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2009 Toyota Corolla Problems and Repairs

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Comments

  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    First off, if you have absolute proof that your dealer is denting your car when you take it in for service, you really have do have a BIG problem. This sounds like it's against the law and the local police dept. should be notified for intentional property damage. Toyota dealerships are privately owned so there is no way Toyota should be faulted for this.

    I would have to disagree that there are "NO" honest dealerships out there. I have several in my area and would not buy my Toyotas from them if I suspected otherwise.

    On the car you rear ended, was it documented on the police report that the brakes failed? If so perhaps an independent third party should inspect the car to prove this in case of a civil suit against you.

    Thirdly, your statement " i think maybe the car companies are trying to bring money to their parts shops..." doesn't hold water. Your car as well as the car of the other new Corolla owner who complained about their brakes, is under warranty. You would not be paying for this repair or problem anyway, Toyota would be. The only way the dealer could be accused of trying to drum up business would be if that particular dealer actually sabatogged your brakes to gain money from Toyota for the repair. If what you are stating about your local dealers is actually true, I'd say it's very unfortunate that you got some really bad a** dealers in your area !
  • lovemycar8lovemycar8 Member Posts: 2
    I have a 2009 Toyota Corolla S. I absolutely love my car. But.....last November I had my first car accident ever and I've been driving for 27 years. It was raining quite heavily and I was turning out of my street, there was a car parked on the wrong side of the street, it was a black car so it was hard to see it in the dark, and by the time I saw the car I tried to break but my car wouldn't stop! The pedal was to the floor and my car wouldn't stop. I had just pulled out of my street after stopping at the stop sign so I wasn't going fast at all. I hit the parked car (that was illegally parked) but I guess that's not the point. Although I had time to stop, and my break was to the floor my car kept going and it didn't stop until my bumper was under the other cars bumper. There was $10000 damage to my new car and $2000 damage to the other car.
    I chalked it up to the fact that it was raining and hard to see and the car was parked illegally, but when I heard about the new recall, it was like a light came on.
    I believe that my accelerator stuck and my car was unable to stop. I remember the first thing I told the police was that "my car wouldn't stop", I had the brake to the floor but I just couldn't stop".
    I have never had an accident in my life and I hope I never have one again.
    I don't know if this can be proven, but I would like some direction as to what I can do to try to prove that it was the accelerator issue.
    My insurance went up, and my record is now tainted, and I have a fear of driving in bad weather. If I can prove this then I could clear my record.
    Any suggestions?
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    I guess it's possible that your car could have been one of them with brake issues. At the same time I think it should be well noted that the car was illegally parked or you wouldn't have hit it in the first place. I suppose had you not read or heard about Toyota's problems you never would have never thought it to be the accelerator pedal sticking, right? I expect there will be many more people that will now try to blame the accelerator pedals for their past accidents. And that's not saying that they are all false accusations. It's perfectly normal for all to look back at their past accidents and ask themselves, did my pedal get stuck? Get yourself a lawyer and jump aboard the class action lawsuit bandwagon. You probably should get a reputable third party automotive specialist to inspect your car's pedal and document his findings. As I stated above, it's possible that your car could have been one of them with brake issues so do what you think is necessary. What is it you expect to gain though? Do you really think your insurance company is going to lower your rates again if it's proven that your pedal did stick? I highly doubt it !
  • philb3philb3 Member Posts: 3
    I have a 2010 Crolla LE that has a bad rolling vibration problem. Dealer says it's a Corolla design characteristic and won't do anything but balance tires, which didn't fix problem. I've applied NCDS for arbitration under Lemon Law seeking to have Toyota "Buy Back" the car. Toyota is also sending a field representative to the Dealer to inspect the car. Will let you know outcome.
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Doesn't sound like something that can't resolved for you. What it does sound like is an indifferent dealer that just wants to sell cars and not provide customer service after the sale. Why didn't you just take it to another Toyota dealer for his diagnosis before you went to the extreme you did. Perhaps you're dissatisfied with the car in other additional aspects that led you to this point so soon in the process?
  • loncliplonclip Member Posts: 13
    Well, that`s my opinion anyway about the 2009 Corolla that I am now "stuck" with. I was hoping to get that car traded for a Fusion, Taurus, Lucerne or other larger car soon, but with the bad press and recall, I guess I will have to spread mayo on the darned thing and eat it! I`m the one who had the spongey brakes that two different dealership service departments assured me that were completely normal (and I proved to myself that they were exactly like other cars on the lot.) Now I wonder if sudden acceleration is going to ensue and the car just doesn`t have the brakes to even TRY to control it. I wonder what is happening out there to Corolla trade in values and what others have experienced. :lemon:
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Well you certainly won't get much for yours if the "brakes go to the floor". That's crazy and certainly not normal. I wouldn't give up on it so soon. Once someone actually finds the problem I'm sure it could be repaired at no cost to you. Why take a big loss on a new car with no brakes? I have an "09" Corolla and my brakes are no where near the floor; in fact, it actually has excellent stopping distances. Follow all of the appropriate channels. With all of their troubles I bet Toyota will listen to you now ! Get that baby fixed and be careful !
  • remyqremyq Member Posts: 1
    Better than my wife's 2010 Corolla LE bought on 1/16/10, it didn't work at all...we didn't tested at the dealership...which we should of...so few days later, i hit the power button..wouldn't even power up.

