1999 Toyota Corolla

PURCHASED MY CAR USED ON 2002. THE CAR NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL IN JANUARY 2004, THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS AT THE SAME TIME THE A/C SYSTEM NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE A/C SYSTEM WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE EMISSION PROBLEMS WERE NOT. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY GOING ON AND OFF SINCE THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO BE CHECKED, THE MECHANIC TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. HOWEVER, THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO ARISE. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MONTHS AND HAS NOW STARTED ITS ON AND OFF AGAIN SHOW. THE RESEARCH I HAVE BEGUN HAS OPENED MY EYES TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF CHARCOAL CANISTERS BEING REPLACED AS FAST AS PEOPLE CHANGE UNDERWEAR. THIS REPLACEMENT COST ABOUT $467-/ WITH LABOR. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THIS IS THE GOING RATE FOR THIS JOB. I AM UPSET TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE SAME 'CANISTER' AS I AND TOYOTA, WITH WHOM I LOVE THEIR CARS, ARE NOT MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS NOR STANDING UP TO THE PLATE TO ASSIST THEIR CONSUMERS. I WORK IN A CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY AND KNOW PERSONALLY HOW PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ONE ANOTHER. I ASK TOYOTA TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM THOROUGHLY.*AK

(1) NOTICEABLE STRONG VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN CAR APPROACHES SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. VIBRATION BECOMES STRONGER WITH INCREASING SPEED. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED AFTER CAR HAD BEEN SERVICE AT TOYOTA DEALER (ARMSTRONG TOYOTA).*AK (2) CAR BECOMES UNSTABLE AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL (3) RETURNED TO SAME DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TIRE BALACING. UPON CHECKING THE CAR, DEALER INFORMED ME THAT TIRES WOULD NOT "TAKE" BALANCING AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TIRE PRESSURE. TIRE PRESSURE WAS ADJUSTED, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS.

1) KEY WOULD SOMETIMES NOT TURN IN IGNITION. THIS BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. ) EVENTUALLY THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO START THE CAR AND I COULD NOT REMOVE IT AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. 3) THE FIRST TIME THE IGNITION WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE 2ND TIME THEY GAVE ME MORE TROUBLE ABOUT IT BUT FIXED IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE THIRD TIME THEY SUGGESTED THAT I CHANGE THE KEY WHICH I ALLOWED THEM TO DO AND I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM SINCE BUT THEY DID CHARGE ME PART OF THE COST. I BELIVE THE "KEY" AND IGNITION SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY HAD A DESIGN FLAW. I DON NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS BUT I DO HAVE RECORDS OF THE REPAIRS.*AK

UPON SEEING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ON I TOOK MY 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA (50,200 MILES) TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE ALMOST $500 WITH LABOR. THIS PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY PAST 3 YEARS AND 30000 MILES. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND FUEL EFFICIENCY CONCERN AND I THINK THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD INCLUDE IT IN ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY. I AM TRYING TO SHOP AROUND FOR A CHEAPER ESTIMATE. I HAVE PERFORMED ALL THE RECOMMENDED MAINTAINENCE SCHEDULES AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS NOT ADDRESSED DURING ROUTINE MAINTAINENCE.*AK

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, I HEARD SOMETHING BROKE AND THE CAR COULDN'T MOVE. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THE LEFT TRANSAXLE WAS BROKEN. FORTUNATELY, THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON LOCAL STREET. IF IT WERE ON HIGHWAY, I COLD HAVE BEEN INJURIED.*AK