NHTSA Complaint #10339049 — 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA S (SPORT) AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND BEGAN RAPIDLY DECREASING TRAVELING SPEED TO 10-15 MILES MPH. THEN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY GAS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED DECLINING IN SPEED. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED AND BEGAN OPERATION AS IF NOTHING HAD OCCURRED. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE, AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND A PREPONDERANCE OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT EXPERIENCE TO MINE FROM OWNERS OF (2005-2007). OUTRAGED OWNERS EXPRESSED THAT IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE AMONG DEALERS THAT THERE WAS ENGINE COMPUTER ISSUE, AND A SUBSEQUENT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED WITHOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THIS MATTER. I RELAYED THIS INFORMATION TO THE TOYOTA OF EASLEY DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON THE MATTER, SAID I WAS 4,000 MILES OVER THEIR FREE REPLACEMENT PERIOD (8 YRS/80,000 MILES). I RESPONDED THAT THE MILEAGE WASN'T THE CAUSE IT IS COMMONLY KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. FINALLY, AFTER SPEAKING MY CALL TO THE TOYOTA HELPLINE AND HIS DISTRICT MANAGER, THE PARTS MANAGER AGREED TO CUT THE FEE 50% FROM $724 TO $352. AT THIS POINT, THEY CHARGED ME $85 JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR SO I HAD NO OTHER RECOURSE BUT TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIX THIS SINCE THE CAR WAS BEGINNING TO LOSE ENGINE POWER IN THIS MANNER EVERY 10 TO 15 MILES. UPON LEAVING TOYOTA OF EASLEY AND RETURNING TO MY APARTMENT, I CALLED A FEW OTHER DEALERSHIPS THAT I HAD PATRONIZED PREVIOUSLY. THE RESPONSE THAT I RECEIVED FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WAS BRING THE CAR IN IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 COROLLAS, AND EVEN IF WE CAN'T DO THIS FOR YOU FOR FREE, TOYOTA SHOULD BE ABLE TO REFUND YOU FOR THIS MATTER BECAUSE ITS SO COMMONPLACE. *TR