Toyota Corolla Complaints (1998)

225 consumer complaints on file.

#10107398February 16, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DOOR FAILED TO OPENED. *JB THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH MEANT THAT THE DOOR COULD NOT BE CLOSED FROM THE INSIDE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105299December 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE MADE A NOISE. THEN, VEHICLE SLOWED, AND THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BOLT CONNECTING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO THE ENGINE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE SAME DEFECT WAS FOUND. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100064November 17, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HAD IT CHECKED OUT TO FIND THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FAILED - SOMETHING MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE SEES ALL THE TIME IN THESE TOYOTAS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091688September 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
SAFETY NON COMPLAINT SERVICE TO TOYOTA COROLLA.*MR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ON SEPT 23, 2003, AS PART OF THE REPAIR WORK, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE P ARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE COVERED FOR 12 MONTHS AND WAS GOOD AT ANY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NATION WIDE. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR A 9000 MILES SERVICE, THE DEALER OBSERVED A NOISE DURING A TEST DRIVE, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE NOISE WAS DUE TO A BAD BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE PART AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER GO BACK TO THE DEALER THAT REPLACED IT IN BEGINNING.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087018August 17, 2004
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
SOON AFTER PURCHASING MY USED 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA IN 2001 I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR...THE MIRROR WOULD NOT STAY IN POSITION INSIDE THE "MIRROR-HOLDER". I WOULD POSITION IT, AND A WEEK LATER IT WOULD BE AT THE WRONG ANGLE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. NOW, THREE YEARS LATER, THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MIRROR. I POSITION IT AND A WEEK LATER IT IS STARTING TO TILT DOWN. UNFORTUNATELY THIS TIME THE MIRROR ISN'T COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY SO I JUST KEEP ADJUSTING IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086266August 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEMS ERROR. LIKELY CHARCOAL CANISTER PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066492April 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
NUMEROUS REVISIONS TO THE PART NUMBER FOR BRAKE PADS. TOYOTA IS SAYING THAT THE OWNER HAS TO EAT THE COST OF THEIR MISTAKE THAT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET RIGHT BY PURCHASING THE NEW PADS, SHIMS, AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT GO WITH IT. IF TOYOTA SOLD THE CARS WITH THE WRONG SIZE PADS THEN TOYOTA SHOULD EAT THE COST. I HAVE BEEN TO THE MECHANICS 6 TIMES IN AS MANY MONTHS AND MY BRAKES ARE STILL MESSED UP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065870April 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR IN FOR BRAKE WORK AT LOCAL DEALER RECENTLY. (HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD 90,000 MILE SERVICE THERE IN DEC 2003, NOTHING NOTED.) AT TIME OF BRAKE WORK, TOLD THAT TOP ENGINE NOISE (TICKING/RATTLE) NEEDED TO BE CHECKED, $600 JUST TO LOOK INSIDE AND SEE WHAT PROBLEM WAS. TOOK TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED CAR FOR A SECOND OPINION. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I'M ONLY AT 98,000 MILES, AND HAVE FOLLOWED MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS/CHANGED OIL REGULARLY ON SCHEDULE. I SHOULDN'T NEED A NEW ENGINE, THIS IS CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT I HADN'T CHANGED THE OIL ON TIME. ROD OR PISTON THAT WAS ABOUT TO GO IS THOUGHT TO BE THE PROBLEM. MY BROTHER IS STILL DRIVING A 1985 CAMRY! MOM HAS A 91 CAMRY STILL IN GOOD CONDITION, HIGH MILEAGE. DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAVE A TOYOTA GIVE OUT SO EARLY. WILL BE ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM TOYOTA. REPLACEMENT ENGINE TOTALED $2736.88 INCLUDING LABOR, FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 36,000 MILES. NO DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING ENGINE MILEAGE EXCEPT ON BILL, SO ODOMETER STILL SAYS 98,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065668April 6, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE ENGINE OF A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA DIED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE GERMAIN TOYOTA OF COLUMBUS EXAMINED THE CAR AND IDENTIFIED THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE AS THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE DAMAGE. REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS NEEDED. TOYOTA REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER THIS WEAR AN TEAR AND ALSO BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAPPENED AFTER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS TYPE OF WEAR AN TEAR IS NOT COMMON ON A 1998 TOYOTA WITH 82000 MILES. FURTHERMORE, TOYOTA'S OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT DOES NOT MENTION ANY MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT ON TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. THE ONLY REFERENCE IS IN PAGE 45, 90,000 MILES MAINTENANCE LOG UNDER "ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS FOR SPECIAL OPERATING CONDITIONS", WHICH INDICATES 'REPLACING TIMING BELT EXCEPT FOR COROLLA'. THE MANUAL SPECIFIES MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR UP TO 120,000 MILES. A CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WEAR & TEAR OF A COMPONENT WHEN THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT SPECIFY THE NEED FOR MAINTENANCE. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR A DESIGN DEFICIENCY. PAID 2375 FOR A USED REPLACEMENT ENGINE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062341March 16, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DOOR HANDLE STRUCTURE BROKE. THIS WAS SAID TO BE COMMON IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062342March 16, 2004
