Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
DRIVER WAS MAKING LEFT HAND TURN ON CITY STREET WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STEERED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A BLOCK WALL. DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW WHY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, THERE WAS NO EXTRA INPUT ON THE ACCELERATOR.
I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED THE CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED TWO MONTHS EARLIER A TIRE ROTATION AND OIL CHANGE THE CAR HAS 110K MILES DRIVING THE CAR ON A PAVED ROAD AT 35MPH THE TIE ROD SNAPPED RESULTING IN ACCIDENT THE GARAGE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE TIRE LUG NUTS WERE PUT ON TOO TIGHT MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD FIX IT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THERE FAULT THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR A YEAR THE DEALERSHIP WON'T TALK TO ME IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO A WELL MAINTAINED AND WELL CARED FOR CAR A TOYOTA REP LOOKED AT THE CAR AND WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS NORMAL TO HAPPEN THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC
CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN
WAS DRIVING WHEN AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON, HAVE CHECKED FUSES, CLEANED ALL ELECTRICAL LEADS AND IT REMAINS ON, BEEN ON SIX MONTHS NOW. AIRBAG RECALL FIXED TODAY, TOLD DEALER TO LOOK AT LIGHT. ONCE FIXED DEALER SAID LIGHT STILL ON BECAUSE THE STEERING SPRING COIL IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS CUT SOMETHING THAT TURNS THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON, COST TO FIX $500. I SAID LET THE LIGT STAY ON THEN, HE SAID IT COULD AFFECT AIRBAG, IT MIGHT NOT DEPLOY.
I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN SO THAT "12" WOULD GO FARTHER RIGHT THAN "2" OR LEFT THAN "10". I FOUND THAT EVEN WITHIN THAT "10" TO "2" RANGE, THE CAR WAS NOT FOLLOWING MY STEERING FAST ENOUGH TO MAKE TURNS AND CURVES AS QUICKLY AS IT USUALLY DOES. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN SHARPLY TO STAY ON THE ROAD. TEN MINUTES LATER, I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE ROAD IN ORDER TO DIRECT THE WHEELS INTO MY DRIVEWAY. DURING ALL OF THIS, IT SEEMED THAT BOTH ACCELERATION AND BRAKES WERE LESS RESPONSIVE THAN USUAL. PRECEDING THE ENTIRE EVENT, THE ENGINE HAD MADE SOME CLACKING/CLANGING/BANGING NOISES AND THE HEAT BEGAN TO BLOW ONLY COLD AIR. *TR
MY WIFE WAS COMING BACK HOME AFTER DROPPING OUR 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AT THE SCHOOL. AT A SIGNAL, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AFTER A RED LIGHT STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL GOT STUCK IN THE RIGHT-TURNED POSITION ITSELF. IT COULD NOT BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION FROM THE RIGHT-TURNED POSITION. IN FACT, BRAKES ALSO DIDN'T WORK AT THE SAME TIME. AS CAR WAS VERY SLOW (AS IT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE STOP FOR MAKING THE RIGHT TURN AT THE RED LIGHT SIGNAL), MY WIFE, EVEN THOUGH PANICKED, QUICKLY HIT HARD AT THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH RELEASED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM STUCK POSITION. AFTER THIS SHE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO STRAIGHT-WHEEL POSITION AND APPLY THE BRAKES TOO. WE ARE NOT SURE IF WE'D RUN INTO THIS SITUATION AGAIN SO HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE THEN. *TR
OUR TOYOTA COROLLA 2006 HAD A SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COME ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER?S AIRBAG MODULE IS ATTACHED TO A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS THAT HAVE BECOME DAMAGED FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DAMAGE TO THE SPINAL WIRE CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP TO ILLUMINATE WHICH MEANS THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SPINAL CORD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A SIMILAR ISSUE ON OTHER COROLLAS I BELIEVE THEY ARE YEARS 2009 AND 2010 AND SO I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO SINCE IT IS HAPPENING ON OUR VEHICLE. *TR
