RoadVitals

2020 Toyota Corolla Steering Problems

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.
8
Latest Oct 22, 2025
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.
3%
of 304 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 2020 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

Steering
Filed Oct 22, 2025

I was driving normally to work and the vehicle stalled without warning and became difficult to steer. The dashboard displayed “engine stopped, steering power low”. The vehicle was stalled in the middle of the roadway and could not be restarted for 10 minutes. This was a very dangerous way to stop and then not be able to restart. People had to get out of their vehicles and help me push it out of the roadway. After 10 minutes the vehicle started and drove normally without any issues. The battery and alternator tested good. The mechanic can not find anything wrong. I am scared to drive the vehicle now and have an accident due to this incident.

NHTSA ID
11695131
Incident
Oct 22, 2025
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Apr 28, 2025

after shortly pumping gas, I received a alert on my car that I needed to check my fuel cap, after checking fuel cap I proceeded to drive on the highway during this time a multitude of sensors started to go off on my car, and it started to drive weird there were light such as my interlock, being deactivated, parking, brake, deactivated, malfunction of VSC, collision deactivated. Then suddenly while driving at an accelerated speed, and trying to slow down, my engine turned itself off, and I was not able to re-crank my car. There is an active recall with Toyota for the fuel pump, which I was told by Toyota was the issue, but due to my VIN not being associated they would not repair as a recall

NHTSA ID
11657355
Incident
Apr 27, 2025
Steering
Filed Nov 29, 2022

The steering makes a thumping noise. The car also veers off to the left or right while driving. I had a front-end alignment performed by the dealer. It still does the same thing. I did take it to the Dealer, twice and they claimed there was no issue. I've never heard a thumping noise in any other car that I've owned. I have not had an accident but there is something going on with the steering of the car. I'm not sure if the steering column was broken or attempted to be stolen. There are scratches around the ignition switch that were there when I bought the car.

NHTSA ID
11495247
Incident
Dec 29, 2021
Steering
Filed Jun 6, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the steering momentarily malfunctioned causing the vehicle to drift into the opposite lane. The contact indicated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started drifting into the left lane and would not respond when the steering wheel was turned to the right. The contact immediately depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that moments later the vehicle drove normally. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who identified steering failure codes but indicated that the failure was due to a low-powered battery. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 30,000.

NHTSA ID
11467741
Incident
May 31, 2022
Mileage
30,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 19, 2021

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing a steering shaft replaced however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA ID
11429787
Incident
Aug 2, 2021
Mileage
12,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 10, 2021

DRIVE ASSIST OCCASIONALLY SWERVES OUT OF LANES AT PARKED VEHICLES, PEDESTRIANS, AND EVEN CARS IN ON COMING LANES. HAPPENS INCONSISTENTLY AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. WHEN THE CAR IS PERFECTLY CENTERED WITH DRIVE ASSIST ON, YOU BEGIN TO LET YOUR GAURD DOWN. WHICH IS WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT YOUR CAR TO FORCIBLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT AN UNSUSPECTED BICYCLIST.

NHTSA ID
11407337
Incident
Aug 19, 2020
Mileage
30,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PETERSON TOYOTA OF SARASOTA (7435 S TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA, FL 34231, (941) 924-7700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CABLE ASSEMBLY AND THE COLUMN SUB-ASSEMBLY, BOLTS, STEERING LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SERIAL CABLE - CHECK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HIM THAT AN ALIGNMENT TO THE STEERING WAS COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ID
11297299
Incident
Jan 18, 2019
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Aug 25, 2019
Crash reported

AFTER ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY, I EXPERIENCE A FAULT WITH THE AUTOMATED DRIVING ASSIST SYSTEM WHICH DURING A MERGE OF TWO HIGHWAYS IN CALIFORNIA; AND FAILURE OF ROAD STRUCTURES ALLOWED AN OLDER PASSENGER TRUCK TO HIT THE TOYOTA'S DRIVER'S REAR TIRE AND WHEEL WELL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT EVASIVE, DEFENSIVE OR WARNING FROM THE 2020 COROLLA HYBRID'S

NHTSA ID
11246259
Incident
Aug 24, 2019
Mileage
3,025 mi

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .