halves. The close-up shows the inner race and some of the 'shrapnel' that was my poor transmission's undoing.
- Sam M., Vancouver, BC, Canada
problem #41
Corolla S 1.8L
Manual transmission
139,000 miles
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought my 2003 Toyota Corolla S (manual transmission) brand new when I was 24, because I was looking for a dependable car and chose practicality and dependability over looks and style (not that it's a bad looking vehicle). I heard about all these great stories involving Toyotas and how they regularly go 200k without a hiccup.
Here we are over 12 years later, and am in the process of having another (yes, another) transmission put in. Original transmission was replaced at 124,000 miles, and only 3 years later, and 25,000 miles later, it now needs another transmission. Not the dependability I was expecting. In both instances, the same thing occurred; although it went out on me a lot faster the second time around. I heard a grinding sound every time I accelerated, until it finally went out on me and locked up both times.
The first time I was on a side street, and it happened while I was approaching red light (and only reverse worked, so I was able to reverse it into a gas station nearby). The second time was a bit more scary (and I'm pissed off about this even more, now that I'm reading everyone else's story, because I could've been in a major accident). I was driving 65 mph down the freeway (in the 3rd lane in) when all of a sudden my car bucked (jerked back) back on me. I immediately got off the freeway within 5-7 seconds (thank God I was able to), when all of a sudden it completely froze/seized/locked up on me and proceeded to skid out about 15 feet along the side of the freeway only a second or two after getting off. The more I think about it, the more I am thankful that I was able to get over so quickly or it could've been disastrous.
Nevertheless, I just got it towed to the local Toyota dealership, and am looking forward to what they have to say. I am printing out all the links/forums/articles that I have found about this very specific problem with this very specific year and model (with only manual transmissions have you). Not sure what they will do about (my guess is they'll say tough luck and tell me it's going to cost me $3600, and then I'll have to have it towed to another place that can do it with a rebuilt transmission for $2000), but I'm going to give it a try.
It really angers me that they can allow this problem to persist and put people's lives in danger. We also have a Highlander, and am looking to purchase another vehicle in the not too distant future, but after all of this, it will not be another Toyota. Shame on them for not correcting this issue.
- John H., Rocklin, CA, US
problem #40
Corolla S
Automatic transmission
162,000 miles
I was accelerating from being stopped at a red light and all of a sudden I hear a loud pop and then the car stopped moving. I was able to make it over to the shoulder. Every time I changed gears, I heard a grinding noise. It was louder when I put it in reverse. I am really disappointing in the quality Toyota has been putting out recently.
- scorpio767er, Bowie, MD, US
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problem #39
Corolla CE V4
Manual transmission
123,000 miles
Manual transmission failed. Toyota didn't offer any support and said they haven't received enough complaints to do anything even though the dealer knew right away what the problem was and said its very common.
- Katie T., saint louis, MO, US
problem #38
Corolla CE
Manual transmission
110,000 miles
Ach, I only learned about this website after telling a friend about my trashed manual transmission! I notice a funny grinding sort of noise probably 10000 miles ago. I mentioned it at the dealer once when I brought in in for service, but they said they couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary. If I got the gas pedal pressed just enough so the engine wasn't applying torque to the wheels, the noise would go away. I was guessing maybe the universal joints or something. Then a couple days ago drive up the interstate, there was a funny boing sound and from then to home, maybe just five miles, there were very funny sounds, like shifting tones or something. Scary, actually. When I tried to go shopping yesterday, it didn't want to go in reverse. I managed to coax it finally, but then it wouldn't shift back into first. Finally got it going forward, parked it back where I started, and called the tow truck. This morning I got a call from the dealer - the transmission is just a mess of metal bits. Ouch.
- James K., Kingston, NY, US
problem #37
Corolla S 1.8L
Manual transmission
93,342 miles
I am the original owner of a 2003 Toyota Corolla S with a manual transmission. In November 2011, the bearings in my transmission failed on a long trip at just over 93,000 miles. The failure in the bearings destroyed the transmission and disabled my car on the freeway. I had it towed to an auto shop where I purchased a brand new transmission from the local Toyota Service Center. It was installed, as well as a new clutch.. and just under 3 years later ITS FAILING AGAIN (I filed a new complaint for that one as well).
Toyota is well aware of this issue. If any lawyer wants to take up a class action lawsuit I would be more than happy to get on board with that.
