Comments on: Toyota Corolla and Scion Recall: Brake Issues

By: Christopher D

Christopher D — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:24:21 +0000

I have a 2010 corolla S model…I am having brake problems while they do function most of the time…There are times specially at lower speeds of 45 and under…they malfunction…to the point where I have to depress them fully with brute force….I took the car back to the dealership within the first two weeks and they gave me a run around on this by driving the car around the block and I was told that the brakes take time to break in…
(Isnt it supposed to be the other way around on the brakes…as in they are rough initially and then they smoothen out)…

Besides this the stopping time from freeway speeds of about 65 is just way too much (as a result of which I have to constantly switch my foot to the brake pedal even though I am a fairly conservative driver)…Also theres way too much Brake dust on the Front Rims specially for a Car with just 4000 miles on it…

I have taken it back again and this time they practically ignored the issue…this was around the time when the first TV reports started comming out..they did complete on recall fix…after which I can here the Brake Pedal bar brushing up against the floor….

I also have the impression from the car that at times the Rear brakes do not function as they are supposed to…or function in a belated manner…

The other problem I have is at times it almost seems like (at lower speeds under 40) on depressing the brakes the car seems to pick up speed for a brief moment and this has happened several times….
Another issue while parked on a slant on the Driveway…getting in and out of the Car… (handbrakes set)…can hear a slipping noise from the back of the car…

I got this car at Desert Toyota in Las Vegas, Nevada…when I asked the Salesman about the car brakes as I had heard something about this issue on a Camry…I was told that It was because people were putting in wrong kind of mats in(which I think was the official line that they were repeating to every customer)…I am gonna take the car in another time now with about 4000 miles on it and hoping that the issue will be taken care of…IF not I am considering approaching an Attorney…and filing a suit against the Dealer and Toyota itself…I would be willing to help…if only the Dealer takes the time to inquire what the exact problem is most of the time it seems like they don’t care…
Besides this I will also be filing a complaint with http://www.nhtsa.gov as well…

Other than this the Car functions well enough…fuel efficiency is truly amazing…

Thanks to everyone taking the time to post these issues…

Stay Safe (most of all Keep Safe distance from the cars in front of you at all costs even more so If you have a Toyota)
Christopher

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:55:58 +0000

Thanks Melanie for writing again ( and all the others as well ) … Mealnie your first letter that you wrote back in Dec. is one of many that I printed off and had in my hand as I visited the dealer on a few occasions . As the service manager was test driving our car with my husband in the front passanger seat , I was in the back seat reading to him all the incedences of similar stories . But they could not duplicate the problem so can’t fix what they can’t find …same ld story .
This message board has helped me alot , realizing that I am not the only one .
We were one of the fortunate ones that no longer drives a Toyota . I had 18 months left on my lease and yes it did cost us to get out of it , nearly $3,000 . I returned it on Feb 24th the same day as the congressional hearings were held with Toyoda .
But as I move forward from this negative experience , I still want to voice my concerns where I can and feel for those that can’t get out of thier lease or have bought which makes it harder . There is more and more truth coming out all the time and my prayer is that it will conitnue to surface until the truth is told and safety is the priority again . The owner of the dealership where I bought , was sincere and really wants to get to the bottom of it .He apologized anf felt badly , stating that he felt like he let us down . I know this is above him and that it is not his fault personally .
I hope people will conitue to press on and let thier voices be heard wherever and whenever they can . There is strength in numbers .
Stay safe everyone …
Karen
burkek@nbnet.nb.ca

By: Melanie Longden

Melanie Longden — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:45:11 +0000

Toyota Pedal Recall Fails to Correct Sudden Acceleration Issues

I want to thank everyone for posting their comments. It is great to know we are not “alone”. Unfortunately, Toyota does not care to address any of our concerns, and passes them off. They test drive the vehicle when you bring it in, and say “We could not duplicate the situation.” It is an all to familiar statement.
I had 14 months of complete brake failure with my 2009 Corolla, and the dealership had taken the brake system apart 3 times. Each time they said it was fine. They looked at the vehicle at least 10 times. I must have gone thru 30 stop lights & stop signs. The same car had sudden acceleration of 85-95 MPH on Jan.18,2010 with brake failure. The car did not crash, but I was injured hitting the steering wheel. The dealership & the state police refused to help me.
I ended up purchasing a new 2010 Corolla on Jan.18th, and refused to take the 2009 car home. The new car immediately had acceleration issues. It accelerated with the newly installed “pedal recall” on Feb 15th. Again, the car did not crash, but I was injured. Toyota kept the car for 4 days, and said “The car is fine. It is normal for Corollas to accelerate to 80 MPH.” That same day the brakes started to fail. Twice since then I have gone thru stop lights & stop signs. Also the gas pedal began to stick.
I brought the car back to the dealership today. All they did was test drive it alone, and then with me in it. Again, they said they can find nothing wrong with it. I said it is the same brake issue as my 2009 Corolla had, and it is still accelerating. They had the nerve to tell me “You may just be over anxious, and not really be feeling all of these things.” I wanted to say something bad, but I kept my mouth shut. I have filed lots of complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but they do nothing.
Melanie Longden

By: Jenny M.

