Used car checklist
Before you buy, check these known problems on the car. Each line comes from our Problems page.
Look for: Oil level drops between changes, blue smoke, oil-fouled plugs and misfire
More →Look for: Rough idle, jerking at ~100 km/h, flashing CEL, poor fuel average
More →Look for: Lean code, rough cold idle, misfire
More →Look for: Lack of power, lean code, poor average
More →Look for: RPM dips to ~400 or the engine stalls when the clutch is pressed or the A/C comes on
More →Look for: Poor fuel average, CEL
More →Look for: Squeal or rattle from the belt area
More →Look for: Oil on the rear of the engine, little dripping
More →Look for: Oil smell, oil in plug wells causing misfire
More →Look for: Coolant loss, puddles, squeal, overheating
More →Look for: Temperature rises on long runs or with A/C
More →Look for: Fluid leaks at the rack and pump, whine on turning, heavy or jerky steering
More →Look for: Clunk or creak over speed breakers
More →Look for: Speed-dependent hum
More →Look for: 2-3 flare or bind-up, slipping in 3rd/4th, stalls at a stop
More →Look for: Harsh shift, CEL
More →Look for: Delay into D/R
More →Look for: Weak cooling, compressor cycling, RPM surge after a non-OEM swap
More →Look for: Windows don't work from the driver switch
More →Look for: Ping on throttle in high gear
More →Look for: None until deployment (rupture risk)
More →Look for: 5-6 km/L
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Recalls: ask for proof
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.
More →Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.
More →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.
More →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.
More →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.
More →Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004.
More →TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND POSSIBLY RATTLING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN OPERATING THE POWER WINDOWS.
More →Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits are susceptible to internal shorting. The electrical short may create an abnormal current flow and increased heat which can damage the circuits. This could result in an inadvertent deployment of the front airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
More →ON PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (VIN) STARTING WITH 1NX ONLY AND BUILT FROM JANUARY 8 THROUGH FEBRUARY 13, 2002, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE BOLTS THAT JOIN THE REAR BRAKE AND HUB ASSEMBLY TO THE REAR AXLE CARRIER TO BE LOOSE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.
More →ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS, THE LUG NUT(S) MAY NOT SECURE THE WHEEL PROPERLY TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY DUE TO OVER-DRILLING OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE LUG NUT HOLES ON THE ALLOY WHEEL. IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IN THIS CONDITION, THE LUG NUT(S) COULD POTENTIALLY LOOSEN.
More →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.
More →Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured May 25, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008. 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.
More →Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008 that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
More →PakWheels reports that Takata airbag recalls may affect used imported cars in Pakistan. No IMC Corolla E120 campaign was found.
More →Propellant under-filled during assembly; it can powder from vibration and the inflator may rupture on deployment. Remedy: replace the inflator.
More →Propellant density low (moulding or moisture control). The inflator may rupture or catch fire on deployment. Replace the inflator.
More →Same defect as 2013, expanded VIN ranges. Replace the inflator.
More →Propellant degrades with temperature and humidity cycling. Replace the inflator or airbag; if parts are short, deactivate the passenger airbag and fit a warning label.
More →Special service campaign to replace the front passenger inflator: Corolla MY2004-2007, 31,426 vehicles.
More →Re-replace previously fitted interim inflators (metal fragment risk). Corolla and Yaris.
More →Free inflator replacement. Affected list includes Corolla MY2000-2013. VIN checker on the page.
More →No IMC recall campaign for 2002-2008 locally assembled E120 found. IMC's 2018 Corolla recall concerned 2015-16 Altis Grande airbag sensors (not E120). PakWheels blog only urged IMC to check Takata exposure.
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Also: scan for fault codes, look at every warning light at key-on, and check the service record. Fault codes · Warning lights