1997 Toyota Corolla Complaint Log

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45MPH. 17 YEAR OLD HIT STEERING WHEEL. OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AT THE TIME. FRONT END WAS CRUSHED BACKWARDS TOWARDS DRIVER & PASSENGER. HAD EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY DRIVER'S AND RIGHT REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT FROM RETRACTORS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND SPEED CONTROL TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN. SPEED CONTROL STARTED POPPYING AND THEN MILEAGE WENT UP TO 105. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 72 MPH BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOWDOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THEN CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 60MPH.*AK

IN RAIN BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK *ML

THE AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED MARCH OF 1997, I DO NOT KNOW IF WERE REPLACED OR THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL AIRBAGS. THEY DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY OPTIONS. *AK

I DO NOT FEEL THAT WHEN OR IF AN ACCIDENT EVER OCCURS TO THIS VEHICLE THAT THE SEAT BELTS WILL OPERATE CORRECTLY. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND/OR REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND STILL THEY DO NOT RECOIL PROPERLY. I HAVE TO DRIVE MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE EVERYDAY AND I'VE TRIED TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WILL NOT BE FAIR AND ARE TRYING TO FORCE ME TO PAY SEVERE PENALTIES. I'M NOT IN A FAVORIBLE POSITION IN THE LEASE. HOWEVER THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY BEARING ON THIS SEAT BELT SAFETY ISSUES THAT I'M SEEMINGLY FORCED TO LIVE (OR DIE) WITH.*AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, THEN CRASHED INTO A GATE. CONSUMER SHIFTED THEVEHICLE INTO PARK. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AIR BAG DEPLOYEDMENT AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE. AFTER REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO MANUFACTURER, CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S. RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM . *AK

DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK SWITCH WAS INOPERABLE WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AT THEIR COST. *AK

THE GOODYEAR TIRE ON THE VEHICLE SEPERATED WHILE DRIVING, THE TREAD GOT CAUGHT UP INTO THE REAR AXLE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. *MJS

SEATBELT LOCKS UP WHEN TRYING TO PUT ON. TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES OF TRYING TO PULL SEAT BELT BEFORE IT WILL LOOSEN ENOUGH TO BE USED. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT LIGHT IN THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN OFF IN THE CAR SINCE I RECEIVED IT. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THIS A A COMMON MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SAFTEY HAZARD.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT COME OUT OF HOLDER OFTEN, MUST PULL REPEATEDLY TO GET UNIT TO RELEASE. ONCE YOU GET THE SEAT BELT ON IT LOCKS OFTEN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN TO SEE REAR TRAFFIC. I HAVE BARELY AVOIDED ACCIDENTS 3 TIMES DUE TO THIS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE BELT WILL LOCK. MY LIFE IS IN DANGER DRIVING THIS CAR, TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE AND I DON'T NEED TO TURN MY BODY IN ORDER TO SEE REAR TRAFFIC. SHELOR SAYS THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. COME DRIVE THIS CAR AND YOU WILL SEE INSTANTLY. WHO CAN SOLVE THIS BEFORE I AM KILLED? *AK

ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN STOP LIGHT AND RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

HUSBAND DRIVING CAR APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. LADY IN VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO TRY TO AVOID HITTING HER, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. FRONT OF MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. MY DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. POLICE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THAT WE SHOULD REPORT THE INCIDENT.

CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE SIDE IMPACT AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES . *AK

WATER PUMP FAILED.

CENTURY CHILD SAFETY SEAT WON'T FIT RIGHT IN THE CAR AND LATCH RELEASE BELT IS TOO LONG, AND THE CAR SEAT ISN'T FITTING RIGHT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT FOR USE. HAD BELT RETRACTORS REPLACED 10 MONTHS AGO, BUT RETRACTING PROBLEM HAS SINCE REAPPEARED. *AK

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT THE SEATBELTS HAVE FAILED. WHEN THE SEATBELT DOES PULL OUT OF ITS HOUSING, IT CAN TIGHTEN UP, RESTRICTING THE ABILITY OF THE DRIVER TO TURN TO SEE TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. SOMETIMES THE SEATBELT WILL NOT PULL OUT AT ALL; SOMETIMES IT WILL PULL OUT AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR WITHOUT A PROPERLY WORKING SEATBELT!

