1996 Toyota Corolla Engine Problems

I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS A 1996 TOYOTA COROLLA, AND I HOPE THE INFORMATION I PROVIDE HERE CAN HELP SOMEHOW WITH ANY CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS. AROUND 100,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO A NON-DEALER MECHANIC TO REPLACE MY TIMING BELT AS A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT, MY CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED AGAIN, AND I NOTICED THAT IN MOMENTS OF DECELERATION (EITHER IN BRAKING OR COASTING) THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY RACE AND I COULD FEEL THE GAS PEDAL PULL FROM ITS RESTING POSITION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MODEL I'VE INDICATED IS INACCURATE -- I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE MODEL WAS AS I NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE. I'VE BEEN AS SPECIFIC AS I CAN BE. I JUST THOUGHT IT MIGHT PROVE USEFUL. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ALSO INACCURATE AS THIS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO NOTICE, BUT NOT OFTEN ENOUGH OR SEVERELY ENOUGH TO WARRANT MY TAKING TO A DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314078

Incident

Nov 30, 2003

TO TURN INTO OUR ROAD, DOWN SHIFTED THE GEAR FROM 3RD TO 2ND.CLANKING NOISE, FUMES AND SMOKE FILLED THE CAR. NOTICED OIL LEAK. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER SAID 3RD PISTON ROD BROKE AND MADE A HOLE IN THE ENGINE !! WIERD. ANYONE FACED A SIMILAR PROBLEM?*AK

NHTSA ID

10078790

Incident

May 23, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE CAR OCTOBER, 2000 AS A USED CAR WITH A WARRANTY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM. A REBUILT ENGINE BLOCK WAS PUT IN BECAUSE OF MAJOR OIL PROBLEMS. IT TOOK OVER A MONTH FOR THEM TO FINISH THE REPAIR. I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WAS OK. ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATER THE CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL AND I HAD TO CONSTANTLY WATCH THE OIL LEVEL. I WAS TOLD BY THE SAME DEALER THAT IT WAS NORMAL TO HAVE TO WATCH THE OIL ON A CAR THAT OLD. I GOT MORE CONCERNED AND CALLED ANOTHER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. I INSISTED THAT THE CAR BE LOOKED AT. AGAIN THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED AS SOMETHING WAS NOT PUT ON CORRECTLY (THAT IS THE EXCUSE THEY GAVE ME). THIS TOOK ABOUT 2 WEEKS TO REPAIR. AGAIN I WAS ASSURED THAT THE CAR WOULD LAST THIS TIME. THE ENGINE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. THREE MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON SO I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN. THEY FIXED THAT PROBLEM BUT I AM NOT SURE WHAT THEY DID AT THAT TIME. I DROVE THE CAR JUST OVER A YEAR AND JUST THIS WEEK THE CAR STARTED SMOKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS MAJOR WORK ON THE ENGINE THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE BUT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT. IT WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX IT AND SO THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO IT. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT DOES NOT RUN WITHOUT SMOKING AND I STILL OWE $7000 ON IT. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THEY SOLD ME A CAR WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT THEY NEVER COULD FIX.

NHTSA ID

10070313

Incident

Nov 15, 2000

OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP CAUSED ENGINE TO CEASE. BROUGHT CAR TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER(AK TOYOTA,GU) AND TOYOTA MECHANICS TORE THE ENGINE APART AND THEN I WAS INFORMED THAT TO REPAIR THIS ENGINE IT WILL COST OVER $6,000.00, BECAUSE THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER DAMAGES CAUSED BY ENGINE SLUDGE. SINCERELY, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10070123

Incident

May 15, 1998

Mileage

18,785 mi

THE VEHICLE UPON REACHING 70+ MPH, EMITS A LOUD ENGINE NOISE, AND THIS NOISE GETS LOUDER AS I DRIVER FASTER. I HAVE TO TURN UP THE RADIO OR TALK LOUDER BECAUSE OF THE NOISE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO EXPLODE. EACH TIME I HEAR THIS NOISE, IT UPSETS ME. THIS NOISE IS NOT NORMAL AND I AM TIRED OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE.

NHTSA ID

702040

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ID

524320

Incident

Sep 30, 1997

ENGINE VIBRATION HAS CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON ENGINE COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

603778

ENGINE NOISE.

NHTSA ID

603212

Incident

Jul 6, 1996

A CONTACTED ROD BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE, CAUSNG OIL TO SPILL ON THE ENIGNE COMPARMENT, RESULTING IN VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID

982485

Incident

Mar 17, 1996