I WAS BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED AND PUT CAR IN DRIVE POSITION, AND 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, ENGINE ROARED. I PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE IMMEDIATELY, SHUT OFF ENGINE AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE. LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WERE LIT, AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. CAR BOLTED FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF A PARKED TRUCK WHICH STOPPED MY VEHICLE. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND EXPERIENCED THIS HORRIBLE EVENT. I WAS BRINGING HER HOME FROM AN OPERATION ON HER ARM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE BOTH TERRIFIED. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE TOYOTA GARAGE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE COULDN'T TOUCH THE CAR DUE TO PROTOCOL, AND GAVE ME THE 800 # FOR TOYOTA. THAT WAS ON A MONDAY AND ON FRIDAY I HAD TO GET MY OWN RENTAL CAR AS I HAD NOT HEARD FROM TOYOTA IN REGARD TO A RENTAL CAR. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON FLORIDA'S TURNPIKE NB AT 70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY, MY STEERING WHEEL FELT DISCONNECTED FROM THE TIRES. THE CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL, AND I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE. THE MECHANICAL ISSUE WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS FAILED A TIE ROD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DETERIORATING AND FOAM WAS LEAKING FROM INSIDE OF IT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE AND DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
STEERING COLUMN YOKE IS LOOSE OR SLIPPING. I'M AFRAID IT WILL FAIL TOTALLY AND CAUSE ACCIDENT OR INJURY. LOCAL DEALER WANTS $370 TO FIX IT BUT EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY I THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO FORCING A RECALL IF NEEDED. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 AND A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. BOTH OF THEM HAVE SIMILAR HANDLING ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY A TENDENCY TO UNPREDICTABLY DART TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE (YES, EVEN ON STRAIGHT ROADS!). I HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED ON BOTH CARS, AND REPLACED TIRES. NEITHER OF THESE ACTIONS HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE HANDLING. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON WET, SNOWY OR SLICK ROADS. BACK IN OCTOBER, 2009, A TOYOTA TECHNICIAN CHECKED OUT MY 2010 COROLLA, AND TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A HANDLING CHARACTERISTIC OF COROLLAS. HE SAID THAT TOYOTA WANTED TO MAKE THE CAR HANDLE QUICKER, SO THEY SET THE CAMBER (OR CASTER--I FORGET WHICH) AT THE FACTORY SO THAT IT HANDLES QUICKER IN TURNS BUT IT ALSO IS NOT AS STABLE WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN, IT CAN'T BE ADJUSTED. I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE 2006 COROLLA SHORTLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A DEATH TRAP AND I DON'T WANT MY FAMILY IN IT. IN SLICK ROADS IT HAS GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL TWICE. LEST YOU THINK I'M NUTS, I'VE DRIVEN FRONT WHEEL CARS SINCE 1975 AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF AN ISSUE UNTIL I GOT THESE CARS. SO DON'T TELL ME IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE LIGHT CARS--THAT'S BALONEY! I'VE HAD OTHER LIGHT CARS THAT DIDN'T ACT LIKE THESE DO. *TR
THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA DOWN THE STREET AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK EXTREMELY BADLY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO PRECISION TOYOTA AND ASKED THEM IF IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANICS EXPLAINED THE TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES CANNOT BE ALIGNED AND TO GO ON MY MERRY WAY. I THEN CONTINUED DRIVING THE TOYOTA COROLLA AND MADE SEVERAL VISITS TO BRAKE MASTERS AND GOODYEAR TIRE IN PHOENIX AZ TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK SO BADLY. BRAKE MASTERS AND GOODYEAR TIRE FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE ACCRUED 10,000 MILES THE TIRES WERE BALD! I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO PRECISION TOYOTA AND I GOT THE RUN AROUND. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON NEVER ROTATES THEIR TIRES. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AT LEAST 4 TIMES DURING THIS TIME PERIOD AT GOODYEAR TIRES LOCATED IN PHOENIX AZ. I THEN REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH A NEW SET. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO SHAKE. I THEN REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN. I THEN WENT BACK TO PRECISION TOYOTA FOR HELP. