Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Apr 27, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 225 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 27, 2015
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SEIZED AND THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEED INDEPENDENTLY INCREASED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 12/4/2015*JS
NHTSA ID
10713050
Incident
Apr 13, 2015
Mileage
62,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 7, 2010
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING HER 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA WITH APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES ON IT, MY MOTHER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS WITH HER CAR AND BEFORE SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IT DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. SHE SAID THE CAR JERKED QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT THEN LEFT THEN RIGHT AGAIN BEFORE IT HIT THE TREE AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO CONTROL IT. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND SCRAPPED BEFORE ANY FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE CAR'S ERRATIC BEHAVIOR COULD BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND REPLACED. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN FREQUENTLY AND DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY STEERING PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10317509
Incident
Apr 27, 2009
Mileage
75,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 17, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE LEFT, AS IF IT WERE SLIPPING ON ICE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN AFTER MOVING ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER A BACK, LEFT WRIST, HAND, BRUISES AND A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT FROM TIME TO TIME. SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
NHTSA ID
10311229
Incident
Apr 22, 2004
Mileage
85,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 3, 2004
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINEDTHAT THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10061215
Incident
Feb 23, 2004
Mileage
84,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 17, 2003
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WITHIN 15,000 MILES. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
10048084
Incident
Nov 10, 2003
Mileage
36,250 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 6, 2002
HAD TO REPLACE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE AND RACK AND PINION THANKS TO DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.*AK
NHTSA ID
757877
Incident
Feb 5, 2002
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Jan 27, 2000
ON AUGUST 26, 1999 OUTER TIE ROD NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND LEFT CAM BOLT ALSO NEEDED REPLACMENT.DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ID
855669
Incident
Aug 25, 1999
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+3 more
Filed Jan 3, 2000
AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, IN JULY OF 1999 THE FRONT AND RIGHT SEATBELT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA ID
558526
Incident
Oct 18, 1999
SteeringTransmission
Filed Oct 20, 1999
TRANSMISSION AND DOOR PROBLEM FIXED, STEERING WHEEL STILL NOISY (I GIVE UP). *AK
NHTSA ID
713611
Incident
Feb 10, 1998
Body & structureBrakesSteering+2 more
Filed Oct 5, 1999
HIGH SPEEDS CAR HARD TO CONTROL, CORNERS HORRIBLY,PITCHING MOTION OVER BUMPS, CRUNCHING NOISE ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT
NHTSA ID
712862
Steering
Filed Sep 8, 1999
BUZZES, BEEPS, AND SECURITY SYSTEM ARE UNNECESSARILY LOUD.
NHTSA ID
609140
Steering
Filed Feb 1, 1999
POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED. MJS
NHTSA ID
608150
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Feb 1, 1999
POWER STEERING FAILED. YH
NHTSA ID
607402
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Feb 1, 1999
POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED. *YC
NHTSA ID
607100
Incident
Nov 11, 1998
Interior & seatsSteering
Filed Feb 1, 1999
FRONT SEAT MATERIAL NOT MADE PROPERLY. NLM
NHTSA ID
606428
Steering
Filed Oct 30, 1998
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. WHENEVER CONSUMER MANEUVERS THE STEERING WHEEL, IT MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own