NHTSA Complaint #10334658 — 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA

1999 TOYOTA COROLLA PURCHASED IN VERMONT JAN. 1999, MOVED TO NC IN JULY, 2008, WITH ABOUT 101,000 MILES. DRIVER WAS AT DOCTOR'S OFFICE PARKING LOT AUG '08-STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARDS, POOL OF BRAKE FLUID ON GROUND. REFILLED RESERVOIR, AND AS SOON AS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED OUT. TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE MECHANIC SHOWED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE TO REAR BRAKES WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND JUST RUPTURED UNDER PEDAL PRESSURE. HE SPLICED ON A 1-2 FOOT SECTION WHERE THE RUST WAS WORST. ON 6/03/2010, THE SAME HAPPENED ON THE OPPOSITE REAR BRAKE LINE IN OUR DRIVEWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA OF NEW BERN, NC. BY AAA, WITH A DETAILED NOTE TO REPLACE THAT RUPTURED LINE. AFTER A $207.00 INFLATED BILL, THAT LINE WAS ALSO SPLICED, AND THE REPAIR INVOICE NOTED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED REPLACEMENT FROM SEVERE RUST. ASKED THE DEALERSHIP OWNER TO RECONSIDER THE 2 HOUR CHARGE OF $90.00 PER HOUR, BUT HE WAS OBSTINATE STATING HE HAD A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY HE HAD TO PAY FOR, AND WOULD NOT COMPROMISE WITH THE INITIAL $90. ESTIMATE GIVEN THE PREVIOUS DAY. THIS UNDERCARRIAGE RUST RUNS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. NO GARAGE WILL ALIGN THE 4 WHEELS FOR FEAR OF SNAPPING SOMETHING. I'VE REPLACED THE LEAKING GAS TANK AND FILLER NECK TWO YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME MASSIVE CORROSION. THESE CORROSION ISSUES POSE A VERY REAL THREAT TO LIFE SHOULD THE BRAKES FAIL ON THESE NORTHERN VEHICLES DRIVEN ON SALTED WINTER ROADS. TOYOTA OF NEW BERN, NC OWNER APPARENTLY IS TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR HIS DROP IN SALES DUE TO RECALL ISSUES BY OVERCHARGING HIS REPAIR CUSTOMERS. WHEN THE SERVICE DEPT. REP PHONED TO CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THE VEHICLE TOWED, HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS AN INITIAL $90. DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE BEFORE BEGINNING THE WORK. I OBJECTED, AS I HAD TOLD HIM TO REPAIR THAT SPECIFIC BRAKE LINE, AND HE COUNTERED WITH, "BUT THAT INCLUDES A FREE 23 POINT CHECK." I SAID NO WAY, & HIS MGR. AGREED WITH ME. YEAH, RIGHT. *TR