2000 Toyota Corolla
Summary:
Efficient "luxury" sedan
Faults:
Obviously, maintenance is required. Besides, routine oil changes there were no major surprises, exept the seat-belt replacement at 50,000. That was taken care with no questions asked.
Consider the following:
The tires were replace at 40,000 because they looked a little too sun-dried to me.
At 65,000 I was dumb enough to purchase the Routine Maintenance Service at the Toyota Dealership. Go to a Tune and Lube place instead if you want a thorough inspection and service at a cheaper price! I paid over $400 for an air filter and oil change!
At 72,000, I went to a Tune and Lube shop. The serpentine belt was replace. The fuel injectors were cleaned.
At 74,000, my indoor light faded out. It is a cheap replacement.
General Comments:
Overall, this is a Good Quality vehicle.
I suppose it is not popular because of the model's many competitors.
The corolla is becoming a best kept secret.
The highway mileage is around 35mpg and I usually fill up a full tank every one and half weeks.
Seats are comfortable and the style is believable to be a pricier car if well-kept.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 7th June, 2005
25th Dec 2005, 21:38
Sad to hear about the problems you are having. However, the car is only as reliable as how well the owner takes care of it.
Water pump:
Where was the water pump replaced (Toyota or independent garage, any chance they replaced the timing belt as well while at it?). Exactly what caused the engine failure at that mileage (hydro lock, overheating, connecting rod failure, etc etc). Engines don't just DIE all of a sudden (especially the 1ZZ-FE Toyota ones), there must have been warning signs, or symptoms prior to failure.
Brakes:
Define when the brakes "went". Were they ever replaced prior to 70k, were there any signs of abnormal operation? Once again the brakes don't just GO all of a sudden, it takes time and a lot of symptoms are evident. What was the cause of the failure?
- Brake lines? (rust, cracks)
- Worn pads
- Seized sliders
- Master cylinder failure
Steering:
What exactly is loose in the steering wheel, the whole assembly or the steering "feels" loose.
Loose steering is usually a sign of worn suspension components (bushings, ball joints, tie rods). Also, does the suspension make any noises while turning or driving in general? If so, that is most likely the cause of the loose steering feel.
Electrical:
What exactly went wrong with dash lights? Did the fuse burn out, was there a short, did someone mess around with wiring? (custom alarm, audio, starter, many things could be the culprit).
As for Toyota reimbursing you for the engine, I totally understand the decline in the reimbursement. If the maintenance log is incomplete, or the maintenance was not done at a Toyota dealer, it is a VERY plausible excuse to decline reimbursement for the following reasons.
1. Repairs could have been done to vital engine parts by a non qualified mechanic, which causes improper operation and usually failure
2. If the car was not serviced as recommended (proper maintenance, and all recommended procedures done on time), the longevity of the engine and overall vehicle is affected dramatically.
3. If nothing is in writing, there is no way for Toyota to know what repairs were done and what was the cause (which goes to show that most likely it was done in an unknown and non-reputable garage).
HOWEVER if all the maintenance and repairs were done with Toyota (water pump, brakes, electrical) then that's a whole different story, and Toyota is just making up excuses, which I don't think is the case.
Don't take this review personally, I am sorry to hear about the problems you are/were having with the car. However in order to have a fair review about the car's reliability, the owner's treatment and maintenance of the car are very vital to the way it will perform, and by the sounds of your review, the car was not properly maintained.
Regards, and best of luck with your next car!