3 Month Old 2009 Corolla S motor replaced - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

cweston · 12-15-2008, 02:13 PM

I purchased my FIRST BRAND NEW car, also my first Toyota on August 18, 2008. It was a 2009 Corolla S, moonroof package, 5 speed. I was the happiest person in the world. I travel with work and didn't want to have to worry about buying a second hand vehicle only for it to leave me on the side of the road somewhere.

The first month went by and I was driving back to work from my lunch. The light turned green and I went. Well I didn't go far. My car lost all of it's power and quit. I coasted into a near by parking lot almost getting my tail end tore off from the traffic behind me. I called the roadside assistance number and they wanted to address where I was. Well I had no idea what the address was. I did my best and asked people in the parking lot. I waited there for the wrecker to come. This was one of the worst days in my life. While at the dealer I told them that the car didn't have any power and that it stalled all of the time. I have been driving a standard for 8 years and have NEVER stalled a vehicle this much. I probably stalled this car about 200 times since I owned it. They said that Toyota's are harder to drive then most cars. They said they would look into it.

The dealship had my car for almost 2 weeks only to tell me that they weren't sure what was wrong with my car. They said that my car lost oil pressure and one of my valves had stuck on. They floated my valves and I got my car back. When I got my car back it still didn't have any power and I still continued to stall it.

About a week later I noticed that I had an oil leak under my car. I took it back to the dealer. They had it 2 days and discovered that they had pinched a gasket when it was apart the first time. They replaced it and I was on my way again.

I wrote to Toyota Canada with my concerns only to get back. Well it is a machanical thing and not to worry it is under warranty. I stressed that this was my FIRST BRAND NEW CAR and that I wasn't a happy camper that my FIRST BRAND NEW car broke down on me.

The car was running ok....still had no power and I still stalled it. It went in for it's 8000 km oil change and I got it back. About a week later my boyfriend was driving my car to get a car starter put on and it broke down yet again. Leaving him about 3 miles from phone service in the dark at 6 am in the morning. He had to walk the 3 miles until some one picked him up. He called Road Side Assistance and they wanted to know the address in which he broke down. He said I have no idea what the address it cause the car broke down on the side of the road. They wouldn't patch him through to the local tow company. He had to call me and get me out of bed to go and get him and we had to find out the house # that was close to where the car was sitting.

We cleaned out the car and left the key in it. The car wouldn't start again so no fear of anyone stealing it. The tow company went and picked the car up on Thursday November 13, 2008. The dealership still has my car and this is Monday December 15, 2008. They gave me one of there Demo cars. It was a 2009 Toyota Corolla CE, without even power windows. I am paying for a top of the line car and they gave me a base line.

They started out telling me they didn't know. They it was my car dropped the valves and they were going to rebuild my motor. Well the week before last they got the approval from Toyota Canada to replace the motor. They took the motor apart and cylinders were all scored. They said that I had a soft block from the manufacture. The car is ready today but I told them that I am not picking it up until I speak to the Owner of the Dealership. All together they have had my car almost 8 weeks out of the 17 weeks that I have owned it.

I want to be compinsated in some way for all of this hassle. I have nothing but good things to say about the Service Manager at my local dealership. He has been great but for the rest of the people involved.....not so happy.

What do you think that I should do?

O.O · 12-15-2008, 02:20 PM

sounds like a lemon, car shouldn't stall that much unless its driver's error and you said you've been driving for 8 years so i doubt its that. ask to see if you can upgrade to the xrs (maybe with some cash on top, dunno) cause the 1.8l is a new engine while the 2.4 has been used for a while and proven

trunks9_us · 12-15-2008, 02:22 PM

I would try to get them to give you some free service but other then that its not the dealerships fault sounds like you got a lemon car to me and they fixed it with a new motor. Just understand the dealership does not make the cars the cars get brought to them. Asking for some free service is as far as I would take it. Its like when your going to a drive thru and the person gives your the wrong food its not there fault they didnt make the food they just handed it to you.

cweston · 12-15-2008, 02:27 PM

Yeah I have been nothing but understanding with the dealership. But I purchased a brand new car and now I do not have a brand new car. I told them that I do not want the car back. I have a few options for them. I am meeting with the owner tomorrow. I think that Toyota Canada should step up to the plate and back up there products. I mean especially where this is my first toyota and also my first brand new car. I had intentions on trading this one in, in a couple of years time but after this experience not sure if I ever want another one.

cweston · 12-15-2008, 02:31 PM

I already know where I legally stand but I haven't flashed the Lawyer card at them yet. I am waiting for them to step up. I have heard that they will try everything to make me take that car back. But since it had been in there it didn't get it's car starter and also I don't have any winter tires/rims. Toyota said that they would cover Half my tires and rims. I think that is just a kick in the teeth. I pay BIG money for a car that I haven't had for 8 weeks and they want to pay for Half of my winter tires/rims. They can take the car and shove it as far as I am conserned.

