I have been buying problem free Toyotas since 1977 but I may have bought my last one with this '09 LE. I am constantly having some little thing mess up, or I notice some production goof. The latest one was today. I waxed it and noticed for the first time how poorly the piece of plastic with the keyhole is fitted to the trunk lid. Mold forms along there in just a few days. Also, when it's parked in the rain, a dirty streak will form running down the door from behind the door handles.
Recently, the back window defroster will only work if the air diffuser is set on the first 3 positions, and I have already replaced the interior door handle (driver side) twice.
I have always checked the data plate before buying to make sure the car was built in Japan (don't say it) but this time it didn't pay off. Anyway, I'm a high mileage driver and past warranty. but at least nothing mechanical that's important has gone wrong yet.
You may find even more small issues along with bigger ones on other cars. I've got friends that have a lot more problems with other brands. Most of what you are pointing out is very minor. As far as the door handle, it sounds like you are doing something different as I've never heard of others having an issue.
__________________ 89 Supercharged White MR2 5-speed / 09 Corolla S CSM 5-speed
07 Matrix XR Gray Pearl 5-speed (sold 11/23/11)/ 94 Corolla DX Red 5-speed / 95 Previa S/C White Auto/
07 Corolla CE CSM 5-speed/ 10 Prius III Blizzard Pearl
its a machine afterall, things will go wrong here and there, minor or major. people who have any bad experience will think differently than ppl who have a good experience regardless of the brand of vehicle.
if you are just using it point a-b, just keep driving it as is, dont worry about the little stuff, if its getting too much to you, you can always sell it and upgrade to something else.
I don't think its any secret that Toyota quality slipped especially in 2009. Toyota in commercials has basically admitted to that. I think a simple comparison between 9th to 10th generation corollas is a good example of seeing were Toyota cut corners. I agree not a lot of brands are quality anymore its really sad how the consumers get screwed. I think one of the things I really took away from owning a brand new generation car is to wait! Wait until the cars been out for a good year and read owner reviews and forms I for one will probably buy a used next time and I'll read up on prior owners to make sure I select the correct year. and not a transitional one....
I was not comparing this '09 Toyota to any other make of car, and all of my Toyotas have not been completely trouble free. Also I am not "totally" Toyota. Back while I still had my '82 Corolla wagon, I also had an '84 Chevy Z28, the one with the "plastic" clutch which routinely failed. The "82 Corolla had a front strut problem, they had to be replaced every 50,000 or so. Also my '77, a pickup- blown head gasket at about 3000 miles. (Fixed and never another problem). The best of them all was my '87 pickup, ~320,000 problem free miles except for a fuel pump and front oil seal. It finally blew a headgasket a few days after I bought my 2000 Corolla. All the others have just been average daily drivers, mostly problem free except for routine maintenance, which includes emission control items.
My initial post was meant to say what dj2000lbs has said in his post. When I buy something and am later dissatisfied, I don't mind saying so. I don't get overly protective of my decisions.
As much as the little stuff bothers me, I will remain loyal to toyota for it's Reliability and ESPECIALLY this...
THIS hit me:
and did this to me:
and caused a chain reaction to these cars: (WE WERE ALL STOPPED!)
... and I walked away with 2 minor cuts, a few bruises and soreness. Medics were SHOCKED that the Ford F3500 Super Duty towing TWO full sized vans hit me while i was stopped on the highway and I walked away. I had not gotten out of the car yet and I told myself I was going to buy my 4th Corolla with the money.
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2009 Magnetic Gray Metallic Corolla LE ^Click For My CarDomain Page^ Team HAMSTER™
As much as the little stuff bothers me, I will remain loyal to toyota for it's Reliability and ESPECIALLY this...
... and I walked away with 2 minor cuts, a few bruises and soreness. Medics were SHOCKED that the Ford F3500 Super Duty towing TWO full sized vans hit me while i was stopped on the highway and I walked away. I had not gotten out of the car yet and I told myself I was going to buy my 4th Corolla with the money.
