2001 Toyota Corolla Body & Structure Problems

THIS IS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH 420,000 KM ON IT. IT WAS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY ON SAT JUNE 4TH. ON JUNE 5TH WHILE APPROACHING 60 KM ON AN IN TOWN ROAD IN NEWMARKET ON THE FRONT HOOD RELEASED AND FLEW BACKWARD SMASHING THE WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGING THE HOOD, AND SOME OF THE CHASSIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WERE BROKEN. THE CONTACT REPLACED ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURES WERE RECURRING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 02/24/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF AT DIFFERENT MILEAGE INTERVALS AND WERE REPLACED BY HIM, ON ALL FOUR DOORS. UPDATED 02/24/14

PAINT STARTING TO FADE PROGRESSIVELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT HOOD OF THE VEHICLE RELEASED, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY. THE HOOD SMASHED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CAUSED IT TO BEND OUT OF SHAPE AND BECOME DESTROYED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND THE ROOF ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 119,170.

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES: IN OCTOBER OF 2002, THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE (THE SPRING INSIDE THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE THROUGH THE PLASTIC), AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK SEAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE AS WELL. BOTH, DURING NORMAL USAGE OF OPENING THE DOOR. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,452.

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES: IN OCTOBER OF 2002, THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE (THE SPRING INSIDE THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE THROUGH THE PLASTIC), AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN MAY OF 2003, THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE (THE PLASTIC MOLDING AROUND THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE), THIS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. BOTH DOOR HANDLES BROKE DURING NORMAL USAGE OF OPENING THE DOOR. *JB

DT: THE DASHBOARD HAS A BLACK BACKGROUND AND THE LETTERS ARE RED, AND WITH CERTAIN LIGHTING IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. CAN'T SEE QUICKLY. HAS TO CONCENTRATE AND STUDY, WHICH TAKES THE CONSUMER'S EYES OFF THE ROAD. CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, ON 2005 MODELS THEY HAVE CHANGED IT BACK TO WHITE.*AK *JB

CURIOUS ABOUT THE INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE ON MY VEHICLE, ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAT IN THE TRUNK TO SEE IF HE COULD GET HIMSELF OUT. TO OUR SURPRISE, HE COULDN'T BECAUSE THE HANDLE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO GLOW IN THE DARK DIDN'T BECAUSE IT IS ALMOST NEVER EXPOSED TO NATURAL LIGHT. I THINK THE GLOW IN THE DARK TRUNK RELEASE HANDLES ARE AN EXCELLENT IDEA AND A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT WITHOUT A METHOD TO KEEP THEM GLOWING (PERHAPS AN ELECTRIC LIGHT WHICH TURNS ON WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING), THEY ARE USELESS TO A PERSON TRAPPED INSIDE A TRUNK. YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT PHS11@CORNELL.EDU. *AK