NHTSA Complaint #10435627 — 2011 TOYOTA COROLLA

SINCE LEASING THIS BRAND NEW 2011 COROLLA, I NOTICED THAT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40MPH AND 60MPH THE CAR WOULD FEEL AS IF IT WAS DECELERATING, AKIN TO BEING BUFFETED BY STRONG HEADWINDS, ALTHOUGH THE SPEED DID NOT REFLECT IT. I DRIVE MOSTLY AROUND A CITY THAT HAS MANY ZONES WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 40MPH, SO I WAS EXPERIENCING THIS PHENOMENON A LOT. BY THE TIME I HAD 250 MILES ON THE CAR, I KNEW THAT IT WAS NOT JUST A QUIRK, AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE PERSON WHO BOOKED ME IN FOR SERVICE SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT MANY 2011 COROLLA OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM TO CHECK ONLINE. I ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT APPALLING MILEAGE - I WAS AVERAGING LESS THAN 20MPG - AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD GET THEIR TECHNICIANS TO FOCUS ON THE TWO ISSUES. WITHIN 30 MINUTES HE WAS BACK TO SAY THAT NOT ONLY HAD HE FOUND THE DECELERATION ISSUE ONLINE, HE FOUND IT ON TOYOTA'S OWN SERVICE WEBSITE, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE COMPANY HAD ISSUED AN OFFICIAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IT IS NOT SHOWING THAT ONE WAS ISSUED ON THIS SITE, BUT I HAVE SEEN IT, AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE ABLE TO REPROGRAM THE CAR'S COMPUTER (THEY CALLED IT A "FLASH"). THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE POOR GAS MILEAGE WAS BEING CAUSED BY THE MISTIMING, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, CALL YOUR DEALERSHIP AND DEMAND THAT THEY FIND THE BULLETIN ON TOYOTA'S OWN SITE. IT'S THERE! MY CAR IS NOW DRIVING MUCH BETTER AND THE GAS MILEAGE IS IMPROVING...SLOWLY. *TR