CarComplaints.com Notes: Beware of the NHTSA complaint data for the 2007 Corolla. It is almost certainly misleading.
The problem with NHTSA data for the 2007 Corolla is that for months on end, the news media repeatedly told the public that several Toyota models have an unintended acceleration defect, & to go to safercar.gov (the NHTSA's website) to file a complaint.
So, the NHTSA received a disproportionate number of complaints about Toyota unintended acceleration issues because of the national news media attention, to the point where now the NHTSA data is unreliable taken in context with any other vehicle that did not receive national news attention.
CarComplaints.com typically receives more complaints per day about vehicles than the NHTSA does, but the news media did not repeatedly say "go to CarComplaints.com to report your Toyota acceleration problems" like they did about the NHTSA -- so although we have less complaint data than the NHTSA for the 2007 Corolla, our data for the Corolla is a far more statistically accurate representation of the Corolla's reliability than what the NHTSA data shows.
The second time I heard this shrill noise coming from somewhere in or out of my car was at about 26k miles. I was on the freeway doing about 70 to 80 mpr with camping gear and a passenger next to me. I remember a head wind and putting my blinker on to get in the right lane. I took the car to the same dealer I always use and they loaded it up with people and drove it around town but couldn't duplicate the noise. They put it up on the hoist but couldn't find anything wrong. It didn't cost me anything.
My car makes a shrill noise and I am unable to discover where it originates, but I think outside. The first time it happened I had a car full of people going to dinner in town and I probably had about 10k miles on it. I mentioned it to the dealer and they didn't do anything about it as far as I know. They serviced it and sent me on my way.
This vehicle has been great. Recently it started SQUEEKING very loudly. The noise increases with engine RPM and decreases with lower RPM, so it's related to the engine. It sounds like a squeaky belt. I hope Toyota can replace it under warranty, but it doesn't sound likely.
My wife started hearing a squealing noise coming from the engine when she started it up in the morning. She said the noise went away by the time she got to work and she didn't hear it again until the next morning. It got worse when the weather got colder. I checked it out and it was definitely a belt squealing. We took it in to the Toyota Dealer, Cavender Toyota in San Antonio, Texas. They couldn't reproduce the problem even when we left it overnight. They said it was probably the belt tensioner, but wouldn't replace it under warranty and it would cost around $300. I went to Autozone and got some spray belt dressing and the squealing stopped. If it ever starts up again I'll just hit it with some more belt dressing.
- Mike C.,
Boerne, TX, US
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This is the SECOND time I have experienced this problem with my vehicle. (First experience is also logged as a complaint.) There is a squeaking noise coming from the engine, same problem as reported at 20k miles. At that time, the dealership replaced the belt tensioner and belt under warranty. The noise started reoccurring before 40k miles. I researched the problem online and found that Toyota had issued a Toyota Service Bulletin (EG021-07) titled "Accessory Drive Belt/Belt Tensioner Assembly Noise" on 04/17/2007. The bulletin states that the belt tensioner assembly has been improved to correct this condition. The tensioner, part # 16620-22012 has been replaced with part # 16620-22013. The belt itself is still the same belt, part #90080-91139-83. Applicable vehicles: 2003-2007 Corolla and Matrix vehicles before the production change by VIN specified in the bulletin (which includes my car).
My belt tensioner was replaced with the part # specified in the bulletin (according to the receipt from the dealership service department 11/02/2007). It obviously did not permanently resolve the issue.
In my online research, I found several complaints listed for multiple Toyota models with this same recurring problem. (Obviously it's widespread for Toyota to issue a service bulletin and manufacture a new/improved part.) Toyota's policy is NOT to cover the recurring replacements/repairs under warranty... so they apparently expect their customers to continue forking out $200-$300 every 15k to 20k miles for their defective parts.
I purchased my Corolla brand new in August 2006. Before it reached 20k miles, I started hearing a squeaking noise coming from the engine. It was worse at startup, and typically worse when cold, but it continued intermittently while driving the car. During it's 20k-mile oil service at the dealership, I reported the problem, and they replaced the belt tensioner with part # 16620-22013 and the belt with part # 90080-91139-83. This was covered under the basic warranty, and it seemed to resolve the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
changed the belt tensioner and belt noise still there. Is there another solution?
- Matthew N., Anchorage, AK, US