2013 Toyota Corolla Steering Problems

On Monday, [XXX], I was at the CVS pharmacy drive through when the failure occurred. There was no accident and otherwise no warning before it happened. I attempted to pull out when I noticed the car was drifting and the steering was extremely stiff. I looked down to see that the airbag light and BRAKE light were both on. I coasted into a spot I happened to be aligned with. As I did, I felt the brakes and steering stiffen even more until they were almost 100% seized. (Kind of felt like I was fighting hydraulic fluid.) You guys are welcome to request to inspect the vehicle. I haven't been able to get it inspected, because the Toyota dealership wants me to pay a diagnostic fee to prove the airbag light came on due to the airbag assembly for them to be able to cover the work under the extended warranty for the airbag system. There was no accident. I thankfully didn't have any speed behind me. So, I just barely had enough brakes to stop. This also means that I didn't make an insurance claim or call the police. I did get a tow truck to come out with State Farm roadside assistance, though. The vehicle is at my father's house. We far as how this has affected us, I'm never buying a vehicle with electric steering again. At least with traditional power steering, if there's a failure, you can still steer the vehicle, even if it is difficult. If I had been coming down the winding, 6% grade from Lake Tahoe to Carson when it occurred a few nights ago, I wouldn't have been able to stop or steer; I probably would have went into the ravine. Had we been on the highway or even coming down the hill in Carson from[XXX] when I lost controls, we could both be dead right now. What's worse is I saw a forum where a bunch of people were talking about this happening to them: losing brakes and steering randomly, while actively driving. A few of them were only at 40k miles. In each case, airbags did not deploy. I think the sensor is causing the crashes sporadically. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5

NHTSA ID

11615296

Incident

Sep 16, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became loose while making left and right turns. As a result, the vehicle overturned without warning No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was first taken to the dealer where the alignment was replaced. Additionally, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to several dealers where the cause of the failure could not be determined and the contact was informed that nothing was wrong with the steering. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

NHTSA ID

11481742

Incident

Aug 29, 2022

Mileage

176,000 mi

Steering wanders left to right like car is buffeted by wind. Difficult keeping in lane.

NHTSA ID

11419710

Incident

Mar 4, 2021

ON 11/19/20 THE CAR ACCELERATED AND BRAKES STUCK WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT ABOUT 5-10 MILES TO THE PARKING SPACE AT JALAPENOS RESTAURANT, 450 E 1ST ST TUSTIN CA 92780. CAR STOPPED BECAUSE THE BAR ON THE GROUND PREVENTED THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD! IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME, IT LEFT ME SHACKING!

NHTSA ID

11375471

Incident

Nov 19, 2020

Mileage

36,603 mi

LATELY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE COMING HOME FROM GROCERY SHOPPING CAR SUDDENLY SHOWING THE SIGNALS AND STEERING WHEEL GETTING JAMMED. I WAS PULL OVER TO THE CURBSIDE AND CHECKED NOTHING ABNORMAL IS FOUND. IT WAS HARD TO STEERING WHEEL TO MANEUVER RIGHT AND LEFT, SPECIALLY AT THE PARK POSITION AND SLOW SPEED TURNING. I WENT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, MECHANIC EXPLAIN MIGHT BE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING RACK IN PINION. I WAS INSTALLED BUT STILL SHOWING THE WARNING SIGNS AND NOTHING GOT BETTER.. MECHANIC FAILED TO FIXED THE PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE THE MONEY.. QUEENS JAMAICA NY. CITY STREETS.*DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11326218

Incident

May 15, 2020

Mileage

2 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN FROM A STATIONARY POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND FREED UP ONLY AFTER WRESTLING WITH IT SEVERAL SECONDS. ALSO, ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SEEMS TO WEAVE LEFT OR RIGHT AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. THIS CAR HAS THE ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING ALSO HAPPENED APPROX. ON 12/15/18

NHTSA ID

11164384

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER LEFT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND TRAVELED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,140.

NHTSA ID

11132879

Incident

Sep 30, 2018

Mileage

40,140 mi

KNOCKING , RATTLNG, ON ROUGH STREET, 4 DOOR, LE, IN MOTION, STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. SCARY

NHTSA ID

11124038

Incident

Apr 4, 2018

Mileage

20,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I GOT A CAR FROM TOYOTA EXPRESSWAY IN BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR FROM THEM REMIND YOU THAT TO USE THE CAR I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS I MEAN BRINGING THE CAR BACK THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER WHICH IS THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL IT FEELS LIKE IT NEEDS AN ALIGNMENT WHEN I DRIVE IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR SLIDING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THEN NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION AND I'M GETTING FED UP BECAUSE I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SO I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS THANK YOU ALSO I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND BEFORE THEY EVEN FIX THE VEHICLE THEY SAID THERE WAS A DEFAULT THERE WAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS GOING ON WITH THE CAR WHICH I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL THE CAR DEALERSHIP TOYOTA BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT

NHTSA ID

11119985

Incident

Nov 9, 2017

DIFFICULT TO STEER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND IT'S TERRIFYING TRYING TO DRIVE EVEN SHORT DISTANCES ON THE HIGHWAY OR SURFACE STREETS WITH AN ELEVATED MPH VALUE. IF I DO NOT ACTIVELY KEEP MY STEERING WHEEL TURNING TOWARDS THE RIGHT, I WILL SURELY CRASH INTO A VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE. EXTREMELY UNSAFE!