    My wife took it back for service, they said 7-10 to days for a new radio...I called my sales guy, this is unacceptable for brand new car..somehow it was fixed that day.
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Sure, they took one from a new Corolla on the lot and put it in yours. Sometimes you gotta push a little to get what you want, or are deserving of. It was a little more work for them, but like you said it was unacceptable. Takes 10 minutes to swap one of these radios, they should have done that without being pushed.
  • almichalmich Member Posts: 11
    I took the car into my local Toyota dealership to have the radio issue inspected. I waited about two hours only to find out that they took out the radio and could not solve the issue. They ordered a new radio and it will take about a week to arrive. I am really disappointed with my car and if I could do it over again, I would get another car. I also found out that my friend's coworker had the same radio issue with a 2010 Corolla S! :lemon:
  • brulebrule Member Posts: 22
    I hear my blackberry "packets" when I have it connected to the 12 volt plug. I have a 2009 but your 2010 are very similar. I get some strange steering steering when I am using my blackberry. There something on my blackberry that makes my steering wheel turn. Is there any blue tooth or such that causes the steering to automatically move?
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Yea, your radio problem isn't the first I've heard about the new Corollas. Your right, new things shouldn't be broken but sometimes they are. It could've happened with any make or model. I'll give Toyota every benefit of the doubt to get their act back in order. After all for many, many years Toyota epitomized "reliability" in new cars. Anyway, I'm glad to here they are going to resolve your radio problem with only a small inconvenience to you.
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Sounds like a recall issue to me ! LOL. Seriously though, get it checked out, it could cause an accident. Boy, kinda sucks when your gas pedal sticks and your brakes won't stop you and now you can't even steer the dam thing !!!!
  • pekelvrpekelvr Member Posts: 61
    Hello I would like to know how you rectified this situation if at all possible? I have a 2008 S model and from day 2 I have called the dealer complaining about 2 things. First and far most the veering problem. it can only be described as if i were driving going about 65 on the highway and come up beside a tractor trailer and get caught in like wind except one problem...I'm not on the hwy and I'm only going the speed limit which is about 50 on a secondary route aka hwy. Its a 2 lane road and I'm like blowing left and right and I have to hang on with 2 hands. The 1st complain the dealer told me it was windy, the 2nd complain the dealer told me it was a light car and I probably have to get used to it, the 3rd complaint my husband made because while he was driving the car it jumped over and he hadn't experienced it. I yelled at him..."see see I told you so!" He said the car wasn't safe and that we should take it back so i called the dealer again and the reply we got was to bring it in on a "non windy day" and NO I don't live in Chicago I live in Raleigh, NC.
    the 2nd problem was while my Corolla was doing what i now called the happy dance, it veered to the right and took me to the curb, when I hit the brake it kept going until I threw the shift (automatic) into neutral and landed on the dirt. I got a flat tire and the front right fender weld got a dent in it. i was PO'd I brought the car to Toyota and they argued with me. I told them Im not driving it. I threaten to leave the car on the lot and call a cab, they offered me a new tire ..whoo hoo note sarcasm! So great finally Toyotas are being recalled, now's my chance to rectify the situation, I call the dealer, they say "your year and model is not involved in the recall and therefore we cannot service under warranty. I threaten again to leave the car on the lot and just contact our Attorney Generals office, he responded bring it in and I will take a look at it.

