1998 Toyota Corolla Complaint Log

TIRE BLOWOUT. TREAD SEPARATION APPARENT. CAR IS UNABLE TO REPAIR.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

ENGINE STARTED RATTLING AND VIBRATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

THE SUN VISOR FLIPPED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, WHICH CAUSED THE SUN TO SHINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. TS *JB

ELECTRIC WINDOWS DO NOT WORK WHEN EXTREME TEMP ARISE. COLD WINTER DAYS AMD EXTREME SUMMER DAYS. LOCKS ON DOORS POPPED OUT OF PLACE. WINDOWS SLIPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPARIED

THE ENGINE CONSUMES OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR 15 YEARS AGO. TOLD A TOYOTA SHOP FOREMAN ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA DOESN'T WANT TO ADMIT ANY FAULT. HE SAID THEY MADE THE PISTONS TOO SMALL AND THE RINGS TOO BIG. HE IS A CLOSE FRIEND WHO KNOWS I TAKE CARE OF MY CARS EXTREMELY WELL. HE SAID TO JUST KEEP NURSING THE CAR LIKE I DO. AND FOR 15 YEARS I HAVE BEEN NURSING MY CAR EVERY WEEK I CHECK THE OIL. IF IT IS A SLIGHT BIT LOW I WILL ADD OIL TO THE FULL LINE. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE CAR LAST, IF I LET IT GO AND DIDN'T CHECK THE OIL, THERE WOULD BE NOTHING LEFT IN THE CRANKCASE, THE ENGINE WOULD PROBABLY SEIZE UP BECAUSE OF LACK OF OIL. I NOTICED THIS CONDITION WITH THE ENGINE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR 15 YEARS AGO USED. THE CAR WAS A YEAR AND HALF OLD. I CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT IT BACK THEN IN THE YEAR OF 2000 AND THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEM OR RECALL LIKE THEY STILL DO TODAY. SINCE THEN, I HAVE CONFRONTED OTHER TOYOTA COROLLA OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AS MINE GIVE A TAKE A YEAR OR TWO AND THEY HAVE ALL STATED THAT YES THERE OIL WAS EXTREMELY LOW ALSO. ONE STRANGER I WALKED UP TO IN THE PARKING LOT SAID TO ME "YES, I ADD OIL TO IT EVERY WEEK." SO TO SUM THINGS UP. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS LIKE ME WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE EVERY WEEK FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THAT CAR. TOYOTA SHOULD BE SUED FOR NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT THEIR OIL BURNING ENGINES FOR THE 1998 TO 2002 COROLLA MODEL YEAR. THERE IS NO OIL LEAKING UNDER THE CAR AT ALL AND ALL OF THE GASKETS ON THE ENGINE ARE DRY WITH NO LEAKS. THE INTERIOR OF THE TAILPIPE HAS ALOT OF BLACK SOOT INDICATING OIL CONSUMPTION WITHIN THE ENGINE.

CONTROL ARM HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND HAD CAUSED VEHICLE EARLY WEAR ON TIRES, EVERY 20,000 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TIRE COLLAPSED WHILE IN MOVEMENT. *AK

REAR STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED. RUINED REAR TIRES AS WELL.*AK

WHILE INCLINING AT 40-50 MPH AND APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO CHANGE LANES, SUDDENLY VEHICLE COMMENCE TO ACCELERATE AND RUN AWAY. WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEAR IN NETURAL, AND PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD, DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

UPON BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON PASSENGER SIDE, THE DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS BOLT PULLED OUT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN ABOUT. *YH

THIS VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AN OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND RIBS. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK *NLM

AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY ON DASHBOARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. *AK

WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, VEHICLE WAS HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPARIED. CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 30 MPH HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. *AK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE EXPERIENCE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. LOCAL FIRE DEPTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A FUEL LEAKAGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND SMELLED OF BURNING WIRE. NLM