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED COME OUT OF RETRACTOR. DRIVER LIFTED WITHOUT RETRAINTS. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER.*AK

CONSUMER S WAS DRIVING CAR ABOUT 25 MPH AND AIR BAG JUST DEPLOYED IN HER FACE, SHE WAS INJURED. *AK

SON WAS INVOLVED IN A ONE VEHICLE COLLISION, AT APPROX 65 MPH, LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE IMPACT WAS DEAD CENTER IN THE FRONT BUMPER. UPON ADVICE FROM POLICE OFFICER AT SCENE, I CONTACT TOYOTA TO INFORM THEM THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FURTHER INFORMED TOYOTA REP. THAT MY SON HAD ONLY MINOR INJURIES AND THERE WOULD BE NO LAW SUIT. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, THE SEAT BELT IS WHAT SAVED HIM (IMPRINT OF RESTRAINT WAS ACROSS HIS CHEST), ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE ABSORBING THE IMPACT AND CRUMPLING WHERE AND HOW IT WAS DESIGNED TO. HE ALSO BELIEVES THAT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. RECEIVED PHONE CALL FROM TOYOTA INSPECTOR (DWAYNE) AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. SAID HE INSPECTED THE ELECTRICAL AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE. HE NEVER INSPECTED VEHICLE PER BODY SHOP. I REQUESTED A WRITTEN REPORT AND WAS INFORMED FROM TOYOTA INSPECTOR (DWAYNE) THAT THEY DID NOT DO THAT. ON INITIAL CALL TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE GIVEN A WRITTEN REPORT.

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT, SPEED APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT, INSURANCE COMPANY ESTIMATED DAMAGES $4,000.00, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

RECALL #98V095000, WHEEL LUGS: NUTS RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED TO THIS VEHICLE WHICH MAY CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BACK MIDDLE SEAT BELT AND BACK PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT SNAP SHUT. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED AND REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *MJS

THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THIS WILL BE THE FORTH TIME THE BELT WILL NEED REPLACING SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN FEB OF 1997. *AK

WHEN SITTING AT A STOP SIGN THE PEDAL WILL SLIP DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD HALF WAY, AND WHEN DRIVING AND GOING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WILL SLIP AWAY FROM FOOT. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS THREE TIMES. THEY ADJUSTED THE BRAKES, AND THEY STILL CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ON ICE, CRASHED INTO A TREE HEAD-ON AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. DAMAGE AMOUNTED TO THE FRONT END, TOTALLED $8,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE CARPET IS LOOSE AROUND THE TRUNK RELEASE AND THE MAT SLIDES FORWARD, POSSIBLY THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. (QC-AW)

SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DURING IMPACT CAUSING BACK AND NECK INJURY TO CONSUMER.

TRANSMISSION/AXLE SHAFT MISADJUSTED, CAUSING CLUNKING NOISE.

DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE UP, AND WHEN DRIVER TURNED ON THE IGNITION THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. DRIVER DID NOT MOVE VEHICLE OR HIT ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARK POSITION AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. *AK

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND SOMETIMES VEHICLE WON'T STOP AT ALL,. NEEDS TO APPLY EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK, REPLACED TRANSMISSION LINE AND HOSE.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE 3-POINT SEAT BELT RETACTOR IS STUCK IN WHICH THE SEAT BELT WON'T BUCKLE WHICH WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IF IN AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR SEATBELT HAS FAILED TO RETRACT 4 SEPARATE TIMES, I HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, BUT RECEIVED MINIMAL HELP. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT VEHICLES SAFETY AND AM PURSUING A LEMON LAW CASE AGAINST THEM. I HAVE EVEN MORE CONCERNS AFTER SEEING THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED THAT SEEM ALMOST IDENTICAL TO MY PROBLEMS. *AK

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE YOU LOOK INTO A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SEAT BELT ISSUE. YOU HAVE MORE COMPLAINTS ON THE 1997 TOYOTA FOR SEAT BELTS FAILING TO RETRACT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THE FACTORY OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THERE IS A PROBELM, HAVE ADMITTED THEY HAVE A PROBLEM IN MY CAR, YET ARE PLAYING THE ODDS BY FORCING ME TO WAIT A YEAR TO GET MY CASE TO COURT. I FORTUNATELY CAN, BUT WHAT ABOUT FAMILIES THAT CANNOT. IN MY CASE THEY CAN'T EVEN GUARANTEE THEY HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM, YET WANT A FIFTH, AND MOST LIKELY SIXTH TIME TO FIX IT. MY GOAL NOW IS TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS PROBELM, GET MY MONEY BACK AND FORCE A RECALL. PLEASE AT LEAST LOOK INTO THE SITUATION. *AK

FATHER WAS DRIVING HIT A ROUGH SPOT AND THE AIR BAG INFLATED. DRIVER THEN HIT A BRIDGE AND THE PASSAGER'S SIDE AIR BAG INFLATED AS WELL. *AK

GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN.

A WATER LEAK FLOODED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR IN THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE STEERING SHAFT TO RUST. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY DEALER 3TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *SLC

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. YH

TURNING STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN CAUSED NOISE. YH

AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME FILLED WITH SMOKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE FRONT SEAT BELT WIRES PART OF RUBBED TOGETHER UNTILL THE SEAT BELT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE SEAT BELT HAS A DEFECT IN IT. THIS REPORT IS FROM A FIRE FIGHTER. *AK

WHILE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE , AREA OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT; ACCORDING TO FIRE DEPT, CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING TO SAFETY BELT. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED.