Toyota Corolla power steering loss problems

Filed Jul 9, 2025 · Engine, Steering · FL

Car has broke down a total of 4 times since I have gotten it from Toyota back in December of 2023. I have a dash-cam now that has footage of the car breaking down. Toyota fails to acknowledge my concerns and comes up with excuses and tells me to wait until it happens more frequently. I would love to have this car inspected, but as Toyota has stated they cannot get the issue to repeat. My safety for others and myself feel uneasy with the whole ordeal as it happens at the most random times. The first few times my car has broke down, the steering wheel locked up and forced itself all the way to the left on its own causing me to hit a curb and median. Manual control over the steering wheel was not possible. Luckily with this occurring both times I was going a slow speed. The other two times I had full control of the wheel but my engine would stop and the engine stopped message would appear on my dash screen. Vehicle has been inspected by the dealership 4 times with no luck on repeating the issue. Breaking down presented a dash message of engine stopped, abs system stopped, power steering stopped and would quickly cycle through warnings and shutdown.

Filed Sep 18, 2024 · Airbags, Brakes · NV

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

Filed Jun 19, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · NY

My vehicle stalled when pulling out into traffic. I lost power steering and electrical and the engine died. The vehicle had to be restarted to continue driving. I was going about 1 to 2 mph when the issue happened. The vehicle was in motion and stalled while other vehicles were in motion putting my safety at risk, had I been going any faster or if there was an increased amount of traffic. I reported the problem to the dealer service center, but they were unable to reproduce it. The vehicle was inspected by Toyota only, no police or insurance. When the issue happened, a warning light appeared on the dash similar to a circle with an exclamation mark inside. There were no messages and no other symptoms prior to the failure.

Filed Jul 23, 2021 · Steering · 31,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was pulling to the left. The electric power steering failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,000. The Vin was not available.

Filed Apr 15, 2020 · Steering · 187,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota corolla. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed. The contact was unable to turn the steering wheel to the left or right. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and the power steering operated as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that an unknown light flashed on instrument panel prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. The contact was informed that the power steering assist was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 187,000.

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 Nov 12, 2018 · Steering · CA

Lost power steering.can not turn left or right

Filed Mar 10, 2018 · Steering · 81,000 miles · OH

This is sporadic, I will try to start the car and it doesn't want to turn over, after several tries, it does. Several times I have no power steering. When driving over speeds of sixty, the car wants to 'wander' to the left and right. I have read this has been a problem with this vehicle since before 2010, talk of recall in 2010 because of the power steering failure. This is happened very often so I can't pick a day, it has been happening for several month

Filed Oct 19, 2017 · Steering · FL

At approx 1730lt today 10/19/2017 car driven from work parked in the drive way no problem at approx 1745 lt started car to leave driveway and no power steering.... Unable to drive car. Will contact dealer toyota of west kendall as this seems to be another ongoing problem with the corolla

Filed Nov 22, 2016 · Electrical, Steering · 92,000 miles · ME

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota corolla. When the vehicle was started, the electrical power steering failed and the steering wheel would lock up. The steering wheel could not turn left or right. After twenty minutes, the vehicle was restarted and returned to normal. The electric power steering warning indicator illuminated and made a beeping sound. Additionally, the ABS and traction warning indicators illuminated intermittently and without warning. The contact also stated that the radio would turn off when changing the stations and the defrost lighting would not illuminate when activated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 92,000.