OCTOBER 1999 - BRAKES LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR INSP. - SERVICE DEPART. SAID MY BRAKES NEEDED CLEANED AND ADJUSTED - TOPPED OFF MASTER CYLINDER - NOW IT PASSED STATE INSP. ON 1/11/00. 2/29/00 BROUGHT BACK FOR NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES - SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BRAKES NEEDED CLEANED & ADJUSTED WHEN I LEFT SERVICE DEPT. PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURING - CALLED SET UP ANOTHER APPT - 3/8/00 SERVICE DEPT FOUND REAR DRUMS RUSTED - REAR SHOES CRACKED - A RENT A CAR WAS GIVEN 3/7/00 RETURNED IT ON 3/8/00 - THEY REPLACED REAR BRAKE DRUMS AND SHOES - NOW COULD THIS HAPPEN IN A FEW DAYS ON 2/29 YOU SAID NO PROBLEM? 4/11/00 BROUGHT CAR BACK FOR INSP DUE TO SAME NOISE BUT NOW WORSE HAD SERVICE MGR NOW DO A TEST RUN WITH ME - SERVICE DEPT FOUND FRONT BRAKE PADS CRACKING AND ROTORS SCORED LEFT FRONT AXLE SHAFT INTERNAL DEFECT - FRONT BEARING INTERNAL PROBLEM - BOTH FRONT HUBS NEED REPLACED - RENT A CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME AGAIN. NOW 6/00 NOISE IS BACK ON 7/14/00 TOOK CAR FOR ANOTHER UNDER CARRAGE INSP, OIL- FILTER CHANGE, 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, ETC.. THEY SAID NO PROBLEM ITS JUST BRAKE DUST. THE NOISE IS STILL CURRENT AS OF TODAY 7/23/00. I NOW HAVE TO CALL THEM & THEY ALREADY TREAT ME WITH IGNORANCE, I'M LOOKING INTO FILING FOR THE LEMON LAW I NEED SOME SATISFACTION - HOW COULD ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BE OVERLOOKED? - I FEEL MY LIFE IS IN THE HANDS OF TOYOTA'S SERVICE DEPT - AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL. THEY GAVE ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 6 YEAR OR 100,000.00 MILES AFTER I ASKED FOR IT. I STATED NOW THAT I HAVE MY RECONSTRUCTED VEHICLE BACK WOULD TOYOTA GRANT ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND STAND BEHIND THERE PARTS. THEY DID BUT THE STRESS AND LOSS OF WORK DUE TO MANY SERVICE APPTS IS SO AGGRAVATING. MAYBE MY PROBLEM COULD BE OF USE TO YOU. IF I COULD ASSIST IN ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL - I STILL HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER APPT FOR MY VEHICLE -I MEAN IS IT REALLY BRAKE DUST THIS TIME OR IS THE CAR GOING TO FALL APART AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH ME IN IT? THANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY. THEN, VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND HERAD A NOISE. FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL.*AK THE TREAD FLEW OFF OF THE RIM OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *YH

JUST MINUTES AFTER DRIVING IN HEAVY DALLAS TRAFFIC, STOPPED AT A GROCERY STORE AND WAS PULLING INTO AN ANGLED PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ALMOST STOPPED, WHEN CAR SURGED FORWARD (REPEAT-WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE). THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. I HIT THE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF ME; VERY LITTLE DAMAGE AS MY CAR WAS ALMOST STOPPED WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD AND BRAKE FAILED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY CAR PORT. THE BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR SURGED FORWARD. THAT TIME I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND JUST THOUGHT MY FOOT MUST HAVE SLIPPED. THIS TIME, I HAD TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND WE ALL WITNESSED THE SURGE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR (USELESS). AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED (BY HITTING SOMETHING EACH TIME), THE BRAKE GOES BACK TO ITS USUAL POSITION. I TOOK THE CAR TO CLASSIC TOYOTA HERE IN TYLER THE NEXT DAY WHEN I DROVE BACK HERE. THEY SAID THEY INSPECTED IT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I WAS VERY UPSET AND IT WAS ANNOTATED ON THE JOB TICKET. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND LEFT MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER WITH THE DRIVER OF THE CAR I HIT IN THE GROCERY STORE LOT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED JUST MINUTES BEFORE AS I STOPPED FOR THE NUMEROUS RED LIGHTS IN DALLAS, MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPELLED OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION AND WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND THE CAR IS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP FOR ME AND MY PASSENGERS OR THE VEHICLE I MIGHT HIT BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE AND SURGE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A TWO-YEAR LAPSE BETWEEN THE TWO INCIDENTS, WHICH IS WHY THE DEALER COULDN'T TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY SUGGESTED MY FOOT HAD SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THIS ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. *AK

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

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DUE TOO OVER HEATING OF FAILED STARTER CABLE WHICH IGNITED A PLASTIC GAS LINE. YH

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT PUT CAR IN PARK AND VEHICLE JUMPED CURVE. SECOND TIME WHILE IN A PARKING LOT PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT JUMPED CURVE,AND CONSUMER LANDED IN A DITCH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY DUPLICATED PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE JUMPING FORWARD.*AK

PERIODIC UNCONTROLLED BURSTS OF ACCELERATION ON A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA, SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR (1999 TO NOW). *TR

WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING 45MPH A TRUCK RAN A STOP SIGN AND I HIT THEM IN THE SIDE MY SON WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND HIS SEAT CAUGHT WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES BUT RELEASED WHEN WE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE SEATBELT ALSO RELEASED WHEN WE HIT THE DITCH. HE HIT HIS HEAD ON THE WINSHIELD 2 TIMES AND IS NOW DEALING WITH POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO DEFECTS AND THAT THE SAFETY SYSTEM DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P185/65R14 )

