2009 Toyota Corolla. Consumer writes in regards to water pump pulley disengagement and need for third set of tires on vehicle. The consumer stated he heard a noise coming from under the hood, followed by a sound of something hitting the highway. He gradually slowed down and pulled to the side of the road, raised the hood and discovered the flywheel for the water pump sitting on top of the engine. He walked back up the highway in an attempt to locate what fell from the vehicle. He gathered what he found and was loose under the hood, and had the vehicle towed to the nearest service center and had a new water pump installed. While at the service center, the brakes were serviced and a new set of tires were recommended because they were cupping. The consumer took the vehicle to another establishment to have the tires inspected. Firestone, informed the consumer the left front and rear tow was out of alignment and they adjusted the left front to correct it, but informed him, they could not make any adjustment for the rear, as there was no guarantee given that the alignment issue was the cause of the cupping. Within a week of having the new water pump installed, the consumer began to hear a clicking sound from under the hood, so he took the vehicle back to the repair shop, to determine the cause of the clicking sound. An inspection revealed the A/C compressor needed to be replaced.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

Driving North on an urban interstate highway at about 60 mph the car experienced random movement similar to a strong crosswind or low tire pressure. Tire pressure sensors did indicate low pressure and next morning tire pressure was checked with a gauge and were at the recommended pressure. There was a moderate to strong wind from the West but the car movement even occurred when driving in a depressed roadway with no observable wind. My wife mentioned that this had happened to her recently. After a few miles the car returned to normal. Later that evening when going South, this same symptoms occurred on and off over a 20 + mile period. An hour or so later, when driving East on a rural interstate the motion began again with the wind behind us. At all times when dropping the speed tp below 50 mph the problem ceased. On May 2, my wife stated that this squirrelly problem recurred driving South on a Suburban interstate. Tire sensors indicated no tire pressure issue. Light wind from the East. There has been very little freeway driving since March. After discussing this occurrence, I recalled another Corolla owner mentioning a steering problem. I went online a found numerous descriptions of similar incidents.

- Akron, OH, USA

I leased my vehicle the end of May 2008. The tires on the vehicle were factory installed. I have had the tires rotated at least every 5,000 miles. At the last rotation appointment, the mechanic stated the tires barely passed nys inspection, as they had only 2/32" of tread left. At that time the tires had approximately 18,400 miles on them. Since the rotation, I can hear a thumping-type sound while driving any speed. The Toyota dealership where I lease the car from states they will have to check with Toyota, but if I didn't have the rotations (maintenance) performed at a Toyota dealership, I may have to purchase new tires. The general manager recently stated in writing that the tires on my vehicle only have a life expectancy of 20,000, which incidentally was not represented at time of lease or in the lease contract which allows for 36,000 miles in 36 months. This is the first time I have leased from Toyota, but my family and I have leased many other model vehicles and have never had problems with tires, let alone run them bald in 18,400 miles! a different Toyota salesperson stated to me that she has heard of many people running into this problem with the Firestone affinity touring tires installed on Toyota leased vehicles. I have 7 months left on my lease. I'd also like to add that I am a single mother to 3 small children that I drive everyday in this car, and I work full time, so I do not have the time to get the run around from the dealership. Winter is upon us in buffalo, NY and with these tires on the car, I am bound to have an accident, blow-out or other possibly life threatening incident in the next few months. The reason I lease is because I drive low miles and do not have the time or money to make continuous repairs to a vehicle. I do not have the ability to wait for Toyota to "decide" if they will replace the tires, especially considering this seems like a factory defect.

- Cheektowaga, NY, USA

I have a number of complaints regarding the power steering on my 2009 Toyota Corolla. To begin with the steering is extremely unresponsive. At low speeds the steering is extremely loose feeling. This has resulted in a couple of near accidents in parking lots where I was barely able to maneuver out of the way in time. At higher speeds the steering is stiff and difficult to steer. Whether or not your driving fast or slow the steering is sluggish and unresponsive. It is much like driving a car with normal power steering on a sandy beach. You simply do not have proper control. It seems like these problems are getting worse over time as well. I put very few miles on the car and take very good care of it as it is in almost mint condition. There is very little wear and tear on my Corolla at 6,500 miles. The extremely unresponsive steering on the 2009 Toyota Corolla makes defensive driving very difficult. It makes compensating for other drivers actions and mistakes by avoiding them very difficult and is a dangerous vehicle to drive as a result.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

2009 Toyota Corolla with a recall for the unintended acceleration. Consumer is upset she will not be able to get her vehicle in to be repaired until March 31, 2010. The consumer stated she had to replace the tires on the vehicle twice.

