1997 Toyota Corolla Complaint Log

DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY TO REPAIR MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK

I WAS SCANNING MY VEHICLE WITH AN OBD2 SCANNER AND LEARNED THAT MY CAR, WHICH I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAS HAD RECALLS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN RECTIFIED. ATTACHED ARE SCREENSHOTS OF THE RECALL INFORMATION. THE FIRST ONE HAS ME MORE WORRIED THAN THE OTHER....INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. PLEASE READ THE DETAILS. THE SECOND (FRONT STRUTS) IS SOMETHING THAT ALSO CONCERNS ME BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF SHOCK ABSORPTION. MY VIN# [XXX] (ALSO ON THE SCREENSHOTS) IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF MY VEHICLE AND WHETHER OR NOT THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, PLEASE SHARE IT WITH ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON MARCH 23, 2013, I PURCHASED FOUR NEW COOPER TIRES FROM SEARS AUTO CENTER IN LIMA, OHIO, FOR MY 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE SPECIFIC TIRES INSTALLED WERE COOPER RESPONSE TOURING M+S 175/65R14, DOT U9EX LRC 4110, A08. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE DRIVEN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE TIRES AND MAINTAINED APPROPRIATE TIRE PRESSURE, MAINTENANCE, AND ALIGNMENT. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THIS MORNING (OCTOBER 30, 2016), THE TIRE TREAD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND FORCING ME OFF THE ROAD. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON I-475 NORTH TRAVELLING AT THE SPEED LIMIT, IN THE MIDDLE LANE. IT TOOK LESS THAN TEN SECONDS TO COAST TO A STOP. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES TO IMPACT OURS BEFORE REACHING THE SHOULDER. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FROM THIS TREAD SEPARATION INCLUDE DESTROYING THE WHEEL WELL, BODY DAMAGE, LAUNCHING THE HEADLIGHT APART FROM THE CAR, SPONTANEOUS RELEASE OF WIPER FLUID ON TO THE WINDOW AS THE TREAD RIPPED OFF FROM THE TIRE, AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO TOYONLY, 1050 VIJAY DRIVE, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341. WHILE THE TREAD SEPARATION HAS CAUSED THE AFOREMENTIONED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, THE VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE MECHANICALLY SOUND. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM COOPER TIRES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA EQUIPPED WITH COOPER RESPONSE TOURING TIRES, SIZE: 175/65/R14. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALLS OF BOTH FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT COME OUT. I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND GOT IT FIXED ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO. I PAID OVER 300.00 FOR A MECHANIC SHOP TO COMPLETELY REPLACE MY SEAT BELT. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN TO THE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT. I REALLY DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THIS SEAT BELT THING FIXED EVERY TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF FAULTY/DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED FROM THE REAR AND LATER SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

TOYOTA COROLLA DX 1997 THE CAR WAS SOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER IN ST LOUIS MISSOURI WHILE I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL. THE CAR HAS BEEN NOW IN FLORIDA FOR THE LAST TEN YEAR IN A WARM, EXTREMELY HUMID CLIMATE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ADMITTED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. APPARENTLY IN HUMID CLIMATES. NOW DOES IT NOT MAKE SENSE TO CHECK OUT THE AIRBAG IF THE CAR HAS BEEN IN A HUMID CLIMATE .REGARDLESS WHERE THE CAR WAS SOLD ? OR IS THE CAR SAFE BECAUSE IT WAS SOLD SOMEWHERE ELSE AND IF THE CAR IS THEN DRIVEN IN A HUMID CLIMATE THE AIRBAG WILL WORK SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS IN A COLD WEATHER CLIMATE? *TR

DRIVING ON SH 79 FREEHOLD BORO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP AND MAKE TURN PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. PUMPED BRAKE PEDAL IN PANIC MANY TIMES WHEN VEHICLE PULLED SHARP RIGHT AND WHILE STILL PUMPING BRAKE PEDAL AND ATTEMPT TO USE HAND BRAKE VEHICLE FINALLY SLOWED AND STOPPED. MECHANIC ADVISED BOTH BRAKE LINES IN REAR WERE NOT COATED AND FLUID LEAKED FROM PLACE WHERE CLAMP STRAPPED THEM TO UNDERCARRIAGE OF CAR. LINES WERE RUSTED AS NO PROTECTION COATING WAS APPLIED DURING MANUFACTURING. THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY COROLLA BRAKE LINES DUE TO THIS LACK OF COATING. NO WARNING PRIOR TO BRAKES FAILING. NO TRAFFIC CLOSE WHILE BRAKING JUST TOTALLY SCARED TO DEATH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A SPEED BUMP AND THE FUEL TANK IMPACTED THE PAVEMENT AND CRACKED. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A FUEL LEAKAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FUEL TANK DID NOT HAVE A PROTECTIVE SHIELD INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 319,695.