- divit, Orinda, CA, US
problem #36
Corolla Sport 1.4L
Manual transmission
160,000 miles
Transmission locked up while driving down the freeway. Started making a grinding noise, then froze up and almost was hit by a big rig. This is a known issue and Toyota is doing nothing about it!
http://www.change.org/petitions/unbearable-transmission-bearing. Sign this petition and lets grab Toyota by the balls and make them fix this issue.
- Nate T., Eugene, OR, US
problem #35
Corolla CE
Manual transmission
190,000 miles
Seriously Toyota? This is a manual transmission. How in the hell does it go before anything else? I have babied this car and taken care of it like no other. It is my commuting car so those miles are all highway miles. Out of the blue the transmission goes. Turns out, this is a known problem and they will do nothing to remedy the situation. Makes me never want to buy a Toyota EVER again!
The price to replace the transmission was $2760. Did not know manual transmissions had this problem.
It's good to know of others who've had similar problems.
Toyota Corolla Manual Transmission For Sale
- genroch, Wood Village, OR, US
problem #33
Corolla CE 1.8L 4 cyl
Manual transmission
110,000 miles
The transmission just went out on my Mum's '03 Corolla, after reading all the other responses I'm pretty ticked at Toyota. She bought this Corolla when she started her new job as a home-health nurse about a year ago; it had 80*** miles on it then and now has somewhere between 110-130K. It started making growling noises about three months ago and we were told by our reputable mechanic that it was a throwout bearing and that he'd change it when we got the money. She purchased this car because it was reliable (Toyota..) and cheap to run, my Mum is a very competent manual driver, and has never beat on her car. Luckily she is able to use my high-school sister's '98 Crown Victoria until she can repair or replace this Corolla, but it is costing her a fortune in gas to drive the Crown Vic; had she not had it available she could have lost her job as it requires having a car to drive to patients' homes. We are very displeased with Toyota and the apparent lack of effort to rectify this problem. Unless a solution arises, we will be getting a different car and staying away from Toyota in the future.
- jaweber, Poynette, WI, US
problem #32
Corolla CE 4 cyl
Manual transmission
106,876 miles
I drove standard transmission vehicule for more than 50 year.My last car was a Ford tempo diesel ,after 422,000 klm the clutch and transmission was still in good condition.but I needed a new car SO; Here is a new 2003 corolla .Now with only 172,000 klm the transmission fail, the main bearing that is submerge in oil worn out prematurely, What should impossible unless a factory defect in its fabrication re-improper hardening and It cause,a full rebuilt at a cost of $2200.00 can dollars I fell that Toyota should cover that defect and all the cost involved. I am extremely dissatisfied with Toyota and my past good experience with Ford will be a strong factor in choosing our next car.Dager2
- dager2, Westmeath, Ontario, Canada
problem #31
Corolla S 1.8L 1zzfe
Manual transmission
105,633 miles
Started hearing a noise from the transmission at around 50k miles. Could only hear it with the windows up and during acceleration. Sounded like someone turning an egg beater under the hood. Almost like a muffled helicopter sound. Drove the car for a week and the sound got progressively worse. Took it into to the dealer and they said the transmission was shot. Took it to a transmission shop and they did a bearing kit (replaced all bearings) and clutch to the tune of $2000. I still have the bearing that went bad. I think it was the input shaft bearing.
Car drove fine for another 5 years. At around 112k miles, same old sound. Got worse quickly. Once again took it to the transmission shop and did a bearing kit + clutch for another $2000. Same bearing, same failure.
There is definitely some sort of design flaw with the manual transmission in this car. Toyota doesn't care since it won't fail until the factory power-train warranty is expired.
- blot, Hamilton, Ontario, canada
problem #30
Corolla LE
Manual transmission
75,587 miles
Here's my story:
I purchased my 03 Corolla LE manual transmission in the summer of 2007 directly from the prior owner. He had purchased the vehicle new and kept immaculate service records. I was ecstatic to find the manual transmission model available, as I was highly leaning towards replacing my Civic with another Civic mostly due to the availability of a manual transmission. So I purchase this vehicle with 67000 miles on it at a fair rate. I love it. Life is good.
This feeling of contentment was to be short lived, however. About 10 months and 8000 miles later, I was driving on the highway headed to finish my Organic Chem sequence in preparation to apply for medical school when an unexpected thing happen. First, a loud whirring noise appeared coming from my engine. Then there was a pop. Then my car did not move.
