2009 Toyota Corolla Body & Structure Problems

WHILE DRIVING HOME MY CAR STARTED BURNING. I PULLED OVER WITH SMOKE POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING UP FROM BEHIND THE ENGINE. THE FIRE GREW UNTIL IT ENGULFED THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE 2009 MATRIX WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. I NOTICED NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS.

MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT ON 01/27/2021, SHE PRESSED ON THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING HER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A NEIGHBORHOOD SIDE STREET

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MERGING ONTO RT3 FROM I-95-S TOWARDS CAPE COD BY SOUTH QUINCY AREA. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY AND I SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS, THE CAR BEHIND ME ENDED UP REAR-ENDING MY CAR WHICH RESULTED IN ME HITTING MY HEAD ON MY HEAT REST WHICH RESULTED IN WHIPLASH. THE WOMAN WHO HIT ME CLAIMED SHE CALLED THE POLICE AND SAID THAT THE COP TOLD HER WE NEED TO EXCHANGE LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS. WE DID EXACTLY THAT BUT NOT PHONE NUMBER OR ANYTHING. AFTER WE EXCHANGED, SHE TOOK OFF RIGHT AWAY. THE CAR THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME LEFT THE SCENE RIGHT AWAY. THIS WAS MY FIRST ACCIDENT SO I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT NOW I AM REALIZING THAT SHE MAY NEVER HAVE CALLED THE POLICE CONSIDERING THAT NO ONE SHOWED UP AND THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY.

NOTICE WHITE SPOTS ON CAR THAT IS STARTING TO PEEL A CLEAR FILM FROM THE PAINT , IT SPREADING FROM THE TRUNK TO THE HOOD AND THE SIDES.

THE PAINT IS GRAY BUT NOW COMING UP WHITE CIRCLES THAT DOES NOT WASH OFF. THE INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR PANEL DOES NOT STAY TOGETHER. HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR ONE YEAR AND 9 MONTHS OR SO.

THE RUBBER SEAL FROM THE WIND SHEALD IS FLYING OFF ALSO THE BACK WINDOW SAME PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS STICKY AND COMPLETELY MELTED DUE TO THE SUNSHINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 211,000.

PAINT IS CHIPPING

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 10 MPH IN TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY. FREEWAY IS PAVED AND AREA OF INCIDENT WAS LEVEL. WEATHER WAS CLEAR. LATE AFTERNOON WITH AMPLE SUN LIGHT. SPRING WHICH HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR IN OPEN AND FOLD POSITION BECAME DISLODGED INSIDE MIRROR. ENTIRE MIRROR KEPT SWAYING IN TRAFFIC 15 MPH AND ABOVE. SERIOUS VISIBILITY CONCERN WITH ABSENT OF DRIVER'S MIRROR. WOULD NOT PASS YEARLY SAFETY CHECK.

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON CITY STREET AND GEAR WAS PARK. KEY BECAME DISLODGED IN DRIVER DOOR LOCK ON OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. KEY WAS STUCK IN THE FAR RIGHT POSITION. KEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION AND WAS UNABLE TO PULL KEY OUT. KEY HAS MICROCHIP TO START THE VEHICLE. COULD NOT DRIVE ANY WHERE UNTIL LOCKSMITH ARRIVED. LOCKSMITH HAD TO CUT SPINDLE TO RELEASE KEY.

I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT TRYING TO TURN AROUND WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATORS AND CRASHES INTO MI RANCHO RESTAURANT IN SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS TYPE OF ISSUE . THE FIRST TIME WAS DECEMBER 4, 2011 IN GIANT PARKING LOT AS I WAS PARKING IT ACCELERATED AND HIT THE POLE . PLEASE THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE I HAVE TWO GRANDDAUGHTER WHO COULD HAVE BE IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT.

MY TRUNK EVEN WHEN PROPERLY RAISED IN FULL DOES NOT STAY UP RELIABLY. I HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE HAD THE CAR BUT IN THE PAST YEAR I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT IF I HAD A PROBLEM, THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT IT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ASSESSED THE CAR, DECIDE IT DID QUALIFY FOR THE "REPAIR" AND ALLEGEDLY TOOK CARE OF IT. IT HAS SINCE STILL COME DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS HIT ME IN THE HEAD SEVERAL TIMES. IT OCCURRED YET AGAIN ON 11/30/2015 AND REALLY GAVE ME A BAD BUMP ON MY SCALP AND ULTIMATELY A LARGE BRUISE ON MY FOREHEAD. I AM AS CAREFUL AS I CAN BE BUT IT IS HARD TO KEEP IT FROM OCCURRING REPEATEDLY.

DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR PLASTIC HOLDING SNAPPED THAT KEEPS MIRROR IN THE OPEN/ CLOSED POSITION. DUE TO THE PLASTIC HOLDING BEING SNAPPED, THE MIRROR WOBBLES AND DOES NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION. IT MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS WITH THE LACK OF A MIRROR TO TURN AND MERGE SAFELY. AS SPEEDS INCREASE, THE FORCE OF THE WIND WILL FORCE THE MIRROR INTO THE CLOSED POSITION MAKING THE MIRROR USELESS.