- Spencer, WV, USA

On, March 7, 2010 around 6:30pm, going on the highway, without any warning. The 2009 Toyota Corolla model le, went totally out of control. I was on the far right lane, heading from toa baja to mayaguez on pr-22. Reaching arecibo, by highway mark (km 74.2) the car steering went totally to the left and in fractions of seconds my car invaded the left lane doing a 180 degree turn, had cars coming my way and just when I tough the other car was going to hit me. The steering on the car went completely the opposite direction and the car rolled again and I was going over the green area crazy fast. No control, spinning again over the grass area on the middle of the highway, heading right into the opposite side of the highway, cars coming at 65 mph or more. Then the car hit a street sign that changed the car trajectory and then came to a stop on the green area on the middle of the highway. The car ended all covered on grass, mud and impacted by the street sign that possibly prevented my car from invading the lanes on the opposite direction on the highway after the Toyota Corolla steered violently and uncontrollable seconds before. I have to say, this was an extreme situation that for who knows reason, all happened in a split second without warning and all the violent extreme movements happened without my car impacting other cars on the highway, but clearly I was very lucky. At the moment of the incident, a passenger was with me in the car and then can confirm has witness of the extreme car experience we endured.

- Toa Baja, PR, USA

I had purchased a "certified" pre owned Toyota 2009 Corolla xrs which was sold with a faulty gas pedal which I noticed after diving the vehicle for a week. The dealer confirmed it was faulty and had it serviced. Much to my shock, after filing a complaint about the steering, I learned that the problem was not associated with the steering wheel but the fact that the car was sold with bald tires. The service technician did not realize it the car was sold the month before and was just as shocked and embarrassed by the matter. Toyota had no regard for life knowing that I was driving the defective vehicle in treacherous, snow blizzard conditions. I asked to have the car reinspected and recertified. I was told I would receive a phone call when they would have a rental car available during the reinspection. Apparently, there is no sense of urgency as I have yet to receive a call.

- Secaucus, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The driver stated that with all of the existing recalls he would like to give his vehicle back to the dealer. The contact also stated that the vehicle has malfunctioned since he purchased it. The rubber was separating from the window and he had problems with the tires when the vehicle had over 20,000 miles. The contact was uncomfortable whenever he drove the vehicle and he no longer wants the hassle. The failure mileage was 33,678.

- Fayetteville, GA, USA

2009 Toyota Corolla S. special ordered and purchased in 2008. We returned the vehicle to the dealership quickly after purchase complaining about the straight-line driveablity of the car. The problem was more noticeable on the interstate. The car has to be constantly corrected left and right just to be kept straight on a straight stretch of road. My wife and I both are scared of this car. I just feel like I'm going to lose control of this car at a high rate of speed. It's worse when there's a cross wind on the interstate. It happens everytime we drive this car. We work on opposite shifts at the same place, in the next county. So she drives it back and forth the first half of the day and I do the same the second half of the day. It's almost all on the interstate. It's very stressful getting this car down the road. So, the dealership said they compared it to another Corolla on their lot and they drove the same. They fixed nothing. Gave no explanation as to why it would drive like it did. So we feel helpless and we have no other choice but to keep driving it and paying for it. My wife drives our kids in this Corolla and it worries me everytime that she's going to crash it. I just don't know what to do about this since the dealership says that nothing is wrong with it. It's currently got a little over 21K miles on it and it still drives like it did when we bought it.

- Lexington, KY, USA

I have 2009 Toyota Corolla. Over speed 60 miles I feel steering problem. Its hard to stay in the middle of a lane, car goes both left and right at high speeds. In addition if the road is slippery, I need to handle steering very carefully. I don't think my car is safe.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

2009 Toyota Corolla with 9000 miles purchased new. Had routine oil change and tires rotated May 2009. Inspector advised that all 4 Firestone tires showed only 4/32 tread depth and all should be replaced soon. Notified Toyota online and they declined any adjustment. They indicated that neither Toyota nor Firestone guaranteed the tire would last for any months at all with respect to oem tires on new cars. I returned to Toyota dealer in elmira NY---kent brown--and service manager called Toyota hq via phone. Somebody approved replacement of all 4 tires at no cost to me. Tires were replaced by dealer kent brown and they also performed an alignment check which dealer said was fine. I also talked to Firestone dealer prior to kent brown adjustment and that dealer advised me that their tire was probably the wrong tire for that year and make of Toyota. I had the feeling that if kent brown would not have replaced the 4 tires that Firestone might have done something for me. Cost unknown!!!?? this is my 2nd new Toyota from same dealer. I find it strange that Toyota hq denied me but somebody approved the replacement. I doubt the dealer would have replaced the dealers if Toyota hq also denied the dealer. Yokohoma tires were installed on my car and seem to be fine.

- Beaver Dams, NY, USA

We bought a 2009 Toyota Corolla in Oct of 2008. Noticed the touchy steering, but was told that was normal by the Toyota dealership. My daughter was driving it on a side street in huntington, wv when she hit a pot hole or a manhole traveling at about 15 to 20 mph. The steering locked up and she hit a parked car. It broke the ABS wiring harness and caused $10,994.79 damage to car. We then found out that the tires were bald at 15,000 miles and the brakes were very thin. Toyota had just service the car at 13,000 miles and did not tell me the tires or the brakes were bad. We do not know exactly what caused the steering to lock up. The repair shop could not tell us either due to the extensive damage.

- Milton, WV, USA