I had the car towed to a local shop that had many favorable reviews. There they informed me of the bad, and I mean horrible, news. My transmission was completely destroyed and along with the clutch needed to be replaced immediately. Well, as a college student working as much as possible to pay for my own education, the 3200 bill was astronomical. However, what could I do? I never expected my manual transmission to explode at just over 75,000 miles. Who would? My Honda Civic before I replaced it had 166,000 miles on it and ran like a champ, needing only minor fixes along the way. Here I am with a car that I hadn't had for a year, that is needing a fix that is about half the price of the car at the time of my purchase.
After doing a lot of digging, as us researchers are known to do, I found out I was not alone. Many owners of this same exact vehicle reported this problem, and all were outraged that this occurred. Further digging, resulted in my finding out that in this specific model vehicle the manual transmission was not a Toyota part, but was outsourced to Yamaha. Their particular part had a habit of failing just outside of 75,000 miles, and just outside of the standard warranty, conveniently.
Consider this post a heads up to anyone considering purchasing a manual 2003 Toyota Corolla. Do your homework. Have the vehicle thoroughly inspected. Look and see if the transmission is still stock, or if it has been replaced. This will save you a lot of grief and money.
On my end, after growing up a loyal Toyota enthusiast (my mother worked for their local office for 10 years) I believe that this event has severed any good will I may have had towards them. The way that this issue played out, and the information that I gathered about the transmission and its nasty habit of failing just outside of the standard warranty leads me to believe that this was a known issue. It is logical to assume that Toyota knew about this issue and simply decided not to remedy it for the minority of Corolla owners, like myself, that wanted a manual transmission.
Hope this helps a few people. Sincerely,
Ken R.
- Ken R., Cincinnati, OH, US
problem #29
Corolla CE 1.8L
Automatic transmission
182,000 miles
In 2010 I needed newer car, called my bank, it was an emergency. When I found this 2003 Toyota corolla I was thrilled, so was my bank and said it was a good investment. In less than six months with all highway miles the transmission leaves me stranded 80 miles away from home. Had to stay almost 3 weeks where my car was and work until I could find a transmission to put in it. Great had it put in and two weeks later again it fails and again Im stranded at work and can't go home. Had it towed to nearest Toyota dealer, they were shocked. Not only was it very rare for the transmission to go out once in this automatic car but now twice. Good thing this one was still under warranty.
The second and last transmission found in a 200 mile radius because there are no good ones left. Now I'm back with the third one its now bad. My only option is to rebuild at the cost of over $1500. Totally not fair, plus I had to refinance the car to get the first one put in, so yes I still owe on it. Sounds like lemon law and yes you can on used cars from what I've read. TOYOTA make it right or close the doors!!
- Gwen J., Lancaster, OH, US
problem #28
Used Toyota Corolla Manual Transmission
Corolla CE 1.8L
Manual transmission
167,000 miles
The car started with a noise that was muffled and quiet, but noticeable. Within 2 DAYS while on the way to a mechanic the whole thing trashed while I was driving. Could barely get to where I was going! Total loss! So expensive because there are hardly any of these out there. I am very upset! Not getting a Toyota again.
- M G., Milwaukee, WI, US
problem #27
Corolla S 1.8L
Manual transmission
105,000 miles
Total Transmission Failure on 5 speed manual. Car will not go into any gear. A used transmission for this car is about $1600.00, OUCH. Can't afford to fix. I have always had Toyotas since I started driving. My 1992 Corolla went forever. I bought this car thinking I would be good for a long time. 6 months ago I had the clutch replaced, then the trans axle broke, fixed that, now the transmission. I don't know if it is worth fixing. Can't afford another car. This really sucks.
- Shawn M., Uniontown, PA, US
problem
Used Toyota Corolla Standard Transmission
#
Toyota Corolla Se Manual Transmission
26
Corolla S 1.8L
Manual transmission
132,000 miles
Have replaced this manual transmission twice, both failed, 5 speed.
Finally replaced it with a Pontiac Vibe 6 speed, same transmission, just a 6 speed, everything fit.
- Omar T., Cleveland, TN, US
problem #25
Corolla CE 1.8L
Manual transmission
88,000 miles
I too joined the club - transmission on my manual '03 Corolla went out. Always thought Toyota's were good reliable cars that would last 200-300 k miles. Very disappointed, and waiting for recall to be issued.
- johnstonohio, Cleveland, OH, US
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