NHTSA Complaint #10308047 — 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA

I TOOK MY 2004 TOYOTA IN FOR SERVICE FOR STEERING PROBLEMS 8 TIMES, BETWEEN THE DATE OF PURCHASE IN APRIL 2004 AND SEPTEMBER 2004. I WAS DRIVING ON I-75 ON THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE IN WILDWOOD FLORIDA, ON A DRY SUNNY DAY - THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE CONTROL, AFTER I MOVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A CAR INCOMING FROM MY RIGHT SIDE - THERE WAS SMALL CONTACT BY THE UNKNOWN VEHICLE, WHICH CONTINUED. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER OUT OF THE PROBLEM, AT FIRST, AND THE CAR WENT TO THE LEFT SIDE PARKING STRIP. WHEN I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR, IT DID NOT LOSE SPEED. I BEGAN TO STEER OUT OF LEFT LANE, ONTO THE HIGHWAY, BUT THEN WHILE I WAS STEERING RIGHT, THE CAR STEERED ITSELF TO THE LEFT. I AM CERTAIN THAT THE CAR FAILED TO ALLOW THE CRUISE CONTROL TO RELEASE. I REPORTED ALL OF THIS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THIS WAS IGNORED BY TOYOTA. THE REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM USING THE LEMON LAW WERE ALSO DENIED, AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT SUPPORT ME WHEN I MADE CONTACT WITH THEM ON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, BETWEEN APRIL 2004 (ON PURCHASE) AND THE INCIDENT. THE SERVICE MANAGERS AT GATORLAND TOYOTA REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS IN OCALA, FLORIDA. THE OWNER OF THAT DEALERSHIP ALSO REFUSED TO LISTEN WHEN I WROTE AND SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THAT DEALERSHIP. I HAVE ALL OF THE MATERIAL THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO TOYOTA, AND TO ARBITRATION. IT WAS A VIBRATION AND STEERING PROBLEM THAT I REPORTED, HOWEVER, I BELIEVED AT TIME, THAT THE CAR MAY HAVE HELD THE DEALER (DELUCA, IN OCALA FLORIDA) INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED. THIS WAS LIKELY A PEDAL PROBLEM. AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS CRUISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO DELUCA TOYOTA REQUESTING REPAIR ABOUT 5 TIMES (HAVE DOCUMENTS) AND TO GAINESVILLE, FL TOYOTA, 3X, & WITH A SCHEDULED REPRESENTATIVE (REGIONAL) INSPECTION. THE ALL REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. THE CLAIMED TO HAVE ALIGNED THE FRONT END & BALANCED TIRES (A VIBRATION ISSUE). NO CHANGE. THEY THEN REFUSED. *TR