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT PRECISION TOYOTA TOLD ME TO NEVER RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP OR HE WOULD CALL THE POLICE AND HAVE ME ESCORTED OFF THE LOT. I DROVE AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP VERY CALMLY. I REMEMBER THIS DAY VERY CLEARLY. I THEN WENT HOME AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN TUCSON AZ AGAINST PRECISION TOYOTA FOR FAILING TO FIX MY VEHICLE. PRECISION TOYOTA RESPONDED TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU THAT I HAD TRIED TO RUN OVER A SALES ASSOCIATE IN THE DEALERSHIP'S PARKING LOT AND THAT IS WHY THEY REFUSE TO FIX MY CAR. THE 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE AND KEEP ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE EXTREME STEERING PROBLEM. ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 I TOOK THE 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA TO RIGHT TOYOTA LOCATED AT: 7701 E FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BLVD SCOT. *TR
DRIVING ON I-20 WEST IN GOOD WEATHER AND GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COULD NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN, RESULTING IN THE CAR DRIVING OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPING OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON A ROAD SURFACE COVERED WITH A QUARTER INCH OF SNOW; AND ENCOUNTERED A DIP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE LEFT DIRECTION INTO AN OPPOSING TRAVEL LANE, AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE IN WHICH A REPORT WAS NOT FILED DUE TO NO OTHER INVOLVEMENT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE STEERING SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN IT STAYED IN THE CENTER LANE. WHENEVER HE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OF DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,276. UPDATED 05/20/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPDATED EVOQ 05/27/10 THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED IN 2008 DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. UPDATED 06/01/10. *JB UPDATED 09/29/10 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE STEERING MECHANISM AND BRAKE FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/06/10 UPDATED 12/28/10.*JB
WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA AND WENT INTO WATER DURING A RAINY DAY IN FEBRUARY 2010 AND SHE SAID THAT THE STEERING LOCKED/ SHE COULDN'T TURN IT MORE THAN A QUARTER TURN. SHE JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN IT WAS OK AGAIN. I LOOKED UNDER CAR THE CAR AND EVERYTHING LOOKS OK. *TR
WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY PULL BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE LANE. IT WILL ONLY DO IT FOR SOME TIME AND THEN STOP. THIS MAKES IT HARD TO STEER THE CAR AND I MUST SLOW DOWN UNTIL IT STOPS. SOMETIMES I CAN BARELY MAINTAIN THE SPEED LIMIT ON FREEWAYS WHEN THIS OCCURS. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM THAT CAN BE SHOWN TO A MECHANIC. I HAVE EVEN HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC BUT HE DIDN'T ENCOUNTER THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT FOR TOYOTA CARS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF HOW FAR THEY SHOULD LOOK BACK FOR THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS FOR 4 YEARS NOW. THANKFULLY I DO NOT DRIVE FREEWAYS THAT OFTEN BUT IT IS ALWAYS SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF MIND WHEN I DO. *TR
AT SPEEDS ABOVE 65 MPH I FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. THE CAR DRIFTS TO RIGHT AND LEFT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE NE EXTENSION ON MY WAY TO MY SISTERS HOUSE, MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKY AND PULL TO THE LEFT. I GRABBED HOLD OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO TRY TO PUT US BACK IN THE LANE BUT IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND WE THEN SPUN OUT INTO TWO 360 DEGREE TURNS BEFORE LANDING IN A DITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN NOTICED THAT BOTH OF MY REAR TIRES HAD PROBLEMS AS WELL, AND THESE TIRES WERE JUST RECENTLY PUT ON BY TEAM TOYOTA ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 30TH 2008. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE AXEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE CASTLE NUT ROD SPINDLE WAS MISSING. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE DEFECT ON A NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 176 MILES.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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