THE PAINT ON MY MATRIX IS BUBBLING AND PEELING, NOW MY CAR IS RUSTING. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO NO SALT ISSUES, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. READING ONLINE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S THAT ARE BUILT IN THE USA AND WITH SILVER PAINT. MY CAR IS METALLIC DARK SILVER. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

I WAS BACKING UP IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND MY CAR JUST SPED BACKWARDS AND I RAMMED INTO A POLE. MY ENTIRE TRUNK WAS SMASHED IN. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND IT STILL LEAKS WATER AS OF TODAY. I PAID APPROXIMATELY $2K TO $3K TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS ALL HAPPENED BEFORE I KNOW ABOUT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. *TR

CAR WAS T-BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. IN MONROE COUNTY, KEY LARGO, FL.ON US1. *TR

BODY PAINT PEELS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER SIDE AREA WHICH CAUSING THE CARPET TO MILDEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; THE DEALER CLEANED THE CARPET. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE TRUNK WOULD FALL BACK DOWN ON HIM EXTREMELY HARD WHEN OPENED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRUNK WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BE CAREFUL WHEN OPENING THE TRUNK WITH LIMITED FORCE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE TRUNK FELL BACK ONTO HIS HEAD, IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SEVERE INJURY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE SHE COULD NOTICE A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE DENT ON THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35000.

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW TOYOTA COROLLA 2009. SINCE THE DATE THE CAR WAS TAKEN FROM THE DEALER, THE PASSENGER SEAT KEEPS SINKING LOWER WITHOUT TOUCHING ANYTHING. THIS CAUSES THE MIRRORS TO GET OUT OF FOCUS SINCE THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT CHANGES, CAUSING A HAZARD WHEN EMERGENT LANE CHANGING IS REQUIRED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER OVER SIX TIMES. THEY DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

SORRY, THIS MIGHT SOUND TRITE GIVEN ALL OF THE SERIOUSNESS WITH THE TOYOTA GAS PEDAL PROBLEMS. BUT I FEEL IT NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED. WE PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHAT I NOTICED ABOUT THE GAS PEDAL IS THAT IT DOESN'T PRESS VERY SMOOTHLY, YOU HAVE TO BABY IT, OR YOU GET A JACK RABBIT START. BUT THAT IS NOT WHY I AM WRITING. WE GET MICE IN THE CAR ON A REGULAR BASIS. THERE ARE APPARENTLY GAPS THAT ALLOW FOR MICE TO GET IN. THEY CHEW ON THINGS, EAT FOOD AND PEE. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE SHOULD BE GAPS BIG ENOUGH TO ALLOW THIS TYPE OF ACCESS. I LOOKED BELOW AND THERE IS A LOT OF GAP SPACE BETWEEN THE BOOT AROUND THE STEERING SHAFT. AGAIN I KNOW THIS SOUNDS TRIVIAL. BUT IF A MOUSE CAN GET IN, SO CAN OTHER CREATURES...A SNAKE? IMAGINE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVING SOME CRITTER APPEAR AND SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF YOU. ANYWAY, THAT IS ALL. I JUST FELT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED. *TR

THE CONTACT HAS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE APART THERE WAS ONE VENT FOUND BEHIND EACH WHEEL THAT ALLOWS SMALL ANIMALS TO GET IN A SET UP A NEST. THE CONTACT FOUND A MOUSE NEST TWICE IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND IS WORRIED THAT THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE IS DRIVING AND A SMALL ANIMAL OR SNAKE COMES CRAWLING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. UPDATED 01/12/10. *LJ THE PRESSURE RELIEF VENTS HAVE PLASTIC GRILL WORK SPACING THAT ALLOWS RODENTS TO ENTER. THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE VENTS AND MODIFIED THE GRILL TO 0.5 OPENING VERSUS 4X6. UPDATED 01/13/10.*JB

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA COROLLA 2009 AND COUPLE MONTHS AGO I SAW PAINT PROBLEMS PAINTING AROSE IN SEVERAL PARTS I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY DON'T WANT FIX IT THE CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD AND THE PAINT IS CAME OFF. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THE 2009 COROLLA S IN APRIL 2008...MONTHS LATER THE SIDE PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BELOW THE SEAT BELT AND SIDE AIR BAG POPPED OFF THE VEHICLE IT APPEARS THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT HOLDS IT ON IS BROKE. ALSO, THE PASSENGER DOOR MADE A FUNNY NOISE EVERYTIME I OPEN IT. I EXAMINED IT AND IT APPEARS THE BOLTS HOLDING ON THE DOOR IS COMING LOOSE. I KEEP TIGHTENING IT BUT STILL COMES LOOSE. ANOTHER PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD IS THE FUSE FOR THE CIGARETTE LIGHTERS KEEP BLOWING AND NEED REPLACED. EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE ONLY MINOR ISSUES IT STILL IS A HASSLE FOR A BRAND NEW CAR... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA. EVERY TIME THE CONTACT ENTERS HER VEHICLE, SHE STRIKES THE LEFT SIDE OF HER HEAD ON THE DOOR JAM AND HOOK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO ATTEMPT TO RECLINE THE SEAT. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE SHE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER CRASH, DUE TO HER HEAD BEING SO CLOSE TO THE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 07/02/09. *LJ

