NHTSA Complaint #10444321 — 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD WHINE AND LOSS OF POWER. SINCE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, I CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL I GOT TO A SERVICE STATION. THERE, I CHECKED ALL FLUIDS, WHICH WERE FINE; I THEN CONTINUED ON MY WAY TO AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN EYE SPECIALIST I HAD, AND AT THAT TIME I NOTICED THE CLUTCH WAS DIFFICULT TO USE. ONCE I HAD THE APPOINTMENT WITH THE SPECIALIST, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST AUTO TRANSMISSION SERVICE CENTER, WHERE I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, AND AXLE PUT ON MY CAR FOR OVER $4,000 BECAUSE THEY SAID "NO ONE REBUILDS TOYOTA TRANSMISSIONS". I AM A 60-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO ALWAYS TAKES THE CAR FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND HAD A PRE-TRIP CAR CHECK JUST 6 WEEKS BEFORE THAT BY A VERY RELIABLE, HONEST MECHANIC. I STAY CLOSE TO HOME, AND ONLY TOOK THIS TRIP BECAUSE I HAD TO SEE AN EYE SPECIALIST. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 106,000 MILES ON IT!