Jenny M. — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:31:16 +0000

I bought my Toyota Corolla S in 2006 brand new, because I thought I’ll not have any problems for a lot of yrs. but since I got it, I heard a noise in the breaks in the mornings when I drove backward after it was parked for couple hours or overnight. I went to dealer to tell them about that noise and they said that is normal, I came back couple months after and in the third time, they told me you can’t come back for the same situation because it isn’t a problem it is normal. Then another noise appear when I drive backward and push the brake then I drive forward and push the brake, I can’t heard a CLICK so strong even people who are around can heard that noise. I took it to dealer again and I asked to talked to the manager, and he drove it and he said it is normal, I said I never heard from any other cars. So he said don’t worried this car has 3 yrs under warranty.
Then another noise when I open the electric window and close it, when it is wet.

I’d likt to know your opinion about my 2006 Toyota Corolla S

By: Maria L

Maria L — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:02:13 +0000

WE NEVER PAY OR ARE PAYING FOR A REFURBISHED VEHICLE, WE TRUST TOYOTA, BUT NOW TOYOTA AND TOYOTA FINNANCIAL JUST LOOK FOR THEIR BENEFIT. I think we have the right to make a petition all of us, If we are file a law suit against them, stating that we bought a SAFE car nor a REFURBISHED, we dont really know if this will fix the problem, my car has two recalls where is that safety. I just want my money back my car is under 4,000 miles, I notice something wrong with the brake pedals like if they have air inside, this is my first car and since I dont have credit Toyota lend me the money giving me almost 10K in cash plus my car, Now I feel devastated since I DONT TRUST TOYOTA. SORRY! WE HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE SPEEK FOR OUR RIGHTS! REMEMBER WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR NOT A DEFECTIVE ONE!

By: SHARON

SHARON — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:26:43 +0000

OK, MINE WAS A 2004 SCOIN XA, GAS PEDAL EXCELERATION, MY HUSBAND LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON IT HAPPENED SO FAST HE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND NOW HE HAS SPINAL COMPOUND FRACTURE AT T-12, DAMAGED HIS LUMBAR, BRUSED AND MAJOR SWELLING IN HIS LOWER STOMACH AND IT KNOCKED HIM OUT AND IT HAS MESSED WITH HIS MEMORY. HE IS WORKING REAL HARD TO GET ALL OF HIS MEMORY BACK. BUT NOW HE IS IN PAIN EVERYDAY AND STILL UNDER A DOCTOR’S CARE AND THIS HAPPENED DEC 28, 2009 NOW THEY ARE SENDING HIM TO A PAIN CLINIC, HIS LIFE AND MINE HAS CHANGED FOREVER. HE WAS TAKING CARE OF ME I AM DISABLED AND NOW IT’S REALLY HARD. THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE THE SCION XA ON THE RECALL LIST SO I WANT TO GET IT OUT, IT IS DEFECTIVE TO SO PLEASE WATCH OUT..TRY TO BE SAFE EVERYONE.

By: Mary Nasipak

Mary Nasipak — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:27:28 +0000

I own a 2009 Toyota Corolla. I just want to take it back. Does anyone know if I am able to do this and just forget about the rest of the payment contract? I also owed money on a previous lease that I returned to Toyota which was rolled into this contract. If anyone knows about this please contact me. I have no trust in Toyota vehicles any longer and just want to purchase another car from another company completely. Thank you for your time if you have any information regarding this matter.

By: John K

John K — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:25:37 +0000

I have a 2010 Corolla while i have been fortunate to not have had any problems I am afraid for my wife to drive this car! She is disabled and it isnt that she cant drive due to the type of her disease being degenerative in natere and the types of meds she takes it isnt wise for her to drive, so the car is there for her to use in an emergency. I have a company truck to use daily.
I have been to the dealer to see if there was anything they would do to get us a tacoma which is comparably priced, i dont want something for nothing. They just did the finance and said there was nothing they would do and the manager started to tell me about his families history with Toyota which as i told him doesnt amount to a hill of beans to me.
I have contacted the 800# they told me i could file for arbitration and they would send the papers 2weeks past still no papers. I have the Americans with Disabilities Assc. representative ready to go to bat for us. I was hoping the dealer would help but they only care about the dollar bill.
Good luck to everybody! Keep posting and please be safe!!

