2005 Toyota Corolla Steering Problems

Complaint Against Ben Nielsen Skyline Automotive – Faulty Repairs & Lack of Response I am filing a complaint regarding incomplete and faulty repairs performed on my household’s 2005 Toyota Corolla CE at Ben Nielsen Skyline Automotive on November 22, 2024 (Invoice #1 attached) and January 3, 2025 (Invoice #2 attached). During my first visit, the mechanic identified an oil leak, added dye to locate the source, and instructed me to return after 100 miles for further repairs. I followed these instructions and returned on January 3, 2025, when the shop also adjusted the tie rod and installed new rear brakes. At the time, I trusted that the work had been completed to a professional standard and that my vehicle was safe to drive. However, during a visit to Shirlington Shell on February 22, 2025, for an unrelated inspection (Invoice #3 attached), their mechanic raised serious concerns about the quality of repairs done by Ben Nielsen Skyline Automotive: - The tie rod adjustment was not completed properly, which the second mechanic stated made the car potentially unsafe to drive (video evidence available upon request). - The fluid leak was not fully resolved. - The rear brakes installed by Ben Nielsen Skyline Automotive are making noise, suggesting they were not installed correctly. These issues indicate that the repairs I paid for were either incomplete or improperly performed, leading to safety concerns and additional costs to diagnose and correct the problems. After discovering these faults, I made multiple attempts to contact Ben Nielsen Skyline Automotive via phone and email to request a resolution, including a full reimbursement for the tie rod adjustment, fluid leak repair, and rear brake installation. Unfortunately, my email messages and calls have gone unanswered, leaving me no choice but to escalate this matter.

NHTSA ID

11647693

Incident

Jan 3, 2025

WHILE I WAS GOING INTO A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE KEEP GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE LOSING ALL CONTROLS, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING THE CAR TO SLAM INTO THE CURB. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10820794

Incident

Jan 3, 2016

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,272.

NHTSA ID

10809229

Incident

Dec 9, 2015

Mileage

125,272 mi

MY CAR ONLY HAS 54000 MILES AND SINCE LAST 2-3 WEEKS, ITS STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME SO STIFF. WE DID THE POWER STEERING FLUSH AT 33,000 MILES (AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNER MANUAL) AND IT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL THIS MONTH. BASED UPON THE ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 COROLLAS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HARDWARE PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594366

Incident

May 27, 2014

Mileage

54,200 mi

MY HUSBAND BOUGHT MY 2005 COROLLA AS A WEDDING GIFT. IT WAS SLIGHTLY USED BUT BOUGHT FROM ONE OF THE BEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN OUR TOWN. IT HAD APPROX. 18000 MILES WHEN I GOT T IN FEB OF 2007. IT WAS VERY BASIC AND A STANDARD. THE SHIFTING/CLUTCH NEVER SEEMED RIGHT FROM THE START BUT I LEARNED HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. IN FEB OF 2010, I WAS LEAVING WORK AND WAS A FEW MILES FROM HOME. I HAD NEVER IN MY MANY YEARS OF DRIVING HAD A WRECK. THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND AS I TRIED TO BRAKE,MY CAR SEEMED TO SPEED UP AND WENT RIGHT UP UNDER THE TRUCK. THE WHOLE FRONT END SMASHED RIGHT UP TO THE WINDSHIELD YET THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. INSURANCE DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS BUT IT WAS RIGHT AT THE POINT WHERE I STILL OWED AS MUCH AS THE PAY OFF SO THEY WENT AHEAD AND FIXED IT. I WAS OUT A LOT OF MONEY. THE SECOND WRECK JUST OCCURRED ON MARCH 15,2013. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A FAMILY MEMBERS RESIDENCE IN THE COUNTRY AND WAS TRAVELING ON DESERTED ROADS AT ABOUT 3:30 AM. I WENT AROUND AN S CURVE THAT I GREW UP DRIVING SO IT I WAS VERY FAMILIAR. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN,BUT AGAIN SEEMED TO ACCELERATE. I OVER CORRECTED AND RAN THRU A DITCH AND COMPLETELY THREW A METAL FENCE. AGAIN. THE AIRBAG,WHICH ALWAYS HAD THE LIGHT ON AS IF READY TO DEPLOY,DID NOT GO OFF. I WAS HURT VERY BADLY AND APPARENTLY BLACKED OUT FOR A GOOD WHILE. THIS TIME THE INSURANCE DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND WE ARE WAITING ON A SETTLEMENT FROM OUR INSURANCE PLUS I HURT MY KNEE AND AM MEETING WITH A SURGEON NEXT WEEK. THAT CAR WAS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND I AM HAPPY TO B RID OF IT BUT FEEL WE ALL DESERVE JUSTICE FOR ALL THE MANY ERRORS TOYOTA HAS GIVEN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508714

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA AVID-ASCEND TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED NO FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AT HIGH SPEEDS. ..UPDATED 08/21/2012 *JS UPDATED 08/23/12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10465385

Incident

May 29, 2012

Mileage

44,117 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER OFF INTO ANOTHER LANE AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SIGNS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL. ONCE THE ENGINE RECOVERED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED AND TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO ITS ORIGINAL LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID

10375365

Incident

Jan 9, 2011

Mileage

137,000 mi

WHEN REACHING HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50 MPH AND ABOVE) THE STEERING LOSES SOME CONTROL. BECOMES WOBBILY AND CAN SHIFT AND JOLT RIGHT TO LEFT SUDDENLY.

NHTSA ID

10322678

Incident

Mar 29, 2010

Mileage

26,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING MY COROLLA ON THE HIGHWAY, IN WINDY CONDITIONS, IT IS VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR IN LANE AND THE DRIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316126

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE 210 FWY GOING EAST. I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE AND THERE WAS A BIG RIG TO THE RIGHT OF MY VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR BEGAN FISH TAILING. I WAS FIGHTING HARD WITH MY STEERING WHEEL AS TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE BIG RIG NEXT TO ME. I NEARLY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND AGAIN OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR BEGAN FISH TAILING VIOLENTLY WORSE THAN BEFORE. AT THAT TIME I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, SPINNING MY CAR AROUND INTO THE CARPOOL LANE IMPACTING THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER AND BOUNCING OFF CAUSING THE REAR OF MY CAR TO SWING AND HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER A SECOND TIME . THE CAR THEN CAME TO A STOP LEAVING MY CAR FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET ACROSS THE LANES AND PULL MY CAR OFF OF THE FREEWAY. AS THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED SINCE THE DAMAGES WERE TOO EXTENT FOR THE CAR TO DRIVE. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANOTHER OCCURRENCE OF THE CAR FISHTAILING OUT OF CONTROL WITH NO EXPLANATION. DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE WERE REPAIRED THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10315704

Incident

Oct 28, 2006

Mileage

29,327 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35MPH ON A 50MPH ROADWAY, ANTICIPATING TO STOP OR STEER OFF THE ROADWAY, MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO STOP OR STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SOFT SHOULDER TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE STOPPED AHEAD OF ME. ONCE I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE STEERING MECHANISM BECAME NON RESPONSIVE AS THOUGH BOTH BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED. I WATCHED MY VEHICLE CONTINUED ON ITS FORWARD TRAJECTORY UNTIL IT SLAMMED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT THE RED LIGHT. IN ADDITION, ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE AIR BAG ON THIS VEHICLE TO DEPLOY AT IMPACT AT THIS SPEED. TO MY SURPRISE AND THAT OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER FROM TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY, I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE VEHICLE AS NEITHER THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG NOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314941

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

104,088 mi

I OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA IT WAS WRECKED IN MAY OF 2009 THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THE CAR I TOLD MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHAT HAPPENED BUT THEY DID NOT CHECK INTO IT . I HAVE CALLED THE TOYOTA COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME TO WRITE A LETTER I ALSO HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL ATTORNEYS. I AS OF RIGHT NOW HAVE NO OTHER WAY OF TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT PAY THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312636

Incident

May 28, 2008

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE ACTIVATED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000. UPDATED 3/12/10 *CN UPDATED 06/18/10

NHTSA ID

10311840

Incident

Dec 14, 2005

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL*THE 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED SINCE THERE WAS A FEE INVOLVED. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID

10311819

Incident

Feb 17, 2009

Mileage

59,000 mi

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED USED AT 21,000 MILES. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 7 TIMES FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND SOMETIMES TO THE LEFT, BETWEEN 40 TO 65 MPH. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE HIGHWAY CONDITIONS HERE IN CALIFORNIA, BUT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON MOSTLY SURFACE STREETS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND THE SAME ISSUE KEEPS OCCURRING. ALSO, IN REVERSE THERE IS A LARGE KNOCKING SOUND AND ACCELERATION WHEN IT IS COLDER THAN 50 DEGREES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311515

