2009 Toyota Corolla Tires Problems

I LEASED MY VEHICLE THE END OF MAY 2008. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE FACTORY INSTALLED. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AT LEAST EVERY 5,000 MILES. AT THE LAST ROTATION APPOINTMENT, THE MECHANIC STATED THE TIRES BARELY PASSED NYS INSPECTION, AS THEY HAD ONLY 2/32" OF TREAD LEFT. AT THAT TIME THE TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 18,400 MILES ON THEM. SINCE THE ROTATION, I CAN HEAR A THUMPING-TYPE SOUND WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I LEASE THE CAR FROM STATES THEY WILL HAVE TO CHECK WITH TOYOTA, BUT IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE ROTATIONS (MAINTENANCE) PERFORMED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I MAY HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES. THE GENERAL MANAGER RECENTLY STATED IN WRITING THAT THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ONLY HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 20,000, WHICH INCIDENTALLY WAS NOT REPRESENTED AT TIME OF LEASE OR IN THE LEASE CONTRACT WHICH ALLOWS FOR 36,000 MILES IN 36 MONTHS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE LEASED FROM TOYOTA, BUT MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LEASED MANY OTHER MODEL VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES, LET ALONE RUN THEM BALD IN 18,400 MILES! A DIFFERENT TOYOTA SALESPERSON STATED TO ME THAT SHE HAS HEARD OF MANY PEOPLE RUNNING INTO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES INSTALLED ON TOYOTA LEASED VEHICLES. I HAVE 7 MONTHS LEFT ON MY LEASE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT I AM A SINGLE MOTHER TO 3 SMALL CHILDREN THAT I DRIVE EVERYDAY IN THIS CAR, AND I WORK FULL TIME, SO I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO GET THE RUN AROUND FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WINTER IS UPON US IN BUFFALO, NY AND WITH THESE TIRES ON THE CAR, I AM BOUND TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, BLOW-OUT OR OTHER POSSIBLY LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE REASON I LEASE IS BECAUSE I DRIVE LOW MILES AND DO NOT HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO MAKE CONTINUOUS REPAIRS TO A VEHICLE. I DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO WAIT FOR TOYOTA TO "DECIDE" IF THEY WILL REPLACE THE TIRES, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THIS SEEMS LIKE A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AFTER DRIVING 20 -40 MILES. REPLACED FRONT PASSENGER TIRE IN JANUARY 2010 TO SEE IF THAT REMEDIED SITUATION THOUGH DID NOT. DEALERSHIP HAS EVALUATED CAR THREE TIMES BEFORE INSTALLING NEW SENSORS. AFTER NEW SENSORS REPLACED FEBRUARY 2010, TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT RESUMES TO LIGHT MARCH 2010 VEHICLE SEEN YESTERDAY AT DEALERSHIP, DEALERSHIP STATES ALL TIRES AT 20 POUNDS, READJUSTED TO 32. DEALERSHIP STATES SOMEONE IS TAMPERING WITH TIRE PRESSURE THOUGH DUE TO MY SITUATION I HAVE ONLY ALLOWED THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT MY VEHICLE AS IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN 3/12/10. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP OF LIGHT MALFUNCTION AGAIN. *TR

I HAD PURCHASED A "CERTIFIED" PRE OWNED TOYOTA 2009 COROLLA XRS WHICH WAS SOLD WITH A FAULTY GAS PEDAL WHICH I NOTICED AFTER DIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. THE DEALER CONFIRMED IT WAS FAULTY AND HAD IT SERVICED. MUCH TO MY SHOCK, AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE STEERING, I LEARNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS SOLD WITH BALD TIRES. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DID NOT REALIZE IT THE CAR WAS SOLD THE MONTH BEFORE AND WAS JUST AS SHOCKED AND EMBARRASSED BY THE MATTER. TOYOTA HAD NO REGARD FOR LIFE KNOWING THAT I WAS DRIVING THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE IN TREACHEROUS, SNOW BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. I ASKED TO HAVE THE CAR REINSPECTED AND RECERTIFIED. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A PHONE CALL WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE A RENTAL CAR AVAILABLE DURING THE REINSPECTION. APPARENTLY, THERE IS NO SENSE OF URGENCY AS I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A CALL.*TR

2009 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH 9000 MILES PURCHASED NEW. HAD ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND TIRES ROTATED MAY 2009. INSPECTOR ADVISED THAT ALL 4 FIRESTONE TIRES SHOWED ONLY 4/32 TREAD DEPTH AND ALL SHOULD BE REPLACED SOON. NOTIFIED TOYOTA ONLINE AND THEY DECLINED ANY ADJUSTMENT. THEY INDICATED THAT NEITHER TOYOTA NOR FIRESTONE GUARANTEED THE TIRE WOULD LAST FOR ANY MONTHS AT ALL WITH RESPECT TO OEM TIRES ON NEW CARS. I RETURNED TO TOYOTA DEALER IN ELMIRA NY---KENT BROWN--AND SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TOYOTA HQ VIA PHONE. SOMEBODY APPROVED REPLACEMENT OF ALL 4 TIRES AT NO COST TO ME. TIRES WERE REPLACED BY DEALER KENT BROWN AND THEY ALSO PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT CHECK WHICH DEALER SAID WAS FINE. I ALSO TALKED TO FIRESTONE DEALER PRIOR TO KENT BROWN ADJUSTMENT AND THAT DEALER ADVISED ME THAT THEIR TIRE WAS PROBABLY THE WRONG TIRE FOR THAT YEAR AND MAKE OF TOYOTA. I HAD THE FEELING THAT IF KENT BROWN WOULD NOT HAVE REPLACED THE 4 TIRES THAT FIRESTONE MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR ME. COST UNKNOWN!!!?? THIS IS MY 2ND NEW TOYOTA FROM SAME DEALER. I FIND IT STRANGE THAT TOYOTA HQ DENIED ME BUT SOMEBODY APPROVED THE REPLACEMENT. I DOUBT THE DEALER WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE DEALERS IF TOYOTA HQ ALSO DENIED THE DEALER. YOKOHOMA TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON MY CAR AND SEEM TO BE FINE. *TR