***mmasse*** · 12-15-2008, 06:16 PM

Ask for a new car; seriously ask them to transfer your ownership to a new vehicle. Once you get into replacing the engine due to unknown causes you are better off with another vehicle.

straightclownin35 · 12-15-2008, 06:34 PM

that sucks, i would demand a new car and if they say no i would say well you guys will have to deal with my lawyer because that is bullshit if they dont give u a new car. they have to eat it with the shit car..

Dorkinheimer · 12-15-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

I probably stalled this car about 200 times since I owned it. They said that Toyota's are harder to drive then most cars.

Why don't they something about it? I had 2 manual Toyotas, and I also stalled very often in 1st gear. The friction point is a pain, especially when starting in a hill.

ericgu22 · 12-15-2008, 10:19 PM

I don't think they're gonna replace the car since it has so much km. When i First got my 09 Corolla s, the whole car shakes when I brake and took it to the dealer, it was the transmission. The car only has 34km. I demanded a new car from the dealership and they replace me a brand new one. The car now has no problems at all. Keep all your service records and fight hard for a replacement since it has all these problems.

rolla-XRS · 12-15-2008, 10:41 PM

Unlike other low-value disposable merchandise, big-ticket purchases can't simply be disposed and replaced so easily. If your house was built with a bad foundation, you generally don't throw the whole house away and build another one next door. You fix the problem and keep the rest - because it still has value. So one can't just ask for a new car because of a warranty repair on an engine. Well you can ask, but get used to hearing "no".

As long as Toyota has fixed it, then there's little recourse in Canada.

To leverage any lemon laws, the Dealer would have to be unable to resolve the issue after several attempts. Typically this means 3 failed repairs - and on a critical component. Rattles don't apply.

As for clutch touchiness, never noticed any difference in grab point. I've had Manual Trans Honda's Celica's, Corolla's, Chryslers, etc. Starting up on hills is always a PITA no matter the brand.

Nevertheless, cweston, I've PM'd you with your best option. Good luck!

Tideland Prius · 12-15-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cweston

They gave me one of there Demo cars. It was a 2009 Toyota Corolla CE, without even power windows. I am paying for a top of the line car and they gave me a base line.

Wow, hmm.... I understand your frustration in needing some compensation but at the same time, at least you had a courtesy car. We had to wait for a car when the Prius was in (the dealer fried the ECU) and when they finally had a courtesy car, guess what it was? a 3-dr Yaris CE with one option - an automatic transmission. No A/C, no rear wiper, no power anything and it wasn't even cleaned. We found newspapers and an empty 2L bottle of Pepsi in the car. We paid $34k++ and I get a stripped down car as a courtesy car. Nice... I wonder if Sequoia owners get the same Yaris courtesy car after spending $65k++ on their Sequoia.

pwain · 12-16-2008, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cweston

What do you think that I should do?

Pick up the car and move on. Toyota did everything they said they would in the documentation you signed before you purchased your car. It sounds like the biggest issue was with towing, which would have been resolved if you knew the roads you drove on. By the way, the "top of the line" Corollas have GPS.

What exactly do you feel entitled to? I think most individuals could live without a body kit for 8 weeks.

Heck, I would give up my XLE for months, knowing it would save me thousands of miles while it sat at the shop.

IceXRS · 12-16-2008, 10:35 AM

Sounds positively horrible. Toyota's reputation is normally bulletproof but there are bound to be a few odd ones out in the bunch and I think you were unlucky enough to get one of them. Definitely frustrating to have a new car and not be able to do anything with it.

It does sound like the car was giving you warning signs long before it left you on the side of the road. If a car is doing something weird its time to take it in. Despite what the dealer said, I doubt Toyota's are harder to drive than most...I've NEVER heard that ever.

I hope you can have this all resolved soon and it does sound like the dealer is more or less taking care of you. Hopefully once you've got a new or rebuilt engine and anything else that needs to be replaced that will be the end of your woes. I've seen literally hundreds of the 09 model on the road ...it'll be interesting to see what the CR reliability ratings are when the year is done. If I could make a prediction...once this is all sorted out you should have years of relatively trouble free driving but as always I tell people to listen and know your car (or get to know your car). Trouble usually starts small and gets bigger later...or at least thats been my experience with a couple of older domestic cars.