WASHINGTON — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Thursday launched a formal investigation into consumer complaints about unresponsive steering in the 2009-'10 Toyota Corolla and Matrix. Federal investigators said the action involves an estimated 487,000 vehicles on U.S. roads.
Such an investigation is sometimes the precursor to a recall.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has received 168 owner complaints about "unresponsive or loose" steering while driving at highways speeds. Of those, eight allege that the condition caused or contributed to a crash. There have been no fatalities linked to the steering complaints, and 11 injuries, according to NHTSA.
"A preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the frequency, scope and safety consequences of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles," said NHTSA.
This new investigation comes just days before Toyota President Akio Toyoda is scheduled to testify before Congress regarding Toyota's other massive U.S. recalls.
Toyota said on Wednesday that it is "aware of complaints regarding 2009 and 2010 Corolla steering systems and [that company officials] are actively investigating this issue.
"We will certainly cooperate fully with any NHTSA investigation," the automaker said in a statement. "We're committed to being responsive to our customers."
Notably, the Matrix-based 2009-'10 Pontiac Vibe is not included in NHTSA's defect investigation. Officials at General Motors could not be reached for comment.
Inside Line says: Toyota's once-sterling quality reputation continues to take a pounding, as the feds look into yet another problem. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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arock says:
05:47 PM, 02/24/2010
I totally agree with tbone85 this is a big joke
tbone85 says:
06:21 AM, 02/20/2010
"And how would Americans feel if GM, Ford or Chrysler's chairman is summoned to appear before the Japanese emperor everytime they have a recall? You will likely see World War III! Such hypocrisy. "
I would give a rat's but if the chairman of those companies was called before investigating committees in countries that they do business in. If they want to continue doing business in those countries they need to abide by local laws, customs, and authorities. It's called the cost of doing business. If a company makes the decision that cost is too high, then they should abandon the market. There are lots of competitors that can fill the void.
arock says:
05:45 PM, 02/19/2010
I wonder why people abandoned local made cars alltogether and went for imports, seems like a silent revolution they got really fedup with the quality and reliability. just in one day company like toyota cant' go to the the top and company like GM fall behind and end up filing bankruptcy protection. I prefer GM's quality better than Ford or chrysler but I am really shocked to see a world number one fall behind and ultimately file bankruptcy. The only reason, those companies took things for granted and produced shoddy quality products having profit the only thing in their mind, if they have would have thought about the consumers also they would have been number 1 for ever andno one can dare to take that spot. There is a old saying, As you sow so as you reap
this applies to all the car companies including Toyota it seems. I also wonder how Auto reviewers who test and review a car including Edmunds or any other company who test drives and write articles about a car failed to find out the problem when they test drive a car.
May be FED should set up a Agency that also tests every component of an Automobile and issue certification besides the testing only the safety before any car comes to the dealership.
atenza94546 says:
12:15 PM, 02/19/2010
Look at the average age group that drives a Corolla's. Slow is the way for them. Its a Corolla not BMW 3 Series.
Really, it is not ???
wizard8873 says:
11:06 AM, 02/19/2010
@jeremy_c, part of it isn't that Toyota had so many recalls but it's in the way that they were handled. Honda jsut had two major recalls (Fit catching fire and then something regarding airbags) but you don't really hear about it being a big deal.
jeremy_c says:
08:00 AM, 02/19/2010
Love how the American government and the NHTSA is seizing the opportunity to dscredit Toyota. Does this have anything to do with a Japanese company beating GM as the #1 automaker? If you can't win by playing clean, fight dirty.
I question how the NHTSA can investigate only problems with Toyota when domestic vehicles like the Vibe and Fusion share the same components in question. Make no mistakes about it, this is just another form of protectionalism in disguise.
And how would Americans feel if GM, Ford or Chrysler's chairman is summoned to appear before the Japanese emperor everytime they have a recall? You will likely see World War III! Such hypocrisy.
juan_mx says:
06:55 AM, 02/19/2010
The Corolla has always had a slow and uncommunicative steering,
may be this time, Toyota went to far with the programming.
My advice to Toyota, ...... go back to regular hydraulic steering
...less electronics....less recalls....more reliability
nicked says:
04:41 AM, 02/19/2010
Seriously, would you buy a Corolla for its "responsive steering"?
jepontiac says:
03:03 AM, 02/19/2010
I wonder if its a programming problem, and that might be why the Vibe isn't included. Maybe the Vibe used its own programming? All signs (brakes, steering, acceleration) point to a fact that maybe Toyota hadn't learn how to effectively dial in electronic systems. With their cars being so reliant on electronic controls, it is a scary notion.