Oh wow. I'm glad you walked away from that dude. Your car saved your life!
I sometimes hate how bigger cars can hit you, and totally demolish your car, while they won't even have a scratch on theirs. Sometimes I wish I drove a huge pickup truck or Jeep instead of my fragile 2008 Camry.
Oh wow. I'm glad you walked away from that dude. Your car saved your life!
I sometimes hate how bigger cars can hit you, and totally demolish your car, while they won't even have a scratch on theirs. Sometimes I wish I drove a huge pickup truck or Jeep instead of my fragile 2008 Camry.
Hit truck was F'd pretty good... The belt spit out parts when they started it to put it on the tow truck, was leaking antifreeze and frame appeared to be bent as front was shifted. Also the 5th wheel trailer hitch snapped and the trailer slammed into the bed and imbedded into it. Took a crane about an hour to pry it loose. So he did get it bad too, my pic just doesn't show it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KPT
I'm also amazed that you walked away from it but that's not a Ford in the pic. Unless there is some inside joke I'm missing?
That's a dodge 3500 heavy duty.
oh, no... I dont know much about truck or domestic cars, so I guess I just saw 3500 after the accident and assumed it was F series.
But yeah, I had always liked my Corollas up to that point, but that sealed the deal. Unless something fairly big happens, I'm a lifer. I owe them that much
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2009 Magnetic Gray Metallic Corolla LE ^Click For My CarDomain Page^ Team HAMSTER™
thanks, every so often i have legit posts not just bantering about my thoughts of a mod. I'm glad my insight and unfortunate experience has helped others realiz just how good of a car the Corolla is.
Yes, there might be some flaws on the car, but i'll take those minor flaws...
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2009 Magnetic Gray Metallic Corolla LE ^Click For My CarDomain Page^ Team HAMSTER™
Oh wow. I'm glad you walked away from that dude. Your car saved your life!
I sometimes hate how bigger cars can hit you, and totally demolish your car, while they won't even have a scratch on theirs. Sometimes I wish I drove a huge pickup truck or Jeep instead of my fragile 2008 Camry.
I hate that too....I love driving my 4runner as it has proved that it can take other trucks/suv's and especially cars( my mom got hit from behind by a tahoe and almost no damage on the rear bumper and the tahoes metal bumper got soooooo F'd up and sometimes its not totally true...my friends 9th gen took on a tahoe as well and the only damage she got was by something behind the bumper poked her plastic bumper and that was it...the tahoes cost $1k to fix and was totally messed up (9th gen bumpers were crazy good) and my friends mazda 6 took on a 04 or 05 f150 and his mazda's bumper was just pushed in vs. the trucks bumper was pushed so far back that it locked the wheel and had to be towed....and it almost fell off(I laugh and the marketing and demo's ford does to show how much better the f series trucks are whatever dudes)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tech1984
What an impact your post contributed to this thread. I'm impressed. That would even jaw drop the designers at Volvo too!!
lol right! they even messed up the demo for that radar braking thing....they went straight into the truck in front and they had a recall!!! and on the airbags go figure!!!
thanks, every so often i have legit posts not just bantering about my thoughts of a mod. I'm glad my insight and unfortunate experience has helped others realiz just how good of a car the Corolla is.
Yes, there might be some flaws on the car, but i'll take those minor flaws...
that is what I care about the most...my safety and my passengers safety. that is also why I wanted trac/stab. but they wanted $2k and I couldn't afford that and that was ridiculous(still need to complain to the dealer and see what happens)
i cant sweat the little things, any car you buy is gonna have little things especially the newer ones, but mine has been good to me and i love it even with small things.
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Sylvia
K2
btw, KPT. 
that is also why I wanted trac/stab. but they wanted $2k and I couldn't afford that and that was ridiculous(still need to complain to the dealer and see what happens
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Scarlett
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