TRUNK LID ON TOYOTA COROLLA USES TORSION BARS FOR SUPPORT. HOWEVER IN THE FULL UP POSITION( 90 DEGREE) TO ABOUT ALMOST CLOSED ( 30 DEGREE) THE WEIGHT IS NOT COUNTER BALANCED . IN THE FULL UP POSITION IT IS PRONE TO FALL WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED FACING UP HILL ON A SLOPE AS SLIGHT AS 10 DEGREES COMMON IN PARKING LOTS FOR RAIN RUNOFF. ANY WIND OR PLACING A BAG OF CANNED GOODS IN THE TRUNK CAUSES IT TO FALL STRIKING THE OWNER IN THE HEAD ,NECK OR SHOULDERS. THIS IS HAPPENING MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK AS I USE THE TRUNK DAILY SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN LATE DECEMBER 2008. MY OTHER VEHICLE ( 1993 FORD TAURUS) ALSO USES TORSION BARS BUT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MUCH HEAVIER TRUNK LID IT IS STABLE IN ALL POSITIONS FROM JUST OPEN TO FULLY OPEN ( 90 DEGREE- STRAIGHT UP). I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIVE. I HAVE BEEN HIT BY THIS TRUNK LID NUMEROUS TIMES AS I USE THE TRUNK ON A DAILY BASIS. AS AN MALE ADULT I HAVE NOT BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED YET BUT I BELIEVE THIS POSES SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THIS TRUNK LID AND TORSION BAR SYSTEM IS POORLY DESIGNED AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY. THE FORCE IS SUFFICIENT THAT ONE OCCASION IT CAUSED A BLEEDING CUT TO MY SCALP UPON IMPACT. THE DEALER IN LATE JANUARY ADDED A SMALL EXTENSION ARM THAT CONNECTS TO THE TORSION BARS BUT THIS HAD NO BENEFIT. *TR

ATTACHED IS LETTER SUBMITTED TO TOYOTA 7/22/08 I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA FROM WEST HERR TOYOTA, ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK ON MAY 16, 2008. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK A ROAD TRIP FROM NY TO PA, APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS OF DRIVING. I AM WRITING TO YOU TODAY TO REPORT MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE FRONT HEADRESTS IN THE TOYOTA COROLLA. I AM AN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST AND HAVE WORKED MANY YEARS IN THE INDUSTRIAL REHABILITATION FIELD. I HAVE A PREVIOUS NECK INJURY FROM YEARS OF DOING GYMNASTICS. THE CURRENT FRONT SEAT HEADRESTS ARE ANGLED AT 35% FORWARD FLEXION, WHICH MAY BE POSITIVE IN A CRASH TEST TO PREVENT NECK INJURIES, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR COMFORTABLE DRIVING AND PROPER ERGONOMIC FOR SEATED POSITIONS. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED TO MY FINAL DESTINATION IN YORK, PA, MY ENTIRE RIGHT ARM WAS NUMB AND ACHING. I BROUGHT THIS SITUATION TO THE ATTENTION OF MY SALESMAN AT TOYOTA (BILL BITTERMAN) HE SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT YOUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY. HE ALSO TRIED TO REPLACE THE HEADRESTS WITH AN OLDER COROLLA HEADREST, THEY DO NOT FIT INTO THE ANCHOR HOLES OF THE SEAT. SINCE THEN, I TOOK THE SMALLER BACK SEAT HEADREST AND MOVED IT FORWARD TO THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT IS MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THE PREVIOUS HEADREST, BUT IT IS LOOKS AWKWARD AND IS NOT SAFE. ALSO, I MOVED THE FRONT HEADREST TO THE BACK, IT IS TOO LARGE AND CAUSES VISIBILITY ISSUES. MY REQUEST OF YOU IS TO? #1. CONSIDER CHANGING YOUR DESIGN FOR THE HEADRESTS SO THEY DO NOT FORWARD FLEX AT SUCH A GREAT ANGLE TO AVOID MANY ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS IN THE FUTURE. #2. SEND TWO NEW FRONT HEADRESTS FOR THE FRONT SEATS (GRAY INTERIOR) THAT FIT APPROPRIATELY AND AT NO CHARGE TO ME. I AM AWARE OF HOW POWERFUL THE ?VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER? IS AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THIS LETTER OF CONCERN SERIOUSLY. I TRULY DO LIKE ALL ASPECTS OF THIS CAR, EXCEPT THE FRONT TWO HEADRESTS. SHAWNA R. DOSSER, MS EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST & HEALTH EDUCATOR*TR