NHTSA Complaint #10098558 — 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA

SINCE LEASING MY 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA IN MARCH OF 2003, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL WHENEVER THE CAR IS USED. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER (PLAZA AUTO MALL) WHERE I LEASED IT FROM TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT ON 4/26/03. TECHNICIAN FOUND "NO PROBLEMS, EVERYTHING OPERATING NORMALLY AT THIS TIME". ON 6/2/04 I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND EXPLAINED THE FOUL ODOR SMELL. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM A GASOLINE ISSUE AND THAT NEW TOYOTAS ARE SO EFFICENIENT AT BURNING FUEL THAT THEY ALSO BURN UP CONTAMINANTS IN THE FUEL THAT WERE NORMALLY RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. THEY IN TURN FORWARDED MY COMPLAINT TO CORPORATE CUSTOMER RELATIONS.(COMPLAINT #200306020751) ON 6/3/03 MY DEALERSHIP CALLED TO EXPLAIN AGAIN WHAT I HAD BEEN TOLD BY CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AT THIS TIME. HE SUGGESTED TRYING A DIFFERENT BRAND OF GAS WHICH I HAVE DONE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS WITH THE FOUL ODOR SMELL.*AK