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Last post on May 10, 2013 at 1:31 PM
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Toyota Corolla Forum.
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Toyota Corolla, Sedan
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#1 of 1000 2009+ Toyota Corolla Problems and Repairs...
by waltchan
Feb 23, 2008 (7:53 pm)
Bought a new 2009 Toyota Corolla LE. Right after I drove it from the dealer lot, there are a lot of rattles at the front dashboard, even if there is a tiny bump on the road. It's really distracting. Anybody experiencing this problem? Will it get better in the future once it get through the break-in period? Hopefully, the 2009 Corolla will not end up like the 2007 Camry, which was full of hesitation and noise issues.
#2 of 1000 Re: 2009+ Toyota Corolla Problems and Repairs... [waltchan]
by backy
Feb 24, 2008 (11:17 am)
Rattles in the dash don't tend to go away by themselves over time, although they can be worse in cold weather with the plastic parts contracting. Better have them taken care of by the dealer now. I don't know about Toyota, but some manufacturers cover "adjustments" only for the first year or so.
You've probably already checked this obvious thing, but make sure there's nothing rattling in the glovebox(es), center console, or sunglasses holder (if it has one).
#3 of 1000 Re: 2009+ Toyota Corolla Problems and Repairs... [backy]
by waltchan
Feb 25, 2008 (9:59 am)
Took it for a 500 mile Sunday road trip, so I can get used to my new 2009 Corolla LE. I found three rattles so far in different locations. One is at the front dashboard, which I said earlier, another is somewhere at the rear left door, and last is at the glove compartment. Extrmely annoying to hear to relax me on Sunday. I would like to get them all fixed, but how can I let the technician hear all the rattles. He would need to drive it on the highway with slight bumps. My Corolla is one of the very few Japanese-made ones, and I am surprised they missed the three rattles from the final inspection. I thought I would be getting a perfect quality car because it's Made in Japan. What's going on here?
#4 of 1000 Re: 2009+ Toyota Corolla Problems and Repairs... [waltchan]
by mcdawgg
Feb 25, 2008 (11:21 am)
From my experience, made in Japan vs. US or Canada does not mean much. Had a Rav4 that was made in Japan that had lots of annoying rattles and squeaky brakes. All were completely fixed and never caused me any real problems (other than annoying), but to me that said that Japan assembly does not mean much.
I would bet that the Corolla built in CA or Canada will have the same problems. I would wait for a few months to get the bugs worked out.
#5 of 1000 Evidence
by moparbad
Feb 25, 2008 (4:26 pm)
I thought I would be getting a perfect quality car because it's Made in Japan. What's going on here?
If there is reliable evidence that made in japan is better or worse than made in USA or Canada or UK then I have not seen it.
Notify your dealer of the problem with rattles. There may be broken dash clips or something else that may be fixed and make your ownership experience satisfactory.
Feb 26, 2008 (5:25 am)
....so much for the "re-commitment to quality control" that was supposed to be implemented by Toyota, starting with the new Highlander. I thought these were precisely the kinds of things they were trying to fix before they got in the purchaser's hands?
#7 of 1000 Re: QC [beantown]
by waltchan
Feb 26, 2008 (12:52 pm)
Well, I left my 2009 Corolla LE out in the hot sun the whole day to see whether the front dashboard heals all the rattles. We'll see how it goes.
Besides the rattles, it drives and rides very nicely, engine is quiet, transmission shifts smoothly, great fuel economy on my first tank (40 MPG average). No problems, hesitations, or strange noises coming from the engine at all so far. There are more Made in Japan parts under the hood than the Made in USA Corolla I saw in the dealer lot.
#8 of 1000 More rattles...
by waltchan
Feb 28, 2008 (11:10 pm)
Drove my 2009 Corolla LE today again, and I am shocked to hear a new rattle that is the most annoying of all. It's somewhere inside the driver's seat belt pillars, ringing like a doorbell. Push it in slightly, I can hear a lot of rattling noise. Will get them all fixed on Saturday. So far, I now face 5 different rattles? Is my car in trouble for long-term quality? Anybody experiencing any rattle issues so far? I never wanted a 2009 Corolla in the first place, and I wish I never bought it, but it was an impulse purchase by me because it's Made in Japan. How stupid of me to fall into this trap. I should have waited for the orange-color 2009 Matrix XRS that the dealer ordered for me, and it breaks my heart to see that I was forced to cancel my $500 deposit with them.
#9 of 1000 Re: More rattles... [waltchan]
by mcdawgg
Feb 29, 2008 (7:42 am)
Hang in there. Had lots of rattles on a Japan produced Rav4, but they were all fixed, and never came back. No other problems with the car, just these "cosmetic" issues.
I notice that lots of the new cars have rattles, not just Toyota (Honda too). I think that they all have made a decision to cut costs in the interiors, while adding safety equipment and really not adding much to the selling price.
#10 of 1000 Re: More rattles... [waltchan]
by lostwrench
Feb 29, 2008 (7:52 am)
Why does there exist the common misconception of buying something made in Japan is buying perfection?