2001 Toyota Corolla Transmission Problems

RE: UNSAFE REBUILT TRANSMISSION, 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 7/29/2008. IN JANUARY 2009, THE ENGINE DUMPED OIL AND BURNED OUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FELL APART. OUR MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS FROM A SALVAGE YARD AND WAS BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH EPOXY. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT WAS BENT, INDICATING TO THE MECHANIC THAT THE CAR MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN SOME KIND OF ACCIDENT. ALSO I BELIEVE THE MECHANISM FOR THE BOLT TO GO THROUGH (TO HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN PLACE) WAS MISSING ALONG WITH THE BOLT. ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHOULD BE VERIFIED WITH HARRY, OWNER OF IMPORT AUTO, AT 2583 UNIVERSITY AVE, MADISON, WI 53705; PHONE 608-231-1221. HE HAS BEEN KEEPING THE TRANSMISSION FOR INSPECTION BY INTERESTED AUTHORITIES. HARRY CALLED THE TRANSMISSION A "FRAUD." IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INSTALLED LIKE THAT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS UNSAFE. I ALLOW MY GRANDSON TO DRIVE THIS CAR. HE IS A STUDENT, AGE 19. HE HAS A PART-TIME JOB WITH PIZZA HUT, DELIVERING PIZZAS. HE IS ALSO IN A BAND. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, HE WANTED TO DRIVE THE CAR A LONG DISTANCE FOR A GIG. I TOLD HIM TO TAKE MY OTHER CAR. IF HE HAD TAKEN THE COROLLA, THE TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE COME APART AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY IN THE DEAD OF WINTER. HE AND OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MY MECHANIC ORDERED ANOTHER REBUILT TRANSMISSION, BUT IT TOO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HE IS FLABBERGASTED THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE BEING SOLD, AND HE TOLD US HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE IN HIS 40-YEAR CAREER. WE OPTED TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION. BOTTOM LINE: BAD, UNSAFE TRANSMISSIONS ARE BEING SOLD AND UNSCRUPULOUS MECHANICS OR CAR OWNERS ARE INSTALLING THEM. WE HAVE PHOTOS AND MORE INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281562

Incident

Jan 31, 2009

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. A MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING AND SHAKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS WORN AND DEFECTIVE. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $1,700. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 07/29/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10233501

Incident

Jun 22, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

ON 8-20-07 I BROUGHT THE COROLLA TO TOYOTA TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND TO CHECK A HISSING SOUND AND THE BRAKE LIGHT THAT WAS GOING ON AND OFF. THE COURTESY INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE BRAKES, THE DRIVE BELT TENSIONER, TIMING CHAIN AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THROTTLE CABLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD ALL OF THE WORK DONE. ON 9-27-07 I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO TOYOTA BECAUSE THE CAR SLIGHTLY HESITATED WHEN I BACKED UP ON A HILL. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE REVERSE GEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE HOME AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD GO WITH FLUIDS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 53,821 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THE CAR WAS 6 YEARS OLD. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED WITH A USED TOYOTA TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD THE PRICE OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211086

Incident

Sep 27, 2007

Mileage

53,821 mi

GEARS TEND TO POP FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD, ALMOST HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10103808

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 55/65 MPH THE DRIVER WAS SUDDENLY UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. IT WA SDETERMINED THAT THE STANDARD CLUTCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037759

Mileage

43,000 mi

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT AN IDLE IN THE PARK GEAR THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES SEVERELY.

NHTSA ID

10018171

Incident

May 5, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLS. ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001039

Incident

Dec 21, 2001

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT, CLAIM 25-5411-610. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900653

Incident

Jul 5, 2000