By: jason

jason — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:45:23 +0000

i have a 2007 scion tc i have recently expierenced a brake failure i was parked on a hill infront of my wifes vehicle the car was running i put foot on brake and let off the emergency brake the car began to drift i had never taken my foot off the brake i pulled the ebrake and nothing this caused my car to roll into my wifes causing major damage to my car and minor to hers i am verry concerned not only over the brake failure but also in the amount of damage caused in an accident at a mph or less

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:24:26 +0000

I have been having problems with the 2009 corolla I leased a year ago February, the first problem was 2 months after I got the car: brakes did not respond took seconds to respond that felt like eternity, took it to service they did not find anything wrong. I started looking on the Internet for problems with this cars toy surprise they were being recall in Europe. With this information I call the dealer their response was that was there not here; months later I receive a recall letter for my car there were problems with the brake vacuum port in the corollas 2009
Last Thursday February 18, The brakes did not respond fast and almost crash into another car (I had a 3 or 4 cars distance from the car in frnt of me and was going slow, 25 miles). I called service to see if they would take the car right away they responded not because I had an appt for Saturday 20 for theacelerator recall. To make long story short today Sunday February 21 went to talk to the dealer to see if they would give me another car because even though the car was fixed I am afraid of driving it, they said it is nothing they can do and if I want to come out of the lease I will have to pay the time that is left of the lease. THEY WONT HELP ANYONE. One of the responses was that to show the car has a problem was to probe I had an accident.

By: Dee Dee

Dee Dee — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:38:04 +0000

I have been having the same problem with my breaks,I have a 2009 Scion TC, it does not matter if the road is snow covered or dry (worse in snow) but my breaks do not work, they lock up on me and I almost went into a busy 4 lane intersection. I had my boyfriend take it for a ride thinking maybe it is me and he too stated my ABS tracking system is not working. I am afraid when I am driving it anymore and I start braking about 100 ft or more just to make sure I stop. I hate this vehicle, I will be calling the dealer, is there a way of getting a different vehicle without going upside down in my loan I only have 12000 miles on it and I hate it and I am very scared to drive it but I do not have another vehicle and have no other choice.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:58:54 +0000

I sold my husband on getting me a 2009 Corolla after a teenager wrecked into me and totalled my 2006 Trailblazer. “Honey, my aunt had a Corolla and it lasted her 8 years. They are dependable (what a joke), long lasting car. Well, Toyota almost met Toyota this am. On my way to work I went to stop and my car kept going and had to push the brake all the way to the floor….felt really strange and I heard this noise. I really thought my Corolla was going under the rear bumper of a Toyota Tundra. Traffic was less than 30mph by the Superdome (yes home of the world Champion New Orleans Saints….you have to add alittle smile in there when it was a terrifing moment). I can’t go without a car, I have to work but I want to be able to go to work and return safely to my family.

I reported last year that we do get some cold weather and freezes in my area….to say they least HELL FROZE OVER this YEAR in the New Orleans Area. Low’s in the 10’s isn’t low enough to have me to come in to fix the problem. In my line of work Toyota it is life over limb.

By: abigail

abigail — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:44:27 +0000

I have a 2010 toyota corolla. The same thing that happen to DONNA happen to me last night. I been having problems with my brakes and i took it to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong with my brakes that i need to learn how to drive my car since i have different brakes. No one needs to learn how to brake its simple just press on the brake!!! Last night i was braking and my car did not stop my car went on for about 50 ft. Good thing i wasnt going more than like 30 mph. My family has had corollas for years. Never had a problem til i got my 2010 corolla. I either want my car fixed or a new car! I got scared when my car wouldnt stop. Im only 18 years old and i even know thats too dangerous.

By: msmallwood

msmallwood — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:37:07 +0000

I too have had problems with my 2009 Toyota Corolla brakes. Each time I go down an down slope, I can hear my brakes sound as if my car is getting ready to take of on it own. I took it too Universal Toyota in San Antonio and I was told that everything was fine, but I still here the same sound which seems pretty scary. I have tried to talk with several supervisors but to no avail have my calls been returned. This is the seventh vehicle I have purchased from Toyota and the worst one by far. After several years as a faithful customer, this experience has will cause me to think twice before I ever consider or refer anyone to purchase another vehicle from their company.