    Anybody have suggestions please let me know!

    alt email pekeheart@yahoo.com
  • ed2004corollaed2004corolla Member Posts: 10
    check the lines.... connecting to the sprayer ... MY 2006 solora...Had the wrong size lines on it from toyota and started leaking.....(less pressure) I replaced them and it was then fine
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    You can't compare your vehicle's steering to a 2009 as they have completely different steering set-ups. Secondly, if you applied your brakes and your car wouldn't stop as you state then I'd say YEA, you definitely have a brake problem somewhere that the dealer shouldn't blow-off. Even though your car isn't affected by a certain recall doesn't mean something can't go wrong or malfunction on just your vehicle alone.
  • 09corollaowner09corollaowner Member Posts: 1
    Our 09 Corolla has been just fine. Has about 38K on it. Sat in garage for a few days, went to start it today and it cranks fine but will not fire. Even stranger - after releasing the key from 'start' position to 'run' position, the starter continues to crank until key is turned all the way to 'off' position. Any tips?

    I think our warranty expired at 36K... Or is there a longer powertrain warranty?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That issue wouldn't be related to the powertrain warranty anyway.

    Sounds like either a funky starter relay or a bad ignition switch.
  • BakkaBakka Member Posts: 12
    With all that is happening with the 2009 Corolla model, I'm kind of wondering who will want to purchase our used 2009 vehicles? What happens when we go to trade?

    Will it be like we have the plague?

    I had someone actually say I was driving a 'death' vehicle. Imagine that?

    Anyone have any thoughts?
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Well I guess it's something that will more than likely influence the trade in value of our cars. If your a trader I guess you'll just have to take a hit on the car. I myself am not too concerned because I usually try to drive my cars for twenty plus years.
  • floridaminniefloridaminnie Member Posts: 4
    But with the issues of this car is it going to last that long? I kept my last car for 12 years till someone ran a red light and it was totaled. This car has a new issue every day it seems!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited February 2010
    I don't think it will make a bit of difference longterm once the media orgy is over...remember, most Americans have a short attention span when it comes to what they read in newspapers or see on TV. This does not reflect on their intelligence at all, only on their ability to retain huge amounts of information that pours in day after day.

    Given all the world's worries and dangers, I don't think this issue will "stick" with current Toyota owners or future Toyota owners once they realize that a) Toyota will fix what's wrong and b) that their car (if they own a Toyota) probably will never exhibit the problem in the first place.

    Of course, people who have had some unpleasant incident with a Toyota, whether it be car-caused or driver-caused, are probably going to be turned off on the brand, justifiably so, but that's a very small number of people.

    It's not like defects in some American cars of the past, which went on for 20 years running and which affected millions of buyers directly.
  • loncliplonclip Member Posts: 13
    I got a trade quote on a 2010 Fusion that is actually a program car with the same mileage my Corolla has on it and was offered $11,000 trade in. I walked. Guess I will have to live with the electric power steering that sucks, the brakes that suck, and the radio that sucks (sound quality.)
  • pekelvrpekelvr Member Posts: 61
    Testimony---I went to Mazda--they took my 2008 corolla and offered me $8000 for a car 4 weeks ago was worth $14,000.I went to Toyota angry and upset because my car does have the steering problems. It took me off road once and the other day it almost put me into a tractor trailer from middle lane and veered me to the right lane. So I went into Toyota crying and upset and scared. The GM offered me consolation and a new 2010 car to get out of the 2008 model. Toyota has great incentives to retain and keep customers loyal. SO the deal this morning is they are waiting for my financing to go through any minute, but they only offered me $10,000 for a car days ago was worth $4,000 more.... I'm praying to get into my 2010 Toyota Corolla. BTW did you know the :lemon: 2008 didn't come with steering stabilizer and traction controls? I'm not sure about the 2009 models. But anyway I'm on my knees praying to get out of car that almost killed me.
  • mnfmnf Member Posts: 405
    Who offed the $14,000 last week Toyota or GM.

