2009 Toyota Corolla: loss of power steering

Filed Jul 3, 2019 · Steering · 60,000 miles · TX

At highway speed car wanders across lanes. Experienced complete loss of power steering while driving down side street.

Filed Apr 9, 2014 · Brakes, Steering · 23,000 miles · LA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota corolla. The contact was driving 40 MPH over a bridge when another vehicle veered extremely close to the contact's vehicle. The contact crashed into the vehicle and the vehicle then abnormally accelerated. The contact abruptly applied the brakes however, they were unresponsive and the power steering assist then suddenly failed. The failure caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle and spin uncontrollably until the vehicle flipped twice and came to a halt. The vehicle was extremely close to falling off the edge of the bridge. The contact sustained severe bruising to the chest and a fractured left hip. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was inspected by the contact's insurance company but they were unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacture was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.

Filed Dec 5, 2013 · Steering · 70,000 miles · CA

Power steering stopped working suddenly, car veered to the right, became very difficult to steer; dashboard warning light went on. This has occurred up to 20 times, sometimes as soon as the car is turned on, sometimes on the freeway at high speed. If vehicle is in motion, loss of power steering causes vehicle to jump sideways. At times, loss of power steering is preceded by groaning sound. Owners' manual advises stopping the vehicle, waiting until warning light goes out, and taking car to dealer. I have taken car to toyota dealers on three separate occasions. The computer memory shows the warning light going on, but there appears to be nothing wrong with electric power steering unit, and dealer can not duplicate occurrence on a test drive.

Filed Oct 22, 2013 · Steering · 31,890 miles · LA

The power steering went out in a parking lot while turning in to a parking spot and almost hit someone. Had to have the car towed to the dealership. They told me it was working fine now and they could not find a problem. If it goes out again while driving at higher speed turn it could cause a deadly accident.

Filed Sep 27, 2013 · Airbags, Electrical · 55,000 miles · CA · crash

Loss of steering at a right bend in the street, think the power went out to the electronic power assist, car went straight into a sign pole with a large cement base, major damage to front end, airbag didn't deploy, seat belt didn't work and there was no power at all to the car even though the battery was not damaged. Car was recently at toyota dealership for recall to repair to electrical power window problem to prevent electrical fire, oil change and service done at same time, the car has been well maintained. New tires and brakes. Opened a claim with toyota, so far met with apathy and resistance.

Filed Mar 10, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 70,000 miles · CO

Vehicle lost power steering on freeway, all electronic components shut down and I was stranded on the side of the freeway. The car would not start, after $3200.00 in repairs, the mechanic said the pistons looked like they were from a 30 year old car. Regular oil changes, well maintained, this car is not reliable!

Filed Feb 22, 2011 · Electrical, Steering · 9,364 miles · WA · crash · 1 injury

The vehicle would have an intermittent delay upon start up and intermittent power steering "lock up" when making sharp turns. During the power steering failure the vehicle would also lose radio and A/C as if the vehicle was powering down. I took the car to my dealership where I had purchased the vehicle less than a month before these issues. My first incident happened in a parking lot in front of another vehicle luckily, the other driver was paying attention and did not hit me. Another incident happened on an exit off ramp which was a very sharp circular portion of road, the power steering completely went out and I had to "muscle" through the turn, suddenly the power steering was working again which almost caused me to lose control of the vehicle due to me going from using all my might to turn back to the vehicle working properly. My service dealership recalibrated steering torque sensor and found tsb 0182-09 for hard start condition, reprogrammed engine computer and added fuel tank additive per bulletin instructions. I drove the vehicle a few days until once again my car had the exact same issue. Took my vehicle back to my dealership for service again. Service order states; inspect steering operation found eps will cut out and cause radio, headlights to cut out. Scan check record and flag events. Test and recharge battery pass. Open tech line case review data. Zero point and monitor again per tech assist failed after 3 turn. S/o power column assy. Replaced power steering column assembly and also found loose pwr supply wire nut causing voltage drop to system. Tightened nut and test drove. Vehicle total loss in single driver/vehicle accident. My 17 yr old son lost control and hit a tree. He suffered traumatic brain injury and cannot tell me the cause of the accident. I was disappointed to see the results of the federal safety agency power steering investigation. I know for certain my steering complaint was not due to bad driving, how could bad driving possibly cause power steering to lock up and your car to "power do

Filed Nov 29, 2010 · Steering · 48,500 miles · MA

I drive a 2009 toyota corolla s. Starting today I refueled my car and when I started the car again the steering was extremely hard to move. I tried restarting it three times before the steering was back to the way it normally turns. Later that day I started my car again and heard a buzzing from the steering column and the power steering went away again. I restarted the car and power steering was back. Again that day I started my car and proceeded to back up when the power steering went and the wheel locked up turning left as I was backing up. I almost hit a wall in a parking garage and had to restart my car until power steering was regained. I made it back to my office and will drive my car straight to the selling dealership after work.

Filed Oct 19, 2010 · Electrical · 57,600 miles · FL

My 16 year old daughter was driving my 2009 toyota corolla when the power steering went out of the vehicle. She had to steer the car out of traffic and park the car. The alternator on the car had quit working and caused her to loose control of the car. Thankfully she was able to get out of traffic without a collision. The reason we bought a new car was to try not to have problems usually associated with older more worn vehicles.

Filed Jun 15, 2010 · Steering · GA

From when new the car wanders and drifts when at highway speeds. Have tried to get dealers to fix with no success. Went to lemon law arbitration with toyota but was declined. Dealer will only give about $7 -$8 thousand for trade, the car only has 7,600 miles on it. Three or four weeks ago was making a hard right turn when lost steering control and ran off the road and did some vehicle damage. Afraid to let my wife drive the car, have only put 500 miles on it since january 2010. Updated 12/09/10. *lj updated 12/17/10

Filed Jun 5, 2010 · Steering, Tires · CA

I have a number of complaints regarding the power steering on my 2009 toyota corolla. To begin with the steering is extremely unresponsive. At low speeds the steering is extremely loose feeling. This has resulted in a couple of near accidents in parking lots where I was barely able to maneuver out of the way in time. At higher speeds the steering is stiff and difficult to steer. Whether or not your driving fast or slow the steering is sluggish and unresponsive. It is much like driving a car with normal power steering on a sandy beach. You simply do not have proper control. It seems like these problems are getting worse over time as well. I put very few miles on the car and take very good care of it as it is in almost mint condition. There is very little wear and tear on my corolla at 6,500 miles. The extremely unresponsive steering on the 2009 toyota corolla makes defensive driving very difficult. It makes compensating for other drivers actions and mistakes by avoiding them very difficult and is a dangerous vehicle to drive as a result.

Filed Jun 5, 2010 · Electrical · 33,000 miles · CA

Turned on my 2009 corolla after work and battery light was on. I went to test it at auto zone and they said the battery is no good. I called keys toyota and they said bring it up and they will replace it. I made it about 3 blocks from auto zone and power steering went out and brake light come on and car started to chug. I took this car to the nearest toyota dealership where they informed me that its a bad alternator, power steering, and water pump w battery charging issues. This happened all in like a half hour. Battery light never came on before that day. This could have been very dangerous if this would have happened on freeway. Toyota wake up. What happened to quality? My corolla is not even 2 years old and has just over 30,000 miles and this? The dealership did pay for my rental and is fixing this issue free of charge but 4 things wrong in less than 1/2 hour?