By: d enise

d enise — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:44:05 +0000

i have a scion xb 2008 and today all my brake light warning came on you better belive i am taking it to the dealer with all the recalls that toyota is having i am not taking a chance with any thing i drive my kids around so to the person that has the 2008 xb above i would take it in

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:29:48 +0000

I have a 2008 Corolla S that I purchased in May 2008. I initially thought that there was something wrong with the brakes because of a metal hitting metal sound when I applied the brakes. I brought it in shortly after purchase, but was informed that nothing was wrong. Since then I have just dealt. Luckily nothing significant has happened, but I have absolutely experienced what people here are describing. There are times when I slowly approach a stop, and when I apply the brake slowly, it hesitates. It feels difficult to press down. It almost stutters. I’ve been told by Toyota and an independent mechanic as well, that it must be the anti-lock brakes. I am bringing the car it to be looked at again by Toyota tomorrow. I was inclined to do so after going off of the road this morning when making a VERY slow turn off of the road into a driveway. It was snowing – about 25 degrees out. I am going to guess that they will tell me that they cannot find anything wrong. The manager of the service department was very condescending when I spoke with him.

I cannot afford to purchase another vehicle. I’m stuck.

Any advice or info would be much appreciated.

suefh4@yahoo.com

By: donna

donna — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:24:15 +0000

OH MY GOD!! Was all I could think as I hit my brakes and they
did not stop me as I was heading into a traffic jam. My brake peddle seemed to jam and would i could not press it down any further. I took my foot off of the
pedal and began kicking it with my toe. After 45 seconds approx. my brakes returned and I was able to stop. I pulled over to the side and having driven 35
years, realized this was the worst thing that had even happened in all driving years. MY BRAKE PEDAL SIMPLY LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE
I went to my dealer. They inspected the car and suggested it was my driving. The mechanic said he would take my car home and drive it around the next day but assured me that everything was okay. I then suggested that I would get a rental car under my extended warranty that I had purchased. I was told taht the warranty plan was only in effect if the mechanic had diagnosed a problem and that until the car did it while a Toyota mechanic was driving it – they were putting it to drivers driving ability. (I live in Canada )

Not only are Toyota’s garbage but their extended warranty is a fraud.

I have now been on hold 2 hours with Toyota’s hotline. I keep getting a message Due to high call volumes …….,,

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:34:04 +0000

After reading the horror stories above, I feel compelled to convey my family’s experience this February 15th, 2010 afternoon with our 2009 Toyota Corolla.

My father was driving by himself on the way back home from work, a route he’s driven for the past 15 years, when he noticed that traffic was slowing several hundred meters ahead as the upcoming traffic signal shifted from green to yellow to red. Driving 20-25 mph, and with a considerable amount of distance between him and the vehicle ahead, he depressed the brake pedal, observed no change in the vehicle’s speed, then pressed down as hard as he could with no avail.

He slammed right into the vehicle in front of him. Every airbag deployed, front end of the engine completely crumpled in, the car looks like a total loss. We contacted our attorney, who suggested our insurance agent send a vehicle inspector to conduct a manufacturing defect inspection of the wreckage. Judging by the similar stories from above, I’m having doubts that the inspector will find anything wrong – but this is clearly not a driver error issue, this is a manufacturing defect!

If anyone has any advice, please send me an e-mail or your contact info to an account I just set up, corollawontstop@gmail.com

We need to speak up and let it be known to Toyota that they’re putting people’s safety at risk, and ruining their reputation! Thank god my father wasn’t driving at faster speeds, and that he made it out in one piece. Shame on you Toyota!

By: Donna Lorenti

Donna Lorenti — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:44:04 +0000

I have a 2009 Scion TC. I have the same issue with my brakes that Virginia had. In fact it happened on my way home from work yesterday. It was enough to give me a heart attack. I was just driving along the same highway I go everyday to work on and I noticed as usual the cars in front of me too were slowing down. So naturally I gave quite enough distance in front of me and I started to brake. Well let me tell you the car didn’t want to stop. So in order for me to not hit the innocent person in front of me I swerved off to the side of the road and I pressed really hard on the brake and it started to slow up. What the hell is going on with this. I’ve never had a problem with my Toyota Celica which I still have. In fact I am back to driving my old faithful. I do not want to drive my Scion. My husband is going to call the dealer today. As for this so called recall I never got a letter about a Scion brake problem. I think they should be recalling all of them for safety sake.

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:13:47 +0000

A bit of a long article , but a very intersting devlopement …
“Business Week ”
Regulators Hired by Toyota Helped Halt Probes, Documents Show
February 11, 2010, 09:26 PM EST

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-11/regulators-hired-by-toyota-helped-halt-probes-documents-show.html