UNSAFE VEHICLES!
When completing my 6-hours lesson (July 2019) I came to realize the vehicles they were using 2003 & 2006 Toyota Corollas were affected by the big Takata airbag recall either causing malfunction of the front driver and passenger airbags or deploying with metal shards causing possible fatalities. I asked to run the VIN number of the vehicle I was using and I was denied the usage. Lucky I used a website where I could retrieve the VIN number from the license plate. My findings had me in awe. The vehicle I was driving had two open airbag recalls, the ones I was concerned about.
The instructors themselves were polite and knowledgeable. They truly knew what they were doing and were never more than 10 minutes late. Throughout my six hours I, thank god, remained safe and in one piece. We at first had an issue with someone at the office about scheduling, and they offered us an extra hour of practice. They although did not honor that promise.
After completing my 6 hours I asked to speak to a superior and was given the the cell phone number of the owner. I brought it to her attention about the open recalls on the vehicle I had driven. One of the two recalls had been open since 2014, and the other 2015! She showed a slight concern, and even asked me to run another vehicle for her, at the time the other vehicle I ran for her turned up clean but as I have check again it has a new open recall for the same potentially lethal airbag issue (Oct 19'). After reporting my findings of the vehicle she asked for she responded and said she would be getting the information for the two other vehicles in her fleet. I never received another response.
I vividly expressed my concern and the urgency of the situation. I also explained to her that remedies of these recalls were available and free of charge at a local Toyota dealership. After almost a year later, I am currently looking for a refresher lesson and a rental for my upcoming road test. After running both VINs again today it is clear that my urgent concern was not taken seriously, and the blood of the students and instructors will be in their hands, god forbid a serious accident ever happens.
The instructors were great, but management and maintenance needs an overhaul. read more