On May 14, 2018 we purchased a new 2018 Toyota Corolla LE, which includes LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST (LDA). After the purchase we decided to checkout the feature. In crossing a solid line on the highway, the warning displays on the dashboard; however, the sound alert is almost inaudible. We owned 2 other Toyota cars and the warning alerts for other features are loud and immediately attract your attention. In order to hear the LDA sound alert on the 2018 Toyota Corolla LE, a person must try to hear it. As result, this car offers a safety feature that is not adequate for the owner to be alerted to lane departure.
We returned the car to the dealership and they tried to increase the volume; however, the setting allows only OFF or ON, no increase or decrease in volume or change in tone sound. We the wrote to Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. and on June 16, 2018 we were told that there was no way to change the sound or to increase the volume . The representative then referred our concern to a case manager. The case manager called on June 18, 2018 and gave us the same response – CASE# 1806181616. She said she would contact the dealership to arrange for us to drive a similar car to determine if the sound was any different. On June 20, 2018, we went to the dealership and drove another 2018 Toyota Corolla LE. The outcome was the same and we were told that nothing could be done to address the safety issue.
We have had other people in the car (including some younger with excellent hearing) and they, too, told us if you are not paying attention for the sound that it is barely audible. We are greatly concerned that we have purchased a car with a valuable safety feature that is of no benefit to us. Since the other Corolla we drove had the same result, this problem would appear to be a design flaw. We have registered this complaint with NHTSA in hope that it will be investigated and addressed with Toyota so that the safety feature can be made to ALERT drivers to lane departure.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
On May 14, 2018 we purchased a new 2018 Toyota Corolla LE, which includes LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST (LDA). After the purchase we decided to checkout the feature. In crossing a solid line on the highway, the warning displays on the dashboard; however, the sound alert is almost inaudible. We owned 2 other Toyota cars and the warning alerts for other features are loud and immediately attract your attention. In order to hear the LDA sound alert on the 2018 Toyota Corolla LE, a person must try to hear it. As result, this car offers a safety feature that is not adequate for the owner to be alerted to lane departure.
We returned the car to the dealership and they tried to increase the volume; however, the setting allows only OFF or ON, no increase or decrease in volume or change in tone sound. We the wrote to Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. and on June 16, 2018 we were told that there was no way to change the sound or to increase the volume . The representative then referred our concern to a case manager. The case manager called on June 18, 2018 and gave us the same response – CASE# 1806181616. She said she would contact the dealership to arrange for us to drive a similar car to determine if the sound was any different. On June 20, 2018, we went to the dealership and drove another 2018 Toyota Corolla LE. The outcome was the same and we were told that nothing could be done to address the safety issue.
We have had other people in the car (including some younger with excellent hearing) and they, too, told us if you are not paying attention for the sound that it is barely audible. We are greatly concerned that we have purchased a car with a valuable safety feature that is of no benefit to us. Since the other Corolla we drove had the same result, this problem would appear to be a design flaw. We have registered this complaint with NHTSA in hope that it will be investigated and addressed with Toyota so that the safety feature can be made to ALERT drivers to lane departure.
- Jim A., Turnersville, US