I HIT A TRUCK AT AN INTERSCTION AT 55. I DID NOT SEE HIM. I WAS ALONE, AND DID NOT SEE THE TRUCK SOON ENOUGH. MY DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE PARA-MEDIC WHO REACHED ME FIRST NOTED THAT THE BAG HAD NOT INFLATED. THEY ARRIVED IN 5 MINUTES. THE PASSENGER SIDE DID INFLATE. I SUFFERED SEVERE BRUISING AND BROKEN RIBS AND HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. MY INSURANCE COMPANY ASKED ME TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT. *AK

EVERYTIME IT RAINS ALL 4 DOORS LEAK. CONTACT DEALER, AND NOTHING THEY COULD DO. VEHICLE IS SMELLING MOLDY.*AK

AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, IN JULY OF 1999 THE FRONT AND RIGHT SEATBELT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SLC

MAKING NOISES IN FRONT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. HAD AN OIL CHANGE 12-OCT-99, NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT. ALSO, REPLACED AND SURFACED ROTORS. DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER WOULD NEED NEW BRAKES IN ABOUT 12000 MILES. *AK

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS CAR CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. FIRE OFFICIALS AT THE SCENE NOTICED SMELL OF GAS. THEIR INITIAL REACTION WAS THAT EITHER A FUEL LINE RUPTURED OR A FUEL INJECTOR FAILED AND SPRAYED FUEL ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS.

TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER WHO CONTACTED TOYOTA...ALTHOUGH STILL UNDER WARRANTY DEALER AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR. SAID THAT CAR WAS ABUSED, BUT OIL CHANGES WERE MADE AND DOCUMENTED. CAM SEIZED.

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT:1) STARTED THE AUTOMOBILE; SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKES AND GENTLY RELEASING IT.2) HE HIT TAP A LIGHT POST, ON THE LEFT BLIND SPOT, WHILE BACKING UP... SPEED LESS THAN 5 MPH. RESULT WAS A PAINT SCRAPE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUMPER.3)HE QUICKLY SHIFTED TO DRIVE TO MOVE A BIT FORWARD WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE AND RELEASING GENTLY.4) THE CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATED AND "PLOWED" THROUGH A BRICK BARRIER ABOUT 12" THICK.5) AFTER TRYING TO CONTROL THE AUTOMOBILE, HE MADE A LEFT TURN CIRCLE AND COLLIDED INTO THE BUILDING THAT CONTAINED THE BRICK BARRIER WALL.6) DURING THE IMPACT OF THE BARRIER WALL, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT FULLY DEPLOYED. ONLY AFTER THE IMPACT WITH THE BUILDING DID THE AIRBAG INFLATE FULLY, BUT SLOWLY.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE TURNS VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD DEALERS CAN'T FIND REMEDY. *AK

ON AUGUST 26, 1999 OUTER TIE ROD NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND LEFT CAM BOLT ALSO NEEDED REPLACMENT.DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER COULDN'T STOP AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

BRAKES SQUEAKING AND GRINDING, REPLACE ALL FOUR BRAKES

WHILE MAKING A NORMAL STOP THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE FUEL LINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT RUPTURED OR DETACHED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. AN INTENSE FIRE RESULTED. MY WIFE, BLAIR, ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.

VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT, THREE REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER CONTINUES. MJS

NO SUMMARY.

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SIDE AIRBAGS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE AT ABOUT 15 MPH, AND THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THE ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY DEALER UNABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). NLM

HORN BEGINS HONKING WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS SQUEAKED AT VARIOUS PLACES,PLUS HONKS BY ITSELF TOO. YH

FIVE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING 55-60MPH ON FREEWAY, VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL DURING A LANE CHANGE. CAR ENDED UP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER DENIED PROBLEM. THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS NEVER MENTIONED DURING SALE OR AFTER SPIN OUT. I AM SUFFERING FROM SEVERE WHIPLASH AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. DEALER WILL NOT RETURN MONEY. I REFUSE TO DRIVE UNSAFE CAR AND CAR HAS REMAINED AT DEALER SINCE DAY OF SPIN OUT. I LEARNED OF NEED FOR STABILIZER BAR FROM APRIL 98 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS (WHICH STATES 98 CE MODELS DO NOT HANDLE WELL, AND FARED POORLY ON EMERGENCY HANDLING TESTS). STABILIZER BARS WERE MADE STANDARD IN ALL MODELS AS OF APRIL 1998. THE COROLLA WAS REDESIGNED IN 98, SO ALL VE AND CE MODELS BUILT AND SOLD PRIOR TO APRIL 98 LACK THIS CRUCIAL SAFETY FEATURE. I BELIEVE A DEFECT/RECALL INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED.

THE CAR SLOWS OR RUNS FASTER THAN WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS. YH

WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES 45MPH IT ACCELERATES AND DECELERATES ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED. MJS

STARTER.

FRONT DISC BRAKES FAILED CAUSED CLICKING NOISE. YH

POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED. *YC