NHTSA ID

11080647

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

TAKATA CAR DETECTED LEAK IN SYSTEM HAD IT REPLACED AN IT SHOWS SAME ISSUE STEERING FAILS EVERY SO OFTEN HAVE NO CONTROL FOR A FEW SECONDS TRANSMISSION SLAMS IN GEAR OR SOMETHING WHEN GOING TO PASS

NHTSA ID

11064989

Incident

Feb 5, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE WHILE CAR IN MOTION FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS WHILE MAKING A RIGHT AND LEFT HAND TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10947441

Incident

Jan 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WHEN TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONTACT HAD TO GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND ONLY ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10907236

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

36,000 mi

2013 TOYOTA COROLLA WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE MOVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. SCARRY TO DRIVE ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY NEXT TO A RIG DUE TO SWAYING AND INSTABILITY .CORRECTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE DRIFTING INTO THE ADJACENT LANES. THIS STEERING ISSUE MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND IS ALL WITHIN TOLERANCES. THE TIRES ARE BRAND NEW AND PROPERLY INFLATED

NHTSA ID

10790508

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND SEIZED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES, BUT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE THROUGH A FIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10725791

Incident

Jun 14, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi

2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRICAL ASSISTED POWER STEERING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS TO CONSTANTLY STEER THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10720917

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID

10644574

Incident

Jul 8, 2013

Mileage

3,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

NHTSA ID

10617587

Incident

Feb 13, 2014

Mileage

3,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,800.

NHTSA ID

10616005

Incident

Jul 10, 2014

Mileage

19,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILBLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID

10610935

Incident

May 6, 2013

Mileage

25,000 mi

2013 TOYOTA COROLLA WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE MOVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. STEERING IS OVERLY SENSITIVE AND ANY CORRECTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE DRIFTING INTO THE ADJACENT LANES. THIS STEERING ISSUE MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND IS ALL WITHIN TOLERANCES. THE TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND ARE ALL INFLATED TO THE CORRECT PRESSURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610914

Incident

Jul 9, 2014

Mileage

14,250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD DELAYED ACCELERATION AND THE VECHICLE ABNORMALLY VIBRATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE SURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ID

10606968

Incident

Jun 19, 2014

Mileage

16,000 mi

AFTER MAKING A RIGHT COMING OFF INTERSTATE 95, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN UP. IT CAUSED THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR; THE CAR THEN WENT OVER THE MEDIAN WHICH CAUSED IT TO BLOW OUT THE TIRE, DESTROY THE RIM AND DAMAGE THE AXLE, AT MINIMUM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593282

Incident

May 19, 2014

Mileage

15,000 mi

I LEASED MY COROLLA ON 3/2013. I NOTICED THAT I HAD TROUBLE STEERING THE CAR RIGHT AWAY, BUT JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS BECAUSE I WASN'T USED TO THE NEW ELECTRIC STEERING. ON THE FIRST 5000 MILE MAINTENANCE I ASKED THE ADVISER TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT AND TIRES CHECKED. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. 10,000 MILE MAINTENANCE I REQUESTED THE SAME BECAUSE THE CAR IS A CHORE TO CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, SOMETIMES TO THE LEFT, AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING, AND THE CAR PERFORMS THE SAME AS ALL THE OTHER COROLLA'S. I CALLED BACK THE NEXT WEEK AND THEY THEY'LL HAVE TO BEGIN CHARGING ME NOW, BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WILL NOT ALLOW FOR ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, AND I'VE ONLY BEEN ISSUED 1 TRAFFIC VIOLATION TICKET SINCE I OBTAINED MY LICENSE IN 1980. THIS CAR HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE SEVERAL EXTREMELY CLOSE CALLS. THE 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA IS DANGEROUS. I DRIVE ABOUT 15 MILES EACH WAY TO WORK AND BACK. I'VE HAD TO RESORT TO TAKING SIDE STREETS TO AVOID THE FREEWAY. WE HAVE FAMILY IN OTHER STATES BUT WE CAN'T DRIVE THERE IN THE COROLLA BECAUSE THE COROLLA WILL PROBABLY CAUSE US TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE WE REACH OUR DESTINATION. MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT TOYOTA'S, AND THIS IS MY FOURTH COROLLA. I BOUGHT MY FIRST COROLLA IN 1982, BUT I'VE BEGUN THE ARBITRATION PROCESS FOR THEM TO BUY BACK THIS PIECE OF JUNK. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, I'LL USE THE LEMON LAW. SHAME ON YOU TOYOTA FOR DELIVERING SUCH A DANGEROUS AUTOMOBILE, AND THEN DOING NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567106

Incident

Mar 30, 2013

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 60 MPH THE CAR WANDERS TO THE LEFT. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. IT KEPT DRIFTING LEFT. I HELD THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT ON CENTER AND THE CAR KEPT DRIFTING LEFT. I HAD TO HOLD TIGHT TO THE STEERING AND WHEN I FELT IT DRIFTING LEFT, I HAD TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING TO PREVENT FROM GOING INTO THE OTHER LANE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME DRIFTING / STEERING / WANDERING PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 2300 MILES ON IT AND STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA TELLS ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY REPAIRED AND WORKING AS DESIGNED. I DON'T TRUST THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL THAT THIS I AM NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. MY ONLY RECOURSE NOW IS THE LEMON LAW. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR AND I WANT IT TO DRIVE LIKE A BRAND NEW CAR. I DON'T THINK THAT IS TOO MUCH TO ASK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567082

Incident

Jun 13, 2013

Mileage

700 mi