STRUCTURE
THE CD DOOR ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR FELL OFF FOR NO REASON. SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051995March 11, 2004
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR MAY HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *NM *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060713March 8, 2004
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT - I PURCHASED A 1998 TOYOTA CORLOOA IN JULY 1998. BEGINING IN SEPT OF 98 I BEGAN TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE FLASHING AIR BAG LIGHT.IT WAS TAKEN ON 9/29/98, 8/18/99, 8/15/00, 8/14/01. THE LAST VISIT THE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING BEFORE I LEFT THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO PULL IT BACK IN THE BAY FOR THEM TO RE-FIX IT. I WAS TOLD EACH TIME I TOOK IT IN THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE FUNCTIONAL EVEN IF THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK LAST MONTH AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PARTS BULLETIN ISSURE BY TOYOTA BACK IN 1999 THAT REQUIRED TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS ON THESE WIRES IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM STOP BLINKING. THIS WAS NEVER DONE ON MY CAR EVEN THOUGH ALL FOUR TIMES I TOOK IT IN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $200.00 TO DO THIS.I WAS ALSO TOLD AT THIS TIME THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL WHEN THE LIGHT IS FLASHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061215March 3, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINEDTHAT THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058204February 15, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCKS POP UP AND DOWN FREQUENTLY WHEN PARKED OR DRIVING. I CAN'T LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE CAR. I HAVE NO SECURITY WITH THIS CAR AND DEALER SAYS HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG. DEFECT IN THIS TOYOTA COROLLA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057551February 4, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN IMPACT. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BEING AGITATED WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054443January 19, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FASTENER LATCH IS DEFECTIVE. IT IS NO LONGER LATCHES, ENABLING THE DRIVER TO USE THE SEAT BELT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070390January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR '98 COROLLA THAT HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AS PER MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS BLEW ITS ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND HAD TO DANGEROUSLY VEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR HAD DONE ONLY 50,000 MILES. THE ENGINE BREAKDOWN WAS CAUSED BY SLUDGING AND EXCESSIVE ENGINE WEAR AND TEAR THAT DEVELOPED IN THE CAR WHEN IT HAD DONE JUST 36,000 MILES. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY SUBURBAN TOYOTA OF TROY, MI. I HAVE BEEN REGULAR WITH OIL CHANGE AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE THAT AND THIS IS A CLEARY A CASE OF MANUFACTURING FAULT OF THE CAR. I FINALLY PAID $4500 FOR FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND SENT THE RECEIPTS AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO TOYOTA. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THIS AMOUNT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052308January 3, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY
MOLDING ALONG ALL FOUR DOORS IS FALLING OFF. IT LOOKS LIKE MOLDING SHRUNK AND GLUE DID NOT HOLD. ONCE MOLDING STARTED COMING OFF IT BECAME BRITTLE AND FELL APART. ALMOST EVERY '98 COROLLA WE HAVE SEEN HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING ONES BEING SOLD ON TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049080December 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OF THE ELEVEN (11) VEHICLES THAT I HAVE OWNED THUS FAR, AT LEAST EIGHT (8) HAS BEEN TOYOTA, ONE A FORD, AND TWO WERE NISSAN'S. ALL THE TOYOTA'S GAVE ME EXCELLENT SERVICE, EXCEPT THE LAST. THIS WAS A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA CE THAT WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. SO MUCH SO, THAT WE PURCHASED A SMART CHOICE WARRANTY FOR TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($1200) TO GIVE US AN ADDED PIECE OF MIND. THIS VEHICLE WAS PUIRCHASED FOR MY COLLEGE GOING DAUGHTER, BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT THIS BRAND IS BASED ON RELIABILTY, ECONOMY AND DURABILITY. THESE ARE WELL KNOWN TOYOTRA ATTRIBUTES.ON 11/28/2003 THE OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AT INTERVALS. I DID MY OWN DIAGONISTICS AS A RESPONSIBLE TOYOTA OWNER AND FOUND THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. I THEN LEFT WORK TO TAKE THE CAR FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD AFTER HOURS OF EXAMINATION THAT THE OIL PUMP NEEDED REPLACING. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS AS THE VEHICLE HAD REGULAR SERVICES. AT THIS I CONTACTED SMART CHOICE, ONLY TO LEARN THAT THEY HAD FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THIS WAS A MAJOR SETBACK FOR ME. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS AT THIS STAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY $530.00. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION BY MY MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS ENGINE HAD LARGE DEPOSITS OF SLUDGE AND THAT IT HAD A SHORT LIFESPAN. BASED ON THIS I WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT I LODGE THIS LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT AND REQUEST AN OFFICIAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO CONTACT ME AT THE SOONEST.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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