NHTSA Complaint #10041132 — 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA

2004 COROLLA BOUGHT 32 DAYS AGO WITH 92 MILES. NOTICED SULFUR SMELL WHEN EXITING VEHICLE ONLY AFTER FIRST REFILL -- NOT NOTICED WITH FUEL THAT CAME WITH IT. DEALER SAID TO TRY DIFFERENT GAS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT MY ENTIRE TANK IS EMPTY BEFORE FILLING. BASICALLY RECOMMENDING THAT I WAIT. (THEY DID SAY TO FILL THE TANK -- NOT JUST PUT IN A COUPLE GALLONS) AFTER THE SECOND REFILL (AND ABOUT 16 DAYS SINCE PURCHASE) I NOTICED THAT THE SMELL WASN'T AS BAD, BUT A FRIEND REMINDED ME THAT IT WAS PARTICULARLY WINDY. I LATER NOTICED THE SMELL WHEN THE WIND CALMED DOWN. NO LUCK WITH THE THIRD REFILL EITHER. ALL OF THESE ARE AT DIFFERENT STATIONS. CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I NOW TRY THE HIGHER-OCTANE FUEL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE DAYS ARE SLOWLY PASSING. AFTER TALKING WITH SALES DEPT AND THE SERVICE DEPT ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE, THEY AGREED TO TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AS SOON AS THEY LEARNED THAT I SMELLED THIS FROM INSIDE THE CAR WHEN DRIVING. I SENSE THAT IT IS A MORE-SERIOUS MATTER IF IT GETS INSIDE YOUR CAR. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER FOR THE DAY -- ANOTHER COROLLA LE, WHICH ALSO SMELLED OF SULFUR. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT HE DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING AT ALL WHEN HE DROVE MY CAR, BUT HE SAID THAT MY "AIR-FRESHENER OVERWHELMED" HIM. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS EITHER LYING TO ME (YOU CAN'T MISTAKE THE SMELL OF SULFUR GAS) OR HE HAS BECOME DESENSITIZED TO ITS ODOR. I HAVE READ THAT SULFUR CAN WEAKEN YOUR ABILITY TO SMELL SULFUR FOR SOME TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF THE ABILITY TO SMELL SULFUR COMES BACK QUICKLY OR GOES AWAY FOR A LONG TIME. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. HE SAID IT WAS (YOU GUESSED IT) THE GAS. WELL, NOW MY "GRACE PERIOD" HAS EXPIRED AND I WOULD LOSE AT LEAST $1,300 IF I TOOK IT BACK AND GOT THE PAY-OFF. IF THEY DIDN'T MAKE ME WAIT, I COULD HAVE HAD 100% OF MY MONEY BACK OR A NEW COROLLA THAT DOESN'T SMELL. (INCIDENT DATE SHOULD BE 2004 NOT 2003) *JB