    MNF
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    While I'm very sorry that you had the two unfortunate incidents I must me missing something here? The 2008's didn't even have the new EPS Steering, so how could your car possibly even have the alledged steering issue? Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong?
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    I would question the initial trade-in value quoted for a 2008 of $14,000.00 rather than question the latter $8000.00 - $10,000.00 offer. Whoever quoted you that figure was really high. The $8000.00 - $10,000.00 seems more realistic.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Just sell it privately---it'll be gone in a red hot minute and at a much better price than a dealer could offer you. Trading to a dealer is merely a convenience for which you pay perhaps 20% of the car's real value.
  • malibubluesmalibublues Member Posts: 4
    TO ALL YOU 2010 COROLLA OWNERS BEWARE!!
    My 2009 Corolla had accelerated to 85-90 MPH on January 18,2010, and I was injured in Burlington, VT. I then was kept at the dealership 6 hrs, and was traumatized. I was so overwhelmed and exhausted I got stuck with a 2010 Corolla.
    On Feb. 12, it was having RPM sticking and acceleration problems. I took it to the dealership. They had the new recall pedals in. They installed it. That night on the way home from work the problem reoccured. I reported it to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I told them Monday the car was going back to the dealership. On Monday morning, I was going 25 MPH up the onramp to the Interstate and the RPM was stuck at 3. The car accelerated to 80 MPH. I was injured a second time. I reported this again to the NHTSA (especially since the car accelerated after they put in the new recall pedal).
    The dealership is giving me back the car tomorrow. They found nothing wrong with the car. This car needs to have gone to highly trained specialist, not to a local Toyota Dealership.
    Melanie
  • barbercrbarbercr Member Posts: 1
    I own a 2008 Corolla S and think it should be part of the pedal recall. There has been times when I would lightly step on the accelorator and the car would jerk to an acceloration. So I feel your pain, Toyota should make good on their vehicles as its not the consumers fault they poorly assembled their vehicles to cut costs. What ever happened to "in good faith" that obviously flew out the window with Toyota in the last few years.
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    A gas pedal issue isn't going to make the car wear out prematurely !
  • agi123agi123 Member Posts: 4
    Be aware - Corolla in reverse acceleration

    I bought the 2010 corolla in July first week, 2009. Last week I received an email stating that my car fall under the new A0A call back and gave my car for servicing on Feb 12th. Reached home around 4:30 pm after the fix, parked in my drive way. After a minute, I was reversing the car from my drive way on to the road, the car reached almost to the road, now the car started reverse acceleration by itself, took a U-turn (as my steering wheel is turned left) and hit a small tree in front of my house and stopped. The tree stem is stuck under the car, hence the car was stopped. if there is no tree, the car would have hit my house. The acceleration was so fast, and my leg was on the brake pushing hard, but still no use. This happened more than a week and Toyota and service center are sitting all these days and the response is very poor.

    Please let me know if any one faces similar issues. Started contacting the NHTSA about the incident
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    edited February 2010
    I don't think the 2008's had the faulty (American) pedal assembly, I think they still had the working (Japanese) pedal assemblies.
  • BakkaBakka Member Posts: 12
    Think it may not be so much the gas pedal, as developing potential issues with the electric steering. It's like, what's next with 09 model?
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Well in post #687 the poster was concerned about the recall issues affecting the overall longevity of the vehicles life. My response to them was that the "gas pedal issue", or even the "steering issue", (if you want to assume that some vehicles might be having a problem), will not affect how long your car is going to last.
  • pekelvrpekelvr Member Posts: 61
    AllI can say is that I had a 2008 Corolla with 31,000 miles. The interior was perfect, I had a 6 cd changer, electronic everything. The only thing my car lacked was the stabilizer that my sales guy at mark Jacobson Toyota said will be standard on all sedans in the future. Now I'm not sure why my car had steering problems but it veered me off road to the right and when driving over 45 mph the car weaved in/out. It felt as if i was driving beside tractor trailer all the time if you know what I mean, it was like the wind was blowing me all over the place but there wasn't any wind. In the end anyone thinking about the whole recall issue should have their car evaluated by both an independent Toyota repair service and their dealership's service dept.
    I too would think bout trading in to a Toyota dealer because right now they are offering amazing deals with customer loyalty incentives! I got a fantastic deal. My '08 corolla had 18% interest and my payment was 376 I traded up for the 2010 got 0.9% interest and a FANTASTIC deal! All Toyotas are coming with warranties and guarantees and I'm very happy now.
  • loncliplonclip Member Posts: 13
    I have not liked the electric power steering since I bought the thing. I drove a 2010 Fusion and discovered that now THEY have electric steering as well....and it sucks too! I guess I will have to find a low mileage 07 Taurus (you know, the old fleet workhorse) and keep it in shape for the rest of my life. :mad:
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Yea, they said that when the first Hydraulic Power steering came out too; drivers wanted to stay with the old manual steering. But, guess what? Hydraulics are out and Electronics are in, and here to stay, so I guess we better start getting used to it !
  • brulebrule Member Posts: 22
    Melanie,

