05 Corolla XRS/Premature clutch failure

Hello everyone!

A buddy of mine has an 05 Corolla XRS that has recently developed a serious issue, the clutch plates have failed.
At first it started with just 5th-6th gear revving real high (6000-8000RPM) before the transmission catches and starts delivering the power to the wheels.

We took it in to the dealership here in Clarksville,TN monday and barely made it there, it started doing the revving and no delivery symptom in ALL gears and made it very unsafe to drive.

The car has 15,200 mi and was not dogged once, he never let the tach go above 4500 and never races it to that point. He doesn't ride the clutch like grandma coasting to a stop or anything like that.

I've done some research and have seen that the Matrix XRS has the same engine and clutch, it's suppose to be the Celica GT clutch (if I remember right). More research showed that alot of owners of these vehicles and the Corolla's are having clutch failing issues before it's time. Mostly between 12,000-25,000 mi.

The dealership is telling him it's his fault because he's a bad driver, he's drove nothing but manuals his whole life (he's 35) and has only replaced one clutch in a vehicle and that was his mustang that he was modding; and even that clutch lasted up to 90,000 before it needed replacing (he got the pony brand new.)

They are stomping him a new ^%&hole with the prices they want to repair this issue, $450 just to pull the tranny and look at the clutch, $270 for the clutch kit, $700 for labor; before taxes.

I just want to try and get some input and see if anyone is having this same problem with their Rolla XRS, and if so try to get another partition (there's already one called Lemon-Aid) to get this part on recall and stop this non-sense of ripping people off.

If I sound like I'm whining I'm sorry, I just don't see how this is any drivers fault when they drive like they're suppose to and the dealer tells you that you're a liar and it's a wear and tear item so buck up and fix it.

Any input or links to more information on these clutch issues is greatly appreciated, thankyou all!

I have an 04 xrs also and it only has 25,000 miles on it and my clucth is doing the same thing. I have an appointment with the dealer on Monday to see what they are going to do. I hardly use the car because i put it away for the winter and when i use it i dont even race it or abuse the car and it already needs a new clucth. I read in matrix owners that alot people that have an XRS are having tranni problems too.

Have a 2005 corolla XRS. Has 50,800 easy miles on it and yesterday noticed clutch is starting to slip. Have gone over 200,000 miles on an old tercel before replacing clutch and over 200,000 on a prizm and never replaced the clutch. I'm really not too happy and will take it to my mechanic tommorrow.

My 05 xrs just started this around 90,000 miles. but i did drop the clutch couple times to do a burnout :evillol: but seemed fine after. Now just under normal driving conditions slips like crazy. not sure if i can drive it in the snow with it slippin like crazy. hope it lasts long enough tell i can afford a couple bucks to buy a new clutch.

Never done a clutch on a front wheel drive like this, so just think ill have to go to a shop and fork out the cash.:( Think clutch jobs start at $300, dont want to think how much they charge me