NHTSA Complaint #10471771 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

MY VEHICLE STARTED EMITTING A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE NOISE ON 8/17/12. I WENT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING ON 8/18/12. THE SERVICE INTAKE PERSON VERIFIED THE PRESENCE OF A WHINE NOISE BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY ITS CAUSE, SUSPECTING THAT IT MIGHT BE THE ALTERNATOR. HE COULD NOT TAKE CAR IN UNTIL MONDAY, 8/20/12, DUE TO A STAFF SHORTAGE. SINCE I WAS NOT TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I CONTINUED DRIVING IT. LATE THAT SAME DAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. I PULLED TO THE CLOSEST AUTO SERVICE; THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE FAILED WATER PUMP. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I NEEDED AN OPERABLE VEHICLE AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AT THAT TIME. I BELIEVE I HAVE A RIGHT TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR BY THE TOYOTA DEALER. *TR