THE DESIGN OF THE 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA SEDAN HAS A QUESTIONABLE SAFETY DESIGN IN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE. PART # 77201 OR 7720112500 APPEARS TO BE MAKE OF SIMPLE TUBE STEEL. THIS PART IS NOT PROTECTED FROM ROAD HAZARDS, CHEMICALS, OR ROAD SPRAY THAT CONTAIN SALT SUCH AS NORTHERN U.S., OR SEASIDE ARES. SINCE THIS GAS TUBE IS UNPROTECTED CLAMPS 77216A & 77218A HOLD THIS CORROSIVE CAUSING ACCELERATED RUSTING, AND PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE STEEL PIPE. THIS CAUSES A FUEL LEAK THAT RESULT IN A LARGE DISCHARGE OF FUEL WHILE FUELING, AND A LARGE DISCHARGE OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING . WHILE DRIVING, PRESSURE PULLS FUEL FROM THE MOUNTED TANK, TO THE LOWEST POINT BEHIND THE TANK WHICH IS RIGHT WHERE THE ABOVE LISTED CLAMPS TO THE BODY. THIS COULD SEE AN ESTIMATED DISCHARGE OF 25% OF THE TANK 13G CAPACITY OR 3.25G OF FUEL DISCHARGED PER TANK. ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE WEAKENING OF THE FUEL TUBE, AT THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE UNI-BODY FRAME. A DRIVER SIDE REAR COLLISION COULD SHEAR OFF THE FUEL TUBE FROM THE BODY-FRAME CLAMPS, AND IGNITING FROM THE SPARKS GENERATED BY THE CHEAP STEEL TUBE.THEN FED DIRECTLY FROM THE BACK FLUSH OF FUEL FROM THE TANK. *TT

1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES TO INQUIRE ABOUT A RECALL ON THE GAS PEDAL ENTRAPMENT *TGW

I HAVE A TOYOTA COROLLA 1997 AND THE GAS TANK IS PRESSED SO THAT IT BREAKS. I HAVE ALREADY CHANGED TWO TANKS IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AND TELL ME THAT LOOKS LIKE A FACTORY FLAW WANTED TO KNOW IF I COULD HELP? *TR

1997 TOYOTA COROLLA, UNIT WAS WESTBOUND IN THE CENTER LANE. UNIT 1 HAD AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE WITH THE REAR TIRES. UNIT 1 ATTEMPTED TO PULL ONTO THE RIGHT BERM BUT LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE EQUIPMENT FAILURE. UNIT 1 WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL, AND SPUN TO REST IN THE CENTER LANE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, WHEN THE OFFICER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE THE REAR TIRES WERE COMPLETELY DEFLATED AND SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. IT WAS UNKNOWN AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE REAR TIRES TO DEFLATE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0044-91. *JB UPDATED 03/21/11 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. SUDDENLY, THE BACK HEEL AREA OF THE SHOE WAS STUCK INSIDE OF THE LEVER THAT RETRACTS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THERE WERE TWO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER AND AUTHORIZED DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000. UPDATED 05/12/10 *BF UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH, AND THEN SHE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. A MECHANIC DISABLED THE CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO THEY HAD TO REPAIR THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED DUE TO HER EXCESSIVE BRAKING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,876.THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON MY TOYOTA COROLLA 1997 WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVE AND SET ON SPEED. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES OVERT HE LAST THREE YEARS AND I CAN CORRECT IT BY TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I SET THE SPEED AND SOMETIMES WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I ACCELERATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON SPEED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MUCH FORCE AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE SUSTAINED MINOR LACERATIONS TO HER ARM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD APPROXIMATELY COST OVER $1,000 JUST FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

I HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSH ON 1997 COROLLA ON DEC 31, 2008. ON JAN 17, 2009, WHILE DRIVING, CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED AFTER STRONG VIBRATIONS. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY. THE FIRST REPAIR SHOP SAID TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKING UP. TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED?. THE SECOND REPAIR SHOP OPENED THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND ?TRANSFER CASE HAS NO OIL INSIDE?, WITH BROKEN BEARING THAT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND NEED TOTAL REBUILD. BOTH SHOPS SAID IT COULD BE THE RESULTS OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH JOB. I CONTACTED THE SHOP THAT PERFORMED THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND THEY DENIED OF ANY POSSIBLE MISTAKE. IF THEY HAD ACCIDENTALLY EMPTIED THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, THE CAR SHOULD HAVE SEIZED IMMEDIATELY, NOT A FEW WEEKS AFTERWARDS. THEY SAID THAT WITH AGE, THE SEAL BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND THE OIL IN THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT (TRANSFER CASE) TO LEAK AND EVENTUALLY DRIED UP AND CAUSE THE FAILURE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON TOYOTA RECALL AND SERVICE BULLETIN. NOTHING OF THIS NATURE CAME UP FOR THIS MODEL YEAR BUT FOUND SIMILAR DESCRIPTION FOR 1997 TOYOTA PREVIA DEFECT RECALL DATE APR04, 1997 WITH DEFECT CONSEQUENCE: ?OIL LEAKAGE WILL RESULT IN A SUFFICIENTLY LOW OIL SUPPLY TO CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LEADING TO EVENTUAL SEIZURE OF THE UNIT INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. SO COULD IT BE A DEFECT SIMILAR TO THE 1997 TOYOTA PREVIA OR COULD IT BE THE SHOPS MISTAKE TO UNKNOWINGLY DRAIN THE DIFFERENTIAL COMPARTMENT WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE SAME SYMPTOM EVENTUALLY (NOT NECESSARILY IMMEDIATELY AS THEY CLAIMED) *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN AUGUST, AND THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, BECAUSE I WAS HIT VERY HARD. IT DIDN'T, AND CAUSED ME SEVERE PAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO UNLATCH THE SEAT BELT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT RELEASE. SHE HAD TO USE A SCREWDRIVER TO OPEN THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE RELEASE BUTTON BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCK AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO PULL OUT THE SEAT BELT IT FINALLY LOCKS. HAD SEAT BELT REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND KEEPS REPEATING. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS LOGS ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM. *JB

DOUGLAS P185/65R14BL XTRAC TIRE - TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE ON THE INSIDE OF RIGHT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. TIRES PURCHASED AT WALMART, ALTHOUGH UNDER WARRANTY, WALMART CLAIMS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *NM

SAFETY BELTS IN TOYOTA COROLLA LOCK SO WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THEM. TOYOTA SAYS SINCE THE CAR IS A 97 AND OUT OF WARRANTY IT IS NOT TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY. WRONG IT IS A DEFECT THAT WE REPLACED ALREADY ONCE. *NM

BOUGHT NEW TIRES AT SEARS. HAD TIRES BALANCED AND FRONT-END ALIGNMENT. SERVICE DEPT. STATED AND SHOWED ME THAT THE INNER W/POWER STEERING TIE ROD (FRONT LEFT SIDE)WAS LOOSE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. *JB

MY DAUGHTER WENT OUT IN THE MORNING TO START HER 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA AND IT WAS VERY NOISY, SHE TRIED TO TURN CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING AND THE STARTER WAS STUCK IN THE STARTER POSITION. SHE PULLED THE FUSE FOR THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE STOPPED BUT THE STARTER WAS STILL IN A HIGH WHINE AND WAS TRYING TO START THE CAR. (OBVIOUSLY STUCK) IT WAS GETTING VERY HOT AND SMELLING. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF ENGINE AND SHE WAS ABOUT TO TRY TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY CABLE WHEN THE STARTER QUIT. SHE WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THERE WAS NO FIRE, IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO THAT. SHE HAD NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS ON STARTER PROBLEMS BEFORE THAT. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP. STARTER IS BEING REPLACED, BATTERY CABLES AND A NEW WIRING HARNESS DUE TO THE FACT EVERYTHING GOT TOO HOT AND MELTED. (OVER $1000)

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS PREVENTING USE OF SEAT BELT. *NM