    Did your Vin # start with 1NXBU40E (this is on at 2009) but can't hurt to ask. This plant has been in the news for some disturbing allegation.

    Snip from another forum:

    Does anyone know how to read a vin # to see if Corolla's were made from this plant? thx lG
    LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29, 2009

    Whistleblower:“Nummi management routinely deleted or downgraded significant and serious defects.”
    "steering wheel alignment defects" (NUMMI) factory subjected her to a campaign of intimidation
    http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/whistleblowe...

    Toyota Accused of Hiding Evidence
    Former Lawyer at Automaker Charges Evidence in Rollover Cases Was Concealed, Destroyed
    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/29/cbs ...
    http://forums.anandtech.com/archive/index.php ...
    Whistleblower says defects hidden at Toyota-GM Calif. plant
    Yuri Kageyama / Associated Press
    TOKYO -- An employee at a California plant run jointly by General Motors and Toyota is accusing her managers of allowing serious defects to go unchecked, including faulty seat belts and braking, and retaliating when she resisted, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month.-
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Okay, so now are they going to recall for the seatbelts?

    I don't know this just sounds like a disgruntled employee !
  • 71lndcrsr71lndcrsr Member Posts: 3
    I am having the same problem. I would describe it like putting rocks inside a can and shaking it very fast. It is mostly on the first cold start of the day and last for about a second. Doesn't happen usually when warm. It is at the dealers right now so they can start it cold.
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Interesting, please keep us informed as to what they find.
  • jmaniiijmaniii Member Posts: 5
    Please let me know what the dealer finds as this has been driving me crazy.

    Thanks
    John
  • jmaniiijmaniii Member Posts: 5
    What did the dealer tell you the problem was?

    john
  • pekelvrpekelvr Member Posts: 61
    My problem with Toyota is that the 08 that I had is sitting up for sale already after I traded it in because it almost killed me. The car veered all over. But anyway why would Toyota make a stability control part an option? considering the fact that it was designed to keep it safe this should have been FREE! oh and once you buy a car without the part you can't buy it after market. This very dangerous!
  • terceltomterceltom Member Posts: 1,024
    Apparently the dealer found nothing wrong with your car or they repaired it. This is what dealers do, they sell traded cars or else auction them off. They don't offer you money for them and then junk them.

    Considering ESC was not prevalent in a smaller 2007/2008 car I think Toyota might have been ahead of the game in 2008 with ESC. The more simple answer as to why it wasn't standard equipment would be cost. A Corolla ia a budget minded car aimed at the budget minded driver who might prefer to opt out of ESC to keep there own cost down. By the way, it was optional by Honda also in 2008 in some of their models. Either way it won't be long that ESC will be standard on all cars. In September, 2006 the NHTSA issued a proposal to require new passenger cars be equipped with electronic stability control starting in 2009, with all cars and light trucks to have it by 2012.
  • jmaniiijmaniii Member Posts: 5
    Did the dealer find a problem with your car?
  • 71lndcrsr71lndcrsr Member Posts: 3
    They said that they performed a fix according to a TSB (I don't have the number of it) and would test it again yesterday afternoon and again this morning to see if it solved the problem. I have not heard from them today yet. He said the fix had something to do with the VVTI (?)

    Thanks for your interest.
  • jmaniiijmaniii Member Posts: 5
    Would it be possible to get the actual TSB number from the dealer. Thanks John
  • 71lndcrsr71lndcrsr Member Posts: 3
    I am sorry I did not get a TSB #, I was in such a hurry, had to get my niece back so she could get back to work, anyway. I thought it would be on my invoice but it wasn't. What it does say the problem was is- "...poor cam gear position...". it was covered under warranty, and they also reflashed the computer (ECM) for the oil consumption (TSB # 0145-08) issue, also under warranty.
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