Incident

Apr 18, 2006

Mileage

21,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND LOCKED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE SECOND TIME SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED. NONE OF THE REPAIRS CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10311347

Incident

Jan 30, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

I BOUGHT A 2005 COROLLA SE FEBRUARY 2009. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTICED THAT IT VEERED HEAVILY TO THE RIGHT AND THOUGHT MAYBE THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THAT IT WAS OK. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED SO I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT "ALL TOYOTAS VEERED TO THE RIGHT" AND THAT DOING AN ALIGNMENT WOULD NOT HELP ANY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS HAPPENS ON ALL ROADS AT ANY SPEED, NOT JUST HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT VEERS AT 25 MPH AND THE TECH ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WONT VEER IF I DON'T ACCELERATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC IN THAT. IT SEEMS TO ONLY BE GETTING WORSE I HAVE TO HOLD MY STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 10 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AT ALL TIMES WHILE DRIVING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AND NOW I AM STUCK PAYING FOR IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR WHO WILL LISTEN. PLEASE HELP OR INITIATE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310908

Incident

Feb 16, 2010

Mileage

23,828 mi

TOYOTA COROLLA, WIFE COMPLAINED ABOUT INLAWS CAR STEERING BEING SLOPPY SOMETIMES. I DROVE IT TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM. DRIVING IN STRAIGHT LINE NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING SLALOM FASHION STEERING FELT VERY SLOPPY AND SUSPECTED POWER STEERING. BROUGHT BACK TO HOME AND DID A CHECK OF TIRE PRESSURE WHICH WAS ABOUT 12 PSI IN THE BACK ON BOTH SIDES BUT FONT PRESSURE WITHIN SPEC. ADJUSTED THE REAR TIRES AND PROBLEM DISAPPEARED.. I HEARD OF NHTSA INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM AND WANTED TO REPORT MY FINDINGS THAT LOW PRESSURE CAN SEVERELY EFFECT THE STEERING ON THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308780

Incident

Dec 20, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT HAS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHENEVER THEY WERE ENGAGED. THE BRAKES PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 10 MONTHS. THE TIRES ALSO HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT HAS HAD SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS. THE FIRST TIME THE TIRES AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED, THE MILEAGE WAS 12000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42999.

NHTSA ID

10308762

Incident

Nov 19, 2004

Mileage

6 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERINGS WERE DISCOLORED, WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER COULD CLEAN THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH WOULD MAKE THEM THINNER. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,271. UPDATED 06/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS THAT COVERS THE HEADLIGHT WAS STARTING TO DISCOLOR. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT THAT HE HAS A DIFFICULT TIME SEEING THE ROAD AT NIGHT. UPDATED 06/10/09.*JB THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENGINE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS A PART OF THE RECALL. HE IS CONCERNED THE ENGINE MAY SHUT DOWN BEFORE THE RECALL IS PERFORMED, DUE TO LIMITED PARTS. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING HOSE, BATTERY, AND WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED EVOQ 09/22/10. *JB

NHTSA ID

10269964

Incident

Nov 20, 2008

Mileage

34,271 mi

DT: ON 7-19-05 CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT DISCONNECTED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE DOWN POSITION, AND IT KNOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL UPWARD WHILE IT WAS STILL LOCKED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES, INCLUDING WHIP-LASH, SHAKING, AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN BECAUSE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10135439

Incident

Jul 19, 2005

Mileage

6,500 mi

THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A WALL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A GARAGE. ALSO, POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, MAKING THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND SKIDDED IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE. WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND NO ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. AFTER VEHICLE CAME BACK FROM DEALER'S INSPECTION THERE WAS A GRINDING/SCRETCHING NOISE. CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE BACKING PLATE BEHIND THE ROTORS WAS BENT. BACKING PLATE WAS BEND BACK INTO PLACE. CONSUMER FELT GRINDING NOISE WAS NOT A RESULT OF ACCIDENT AND/OR DAMAGES OCCURED TO VEHICLE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10111445

Incident

Feb 3, 2005

Mileage

900 mi