WASHINGTON — Just hours after Toyota announced another recall of its high-profile Prius hybrid, federal officials said they may look into complaints about steering problems on the 2009-'10 Toyota Corolla, according to media reports. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had yet to launch a formal defects investigation, often the precursor to a recall, as of early Tuesday afternoon.
It is clear from NHTSA's Web site, however, that consumer complaints about the Corolla's steering are mounting.
"Gentle turns of the wheel can result in exaggerated motions," wrote one unidentified consumer in the section that allows consumers to post complaints.
Another wrote: "I bought my 2010 Corolla on Jan. 13. When I drove it home for the first time, I found it was very hard to keep it in the center of the lane at highway speeds." The consumer said the vehicle was returned to the dealer and "they made some adjust [sic] and it is not that bad now. But the problem still exists. I think this problem is more serious than the gas pedal problem because this affect [sic] driving immediately and directly. Toyota says that this is how it is designed and we have to adapt ourself [sic]. But no matter how the steering system is designed, moving straight forward should not be an issue."
NHTSA receives thousands of complaints about vehicles every year, not all of which end up with a recall. It has received several dozen complaints about the Corolla.
In the meantime, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issued a statement on Tuesday in response to Toyota's third major vehicle recall. LaHood said that the federal government will "hold [Toyota] to that promise" to take U.S. safety concerns seriously.
Congress postponed one hearing scheduled for Wednesday on Toyota's mounting safety problems due to an impending snowstorm.
Inside Line says: Looks like this may be another safety headache for Toyota. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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toyotassince79 says:
01:30 AM, 02/12/2010
Last heard on news KBB now listing value of Toyotas 3% lower.. what I'm afraid of is next thing we will hear, is Car insurance companies will add cost to our premiums cause
car is high risk like driving a sports car.. even if car is under recall as mine happens to be.. and we get fixed, maybe and I hope I'm out in left field about that, IF that would happen,that's not fair.. I just see it coming, what do you think??
toyotassince79 says:
01:25 AM, 02/12/2010
Hello, now we hear of steering problem, it's nothing to do with mfg of Toyota.. The car does not have your traditional power steering pump and hoses,it's electric.. I checked this out B4 I went to my dealer and mentioned to him.. it's actually a saftey issue. My car on snow and ice (I'm in North Woods WI) better handled than any car I had and I've only owned Toyotas.. Now after the stickey gas pedal which no one mentions it's only if throttle part was mfgd in US.. IF mFgd in Japan no recall, don't know if they'll post this but it's true.. I'm still true blue to toyota.. Engine will out last any american made car out there, please, post too if your'e with me
toyotassince79 says:
01:17 AM, 02/12/2010
I checked out edmonds.com first for comments about the 09 Toyota B4 I bought, by the way Happy Anniversary to me for First Year owned BRAND new Toyota and proud of it.. yes steering was a
concern at first, just felt wierd, actually was more in control, not issue.. but IF you READ MANUAL like I did and ASK dealer B4 you buy It's a fact the
09 toyota Corolla (just to name a few) has ELECTRIC POWER STEERING so yes, if you, like me as driven a car, even toyotas my last 36 years with ole fashion power steering pump and hoses.. your new cars do NOT have those and it will take alittle to get used to..
You are SUPPOSE to drive with two hands on wheels anyway.. but I DID read about this first b4 I bought and yes I noticed when I test drove.. but after only owning couple cars driving as long as I have?? Toyotas are still the best.. Please be loyal out there
Recalls happens to all cars.. Michele
hal9000 says:
10:25 AM, 02/10/2010
Hey Kingfish4...the Cobalt was an example and I don't remember mentioning anything about the quality of Cobalts. Where was the word quality in my post? Go back...read slowly...read again...you're not going to see it. Why you ask? Because it's not there.
Quality of a vehicle based on maufacturer is seperate discussion. Quality of parts from a supplier is a seperate discussion. If you want to "go there" about who designed/manufactured the part for the Cobalt then go right ahead. If you want to "go there" about who decided the part was "quality" enough to put in the Cobalt during assembly then go right ahead. That wasn't the point I was making.
If Edmunds is going to clog Inside Lines news feed with 26+ updates on one manufacturers recalls...then they need to have multiple updates for ALL manufacturers recalls. Better yet..start a separate recall area!
brule says:
04:57 AM, 02/10/2010
I have a steering problem with my 2009 Toyota Corolla. I am thankful you are reporting on it now. In my NHTSA compaint last year in regards to steering I wrote, You had to keep 2 hands on the steering wheel and the steering would try to move on it's own..
Ater 11 months I am betting it's a logic issue.. Don't give up on me Toyota..
ghiafan says:
12:40 AM, 02/10/2010
Famous last words from Toyotas playbook
"Toyota says that this is how it is designed and we have to adapt ourself "
When are consumers going to wake up and realize the Holy Grail of car makers , makes lousy driving cars.
kingfish4 says:
06:53 PM, 02/09/2010
Hey hal9000, you really don't want to go to the Cobalt issue. Why you ask?
Because the supplier is TFEFT for both vehicles and the T stands for Toyota. Yep, that's right, a Toyota affiliated company made the electric power steering on both cars. Another fine example of Toyota "Quality"
compressor says:
06:26 PM, 02/09/2010
I was behind a BMW M3 going down pacific coast highway in my Corolla. I followed him into a turn and almost skidded off the road! This car really needs to be recalled for unsafe handling. My whole family could have died....
Absolutely ridiculous. Corollas have had crappy steering for 10+ years. Next, they'll be recalling Taurus SHOs for excessive acceleration.
old_cars_rock says:
05:28 PM, 02/09/2010
When I rode in a 2009 Corolla with my dad, he had to constantly correct the steering an smooth, straight roads. When I ride with him in his 2004 Corolla, which has hydralic power steering, he does not have to constantly correct the steering on smooth staight roads. Neither do I when I drive that car.
Toyota should sacrifice a few horsepower in the name of decent steering and use tried and true hydralic steering in their new cars and ditch the electronic power steering.
In the case of people having trouble driving with electronic power steering in their new Corollas, they should just get used to their lousy steering and suck it up. If I had this problem, I could consider disabling the power steering. That might be a bad idea, though, because the new Corollas are so big and heavy that they probably need power steering.
Way to fail, Toyota!
hal9000 says:
05:20 PM, 02/09/2010
This numbered update thing is getting f-ing ridiculous. Hey Edmunds! I want a numerical update for the 1 million Cobalts being investigated..and a numerical update for the Ford Fusion headed toward recall...and so on...and so on...enough already.