2005 Toyota Corolla S from North America - Comments

Upon taking delivery of my Corolla S, the steering wheel was off center and the cruise control was not working (sensor not adjusted properly). A single trip to the dealer and these issues were addressed.

More disconcerting is an ongoing problem I've had with the driver's seat. It developed a little bit of play and an annoying knock around 12K miles. I have since been to the dealer, who fortunately has been patient and understanding, a total of 6 times. The seat frame and tracks were both replaced twice. The first replacement exhibited exact same symptoms less than 2 months later. The second replacement failed to latch properly to the right side rail. Am currently having this issue looked at, so my seat problem overall has yet to be resolved.

The 2007 Corolla loaner the dealer gave me does not have excessive play in it, but it does make a lot noise for only having 5500 miles on it.

How hard is it to make a decent seat? They've only been making them for 50 years! This is inexcusable in my opinion.

I would be fairly satisfied with the vehicle, if it weren't for the seat issue. It is quickly becoming a turnoff. Bought Toyota after finding out that Honda was cutting corners. Now it appears Toyota may be doing the same thing.

Do auto manufacturers think we won't notice when they pull this crap??

All of the car makers cut corners due to economic incentives. Company engineers and designers go through hell because it was a big deal to save $10 on manufacturing a car 40 years ago because that $10 savings would be multiplied by the 1 million Impalas or Galaxies or Polaras that the Big 3 would each sell that year, how much more is that pressure now?

The Japanese car makers will start cutting even more corners due to the recently weakened dollar, even as they have to raise prices!! Buy a car you like and can afford, but don't believe the hype.

Yeah, it does seem like a stage they all go through. The Big Three lost the faith of its customers because they thought they were the only game in town, and started making crap in the 1980's and 1990's. It has taken them nearly 20 years to start offering cars that meet or beat the quality of what Japan was offering at the height of their quality a few years ago. And now, Honda and Toyota, similarly after enjoying a reputation of quality for nearly two decades, has apparently come to take it for granted that people will automatically buy their brand based on name alone while they start cutting corners. They'll probably have to get trounced by new cars like the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan before they get the message and return to quality.

Just an update to 19:33 above:

My dealer has worked with me exhaustively to get my seat issue resolved. They have finally just replaced the entire seat, which cost them roughly $3000. Unfortunately, the new unit still has what I consider to be an unacceptable amount of play in the seat back (pivot). I see no reason for this, especially when I compare the seat in my Corolla to seats in other cars. But at this point, I am exhausted from making so many trips to the dealer and I just want to put the issue to rest.

I have settled, and I think that's a damn shame for something that costs $15000+.

Kudos to my dealer, Seeger Toyota, located in Chesterfield, MO, USA for their patience and willingness to repeatedly address my concerns.