THE LOCKS WILL NO LONGER LOCK. WHEN YOU PUSH THE ELECTIC LOCK BUTTON THE LOCK WILL NOT GO DOWN ON THE DOORS. EXTREME SECURITY RISK. ALSO, THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT OFTEN JAM NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN ITSELF.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT AND THE REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER WILL REPAIR AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *JB

THE DRIVER SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AFTER BEING RELEASED. *JB WHEN THE BELT DID WORK, IT WOULD LOCK TIGHT AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ONE TO LEAN FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. *SC *JB

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM RETRACTOR. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE IN THIS (AND MOST) STATE(S) WITHOUT WEARING A SEAT BELT. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I BELIEVE TOYOTA OWES IT TO THE CONSUMER TO REPAIR THIS UNSAFE AND ILLEGAL PROBLEM MANY DRIVER'S ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT COME OUT OF HOLDER OFTEN, MUST PULL REPEATEDLY TO GET UNIT TO RELEASE. ONCE YOU GET THE SEAT BELT ON IT LOCKS OFTEN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN TO SEE REAR TRAFFIC. ?

THE CONSUMER WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION WHEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. *NLM

MY SEAT BELTS IN MY TOYOTA COROLLA HAS AN DEFECT, DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS HUNG AND I CANT GET IT ON I HAVE TO PULL HARD JUST TO GET IT ON, AND IT GET HUNG AGAIN, PASSENGER BELT IN THE REAR IS ALL THE WAY OUT AND WANT RETRACT, I HAVE 3 KIDS UNDER THE AGE 6 AND ITS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB

SEAT BELT RETRACTORS STICKS CONSTANTLY. *NLM

REAR DOOR LOCKS (RR,RL) HAVE INEXPLICABLY SEIZED AND DO NOT OPERATE IN EITHER A LOCKING OR UNLOCKING CAPACITY. MECHANICAL SEIZURE WITHIN THE LOCK ASSEMBLIES MAKES OPERATION OF LOCKS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CONSIDERING THE MINIMAL TEXTURE AFFORDED ON THE LOCK LEVER. OUT OF FEAR OF BLOWING A FUSE OR RELAY, I HAVE DISCONNECTED THE ASSEMBLIES MANUALLY AND NOW HAVE MINIMAL POWER LOCKING CAPABILITY.

DRIVER SEAT BELT WON'T COME OUT HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE MOVING AND APPLY BRAKE TO GET IT TO WORK. AM CURRENTLY TRING TO GET DEALER TO FIX. ALSO SEEMS TO LOCK WHEN DRIVING, BUT RELEASE WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN BRAKING SUDEENLY. SOMETHING HIT TRANSMISSION CONTROL, PUTTING VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE WITHOUT DEPRESSING SAFETY BUTTON BUT DID. (POSSIBLY WAS HIT BY SOMETHING IN CAR?) DT

WHILE TRAVELING ON FREEWAY, TIRE EXPLODED. TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND BLEW ACROSS FREEWAY. COULD BARELY DRIVE TO GET ONTO SHOULDER. METAL FROM INSIDE TIRE SCRAPED PAINT OFF SIDE OF MY CAR AND THE FLYING RUBBER DISLODGED MY REAR BUMPER. NLM

WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH WILL GET LOCKED, AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. DEALER NOTED THAT WHEN MOVING STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE IGNITION SWITCH BECAME UNDONE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ON MAY 1, 2002 I LEFT MY OFFICE WHICH IS SIX MILES FROM MY HOME. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR I HEARD A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS THE CAR STARTED FINE I DECIDED TO DRIVE HOME. I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AT THIS POINT. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE WHINING SOUND INCREASED. ALL THE GAUGES READ NORMAL, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCLUDED. ABOUT 4 MILES FROM HOME THE WHINING SOUND INCREASED SO I TURNED OFF THE A/C AND THE RADIO. I BEGAN TO FEEL A SLLIGHT VIBRATION WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME I BEGAN TO SMELL A SICKLY-SWEET ODOR. APPROX. 3/10 OF A MILE FROM MY HOME THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGHLY. THE SICLY SWEET SMELL BECAME MUCH STRONGER AND I HAD A SENSE THAT MY CAR WAS GOIN TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL READ NORMAL SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS WRONG AND POSSIBLY THE ALTERNATOR WAS FAILING. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT DOWN BY THE ROAD, THE ODOR WAS BECOMING VERY STRONG. I GRABBED THE CAR KEYS AND SOME OF MY WORK ITEMS AND RAN TO GET THE WATER HOSE ABOUT 25 FT. FROM THE CAR. I TURNED AROUND, HAVIG BEEN OUT OF THE CAR POSSIBLY NO MORE THAN 10 SECONDS AND BROWN SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE HOOD. I CALLED FOR MY SON TO BRING THE CORDLESS PHONE AND TOLD HIM THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. HE BEGAN TO SPRAY WATER ON THE CAR IN AN EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. I CALLED 911. TWO FIRE ENGINES RESPONDED BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SAVE THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS, THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD HAD MELTED OR FUSED TOGETHER, THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE FIRE WALL MELTING THE DASH AND THE RADIO, THE HOOD LINER AND VISORS COMPLETELY BURNED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND MELTED, THE FIRE BEGAN TO BURN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WELL, THE HOOD LATCH HAD MELTED SHUT SO THE FIRE DEPT HAD TO USE A CHAIN SAW TO OPEN THE HOOD WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE PAINT BURNED OFF THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I HAVE PICTURES TO VERIFY THE FIRE DAMAGE.*AK

WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE, ALSO BRAKE PEDAL GETS REALLY HARD AND VEHICLE STARTS TO LOSE POWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER/CALIPERS, AND BRAKE PADS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK. CONSUMER STATED AFTER APPLYING THE PEDAL, IT WILL EVENTUALLY GET HARD WHICH SLOWS DOWN THE VEHICLE, WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL FROM 40 MPH TO 30 MPH THEN THERE IS SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE.*JB

IN MY 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA, I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY THAT THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD DO WAS TRY TO STEER AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE ONLY SAFE PLACE TO GO WAS OVER THE SIDEWALK AND HITTING THE SIDE OF A CHURCH BUILDING ENDING UP IN A DITCH WHEN IT FINALLY STOPPED. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE POLICE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED MY CAR. IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THAT MY HUSBAND AND I WE'RE NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. IT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN, THAT THIS ACCELERATOR PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA HAS BEEN GOING ON AT LEAST SINCE 1997. SINCE THEN, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO THEIR TOYOTA VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL. SHORTLY AFTER OUR ACCIDENT IN 2001, I HEARD REPORTS ABOUT TOYOTA CARS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER TOYOTA CAR EVER AGAIN. IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, I WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO EVERY TOYOTA VEHICLE NOT JUST THE MORE RECENT MODELS. *TR

I AM EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS W/MY DASH AND SPOILER(DOESN'T LIGHT UP FULLY, CAUSING DIFFICULTY TO SEE GRAPHICS DURING NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING DRIVING.) ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED/REPLACED, HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. ADVISED PER DEALERSHIP TO DISCONNECT SPOILER LIGHT DUE TO IT "ONLY BEING COSMETIC". ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS W/ODORS FROM AIR CONDITIONING COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I WAS ADVISED THESE ODORS WOULD SUBSIDE, DUE TO SERVICE MAINTENANCE OF AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THESE EXPENSES HAVE PROVEN TO BE COSTLY. NEVER HAVE I BEEN ADVISED/NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. EVEN DURING REPAIR FROM DEALERSHIP,I WASN'T ADVISED THE ABOVE ITEMS WERE BEING QUESTIONED.*JB

VEHICLE WAS GOING 40-45MPH WHEN CONSUMER T BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUFFER FROM WHIPLASH. DEALER STATED "IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MORE INJURIES. CONSUMER WAS NOT GIVEN EXPLANATION WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA INSPECTED VEHICLE AND STATED AIR BAGS OPERATED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BY NOT DEPLOYING. *SLC

LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GO OUT WHEN HE HIT 45MPH WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CAR SWERVED OFF ROAD AND SPUN AROUND TWICE BEFORE HITTING THE GUARD RAIL HEAD-ON. CAR TOTALED. NO TIRE FAILURE INVOLVED. ROAD CLEAN/DRY. NO EXPLANATION FOR LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

REAR LAP BELT BUCKLE CAME APART. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE REAR CENTER LAP BELT THAT HOLDS CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT FAILED. *YH

WITH ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THIS ITEM SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL AS IT IS LAW TO DRIVE WITH A SEATBELT ON. *AK