Are you having problems with your Toyota Corolla? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest Toyota Corolla issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the Toyota Corolla in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.
After a series of safety problems that has seen more than eight million cars recalled, including the current model Prius, Toyota may have to target the Corolla’s steering.The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 83 complaints about the power steering in 2009-2010 Corolla. The reports say the cars veer left or right at speeds over 64km/h. Six crashes that resulted in 10 injuries are being investigated. The spate of recalls and safety scares may have an impact on the auto giant’s brand image, and credit agency Moody’s is tipped to be reviewing Toyota’s rating.
Every day there seems to be something new, from extra customer complaints to a damaging internal document which points to deliberate delaying tactics on the safety front. The total cost of the fiasco is likely to be around $2 billion in lost sales, but no-one can yet say what the safety disaster - everything from faulty accelerator pedals to steering complaints on the Corolla and a brake drama on the Prius - will eventually cost the company in long-term respect.Even in Australia, where Toyota has been largely insulated from the safety problems, apart from the 1700 Prius owners who got a computer tweak to their car's brakes, there are people who are worried about buying a car from the company. And it's early days yet for the full impact on consumer confidence down under.Things are so bad internationally that Akio Toyoda, only recently installed in the top job, will head to Washington to represent Toyota in congressional hearings into the safety failings. Toyoda is seen as the 'new broom' at the world's largest carmaker, with the potential to turn the company into more than just a brand that mass-produces cars for people who put transport ahead of personality or style. He is already pushing cars like the FT-86 concept, which is expected to be a born-again Sprinter for Gen-Y when it reaches production in 2011.But even he could be tainted, just as Australia's Jac Nasser - once the shooting star at the Ford Motor Company - was brought undone by the unsuccessful campaign to protect the Ford Explorer from a safety crisis in the USA.Toyota has reacted with things like a brake-against-throttle safety switch, but other brands have had that protection against a runaway for years. It has also set up a new global committee for product quality, which will be chaired by Toyoda, but people are asking why it was not done before.The reason is simple: the Toyota production system is designed to stop faults and flaws before the factory gates. It's so good that it has been copied around the world, and by many companies outside the auto business, for decades.But the safety shortcomings highlighted by the multi-million-vehicle safety recalls show the system is only as good as the people who run it. And Toyota has been caught short. The Toyota safety story has a long way to run and I am not expecting much good news for a long while yet.
The timing belt is usually changed at 150,000 km on that model and most dealers are happy to do it on the basis of distance done rather than a time limit. Regular unleaded is being phased out in NSW only in 2011. Your car should be fine on E10, BP guarantees its E10 is suitable for all vehicles regardless of the age of the vehicle, the other oil companies don’t make that guarantee at the moment, but probably will. With that in mind use BP E10 if you have any doubts.
While it took too long to resolve your complaint you should be congratulated for maintaining the pressure on Toyota until they did resolve the problem. Other owners frustrated by problems with their cars, whatever the make, should take note.
Your mechanic is correct, but so are you. The mechanic's suggestion of a Corolla is a safe bet, one that won't come back to bite him in the long run, but the other cars you mention are also worth considering. All are solid, generally reliable cars, although I would be cautious about recommending the Astra to you. Stick to the well-known Japanese brands and she won't go too far wrong.
The rotten egg smell was once a sign of a problem with the catalytic converter, but it's hard to believe that two cars would suffer the same problem at the same time. I assume you have tried different brands of fuel, as well as Premium unleaded, and even high-octane fuel. If not I would try all those things to see what affect they might have, and ask the dealer to check the cat converters.
I haven’t heard of any such policy and I haven’t seen anything written in warranties specifically about rattles and squeaks. My enquiries at Toyota have failed to get any answer that might help you. I doubt that there is such a policy; I reckon the dealer is trying to get rid of you because they don’t want to spend the time to fix your complaint. In Toyota’s defence, however, I would say that squeaks and rattles could, after a period of time, be regarded as the result of wear and tear rather than a design deficiency and hence not covered by the warranty.
No, we haven't had any other reports. We have asked Toyota to look into the issue, but we're still waiting for their response. What he has been told doesn't make much sense, swelling brake hoses just doesn't cut it, if that's the cause then Toyota has a broader issue and needs to act to replace them; it doesn't seem like a characteristic of the car, and the last dealer's response is also unbelievable. Has anyone from the dealers or Toyota driven the car to check the problem he is complaining about? If not have someone drive the vehicle with you to experience what you are experiencing. You've then got a common understanding from which you can discuss your issue. Then have the dealer check the brake system; the pedal is going down too far if indeed it is getting to within 25 mm of the floor.
A four-cylinder car is the way to go when you're learning; toomany young drivers buy turbos, V6s and V8s and often get into troublewhen they outdrive their skill and experience. The Astra is one ofthe cars I would certainly consider, but you need to be aware of thecam timing belt problems they had with that model. To avoid breaking the belt, and causing massive internal damage to the engine, the beltneeds to be replaced every 60,000 km. With that in mind it'simportant to makesure that any car you consider has had the beltchanged according to that schedule, and be aware that he will have toreplace it every 60,000 km in the future. A 10-year-old Astra willset you back $8000-$9000. Others to consider are the Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Pulsar, Mazda 323 and Toyota Corolla.
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