Changed transmission fluid and filter almost a thousand miles before the problems started occurring and noted that the fluid was black and burnt smelling, a sign of a failing transmission. About two months before it failed entirely, it started shifting erratically and I pulled into a gas station and it wouldn't go into gear for a minute.

After this incident it worked flawlessly until March 15, where it started to shift in and out of overdrive and a few minutes later started slipping when attempting the overdrive shift. I stopped and checked my fluid and it seemed fine, but I added a little more to top it off. The fluid was only a thousand miles old, but it was extremely burnt and reeked of piss/coolant. I want to say my mechanic put coolant in there to sabotage me, but I really don't think that happened. The transmission was just about gone by the end of that night, it would slip trying to back out of the driveway and make massive holes in the dirt from spinning the wheels and going nowhere, because you would have to floor it. The experience was similar to flooring a manual car in first gear and letting the clutch out too early. I sold the car when it got in this state.

I bought my 2009 Toyota Corolla new (1st new car ever) from Schaumburg Toyota in 2008 as a 2009 model. It was fantastic when it was new. Great mileage and supposed legendary reliability. This was my first non-American car. I was so tired of the fix or repair weekly BS of the Chevy's, Fords, etc, that I wanted to avoid working on a car at my age. I'm over 40 now and its getting harder to do it.

I noticed that my car was shifting really hard from 1st to 2nd gear and then it would run fine. After about a week, the car would not make it up the ramp in my parking garage at work so I had to reverse it up to my spot. I could not fathom a transmission failing in a car that I had been so careful with and bought new. In fact I bought a driver's side half shaft (CV axle) and replaced it thinking that had to be it. Nope, not at all. no change whatsoever. The car finally died in front of the house and I had to buy another one fast to keep my job. Needless to say, I am now paying two car payments and 2 insurance bills, one on a dead car. This is not what I expected.

I have not contacted Toyota yet because I know they will ask for money with it being out of warranty and I cannot afford anything right now with my 2 car notes and double insurance bills. I see that the complaints about the shoddy work of the NUUMI plant lived up to it's reputation. If only I could have known sooner. That's what I get for buying a first year model.