Toyota Corolla Problems

The mere mention of the name Corolla conjures up an image of a well-built, reliable and accomplished small car. There is no better example of what the Corolla is about than the AE92 model Toyota unveiled in 1991.The Corolla first arrived here in the late 1960s when small cars wore badges like Morris, Austin and Vauxhall, but while others have long disappeared from local showrooms, the baby Toyota has become the small car benchmark.The sixth generation AE92 Corolla was just such a car, well engineered, well built, and well equipped, and while it’s now nearing the end of its useful life those attributes still make it a good choice for anyone with a limited budget, like those hitting the road for the first time.In the course of the last 40 years the Corolla has grown in size and has moved up a rung in the marketplace. Where it was an entry-level car at launch it has been replaced in that role by the cheap and cheerful Korean cars that have taken over the Corolla’s role in recent years.The Corolla is now a family car for young couples new to the nesting game, it’s also in demand for those at the other end of life who’ve bade farewell to their offspring and want to downsize.When the new Corolla was unveiled in 1991 the Korean tidal wave was yet to land on our shores in the way it would just a few years later, so the small Toyota was still one of the rulers in the small segment.MODEL WATCHAnyone who cared to count would find a staggering 21 models in the Corolla in 1991. Toyota clearly wanted to have a model for everyone, from the budget conscious buyer who was happy to have basic transport to those who wanted a little more comfort in their ride, and on to those wanting a thrill-a-minute from their motoring.With four bodies to choose from, sedan, hatch, liftback and wagon, plus three levels of equipment, SE, CS and CS-X, four engines and three transmissions there was a car for everyone.At first glance there seems little difference between the AE92 and its predecessor, but a closer look would reveal the Toyota corporate logo on the grille in place of the Toyota name, and the edges were smoothed and rounded making for a softer shape overall.The four-door sedan was a pleasant looking car if rather conservative, and aimed squarely at families and older folk. The five-door hatch was smarter with plenty of appeal for younger drivers with its cute lines and rounded tail, while the five-door liftback was the most attractive with its longer, smoother tail. There was also a wagon for the most space.The sedan was available in SE, CS and CS-X levels, likewise the hatch, which also boasted a sporty SX, while the Seca liftback was offered in CS, CS-X and SX variants.All of the engines featured twin overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder, but not all were fuel-injected at the time of launch.The entry engine was the 60 kW 1.4-litre narrow twin cam, which was fitted with a carburettor and was unique to the Australian market. It was available in the SE sedan and SE and CS hatch, and only with a five-speed manual transmission. Despite its small size it was quite lively, but it was also had a flexible nature which made for smooth unfussed motoring.Toyota also offered a 67 kW 1.6-litre version of the engine, again with a carburettor, which was standard on all CS and CS-X models, and the SE hatch. The five-speed manual was the standard gearbox, but there was a three-speed auto offered as an option on all CS models, and the SE hatch. There was also a four-speed auto, but that was only available at the CS-X level.The wagons had an imported 1.6-litre narrow twin cam engine, which was fuel-injected and delivered 76 kW, but it was the sporty wide twin cam 1.6-litre that got everyone’s attention.That was the 4A-GE engine that boasted fuel-injection along with a sporty cylinder head among a raft of upgrades that combined to produce a powerful peak of 100 kW. In its day it was one of the world’s top performing naturally aspirated engines, no wonder many specialist sports car makers around the world adopted it.Companies like Elfin, Caterham, Westfield and many others who appreciated its performance and packaging have used it. Even today the 4E-GE engine is talked about in reverent tones.Suspension was a combination of MacPherson Strut front and strut rear, same as the previous model, but there was a long list of detail changes that improved the steering feel and handling.Brakes were disc front and drum rear on the base models, but higher models also got disc rears.Steering was rack and pinion without power assistance, but power steering was available as an option.Inside the new Corolla had revised seats offering greater comfort, and a new instrument panel and fascia. All but the base model had a split/fold rear seat, and the upper models also had a fold-up rear seat cushion.At the time of the Corollas release Toyota was involved in the ultimately unsuccessful partnership with Holden that saw Holden release a rebadged Corolla called the Nova.IN THE SHOPThere’s no doubting the Corolla’s build quality, it was of a level that others could only aspire to. The reality, though, is that it now has up to 12 years under the tyres and that means there’ll be plenty of kays showing on its odometer, and no car can escape the ravages of time and kays completely.It’s important to check any Corolla thoroughly before handing over any money. Take your time when looking for a car and seek advice from an expert in the field for added comfort.Although cars as old as the Corolla is now rarely have complete service records, it’s worth asking the vendor for one to get an idea of how the car has been treated.When inspecting the car look for signs of home maintenance as many of these older Corollas are now at the time of their lives where they are being neglected by owners who can’t afford to service them or don’t care.If looked after the Corolla will provide reliable service for some years to come. The engines are reliable if looked after, but will have done the sort of mileage that will require a second cam belt change.Gearboxes are generally troublefree, but the five-speed gearbox is prone to breaking fifth gear. If it jumps out of fifth gear on a road test then walk away.Drivelines tend to stand up well, but look carefully at the rubber boots protecting the drive shaft joints, looking particularly for splits, which might expose the joint to dirt and grime from the road and hasten their demise.Body work stands up well, but local paint can be a problem with metallic colours fading. Interior trim holds up well, but look for heavy wear on the seats.OWNER’S VIEWJustin Cook bought his 1.4-litre Holden Nova new in March '91, and has since covered 285,000 mostly trouble free kilometres. He has had to replace a water pump at 60,000 km, and the alternator bushes, but apart from that he says it has not missed a beat. He expects to replace the original radiator and exhaust soon, but expects to get many more years out of the Nova before it dies. In summary he says he cannot imagine any other car giving such economical motoring, in terms of initial purchase, fuel and maintenance costs.LOOK FOR• high mileage means greater chance of problems so be careful when choosing a car• robust engines generally reliable, but look for signs of neglect• solid body structure holds up well• great handling from responsive chassis• pound for pound performer without peer• Jumping out of fifth gear indicates gearbox woes

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.