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Biff - I hear ya. I would say my opinion so far is neutral on the car (had it 6mos and put 2K on it so far).
One thing I have changed is my City driving style. When I am going local (mostly 35 or 40MPH roads...basically if I know I m not going to go over 50MPH) I put it in 3 instead of "D" drive. The RPM's kick up a bit and I may not get the best mileage I could, but I like having the RPMS up a little more and for me it makes it a little better experience when driving it IMO. This is just a suggestion and will certainly not cure your ills, but again it seems to me to make it a little better experience in and around town. You might want to try it. Otherwise, it does sound like you're not happy and probably should get rid of it when you can.
If I know I am going to hit the expressway/highway/freeway I dump into D.
You're correct, no EPS Corollas were made for 2008 models. They had numb steering with a hydraulic setup without the help of EPS. :sick:
Sometimes the process/system from start to finish is frustrating. But, when you arrive on your jurisdiction you can look back, smile and tell the process/system - Bite me. From the little guy.
I guess being a squeaky wheel sometimes pay off is some grease. Speaking of which I still need to reply to the NTHSA e-mail I got awhile back with some survey thingy asking me about my filed complaint on this issue. Again, I plan to test drive the the car for a bit more just to make sure. But, I suppose if Toyota wanted me to speed up the process and you know, maybe, put in a good word or two back to the NHTSA in my response they can send me some grease at sjarea's vacation fund, PO Box Squeak Squeak......just kidding.
Thanks to edmunds for hosting, moderating, etc. I may pop back in once to or twice to see what is happening here, but I am glad to say it seems like this is one thread I no longer need to following.
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Your use of the word "recall" was appropriate. Don't you recall all the recent recalls Toyota made, which certainly affected the majority of owners of particular makes/models? There have been many other examples of pervasive problems, e.g. Honda's recall of ALL Hondas and Acuras made between 1986-1991 for a seat belt problem; the recall of ALL VWs made between 1949-69 for a windshield wiper problem; GM's recall of ALL 1971-73 full-sized cars because the bodies tended to scrape the ground causing jammed steering; Ford's recall of ALL 1970-71 Fords, Lincolns, and Mercuries (safety belts); Ford's recall in 2005 and 2009 for 4.5 million vehicles (cruise control); and there's many other big recalls affecting all or most owners of a particular make/model.
It happens.
But since you brought it up... although there is no official recall for the EPS issue, there is a service action by Toyota to address it. How many cars are affected by that action by Toyota? Since it's not a recall, it's hard to know for sure.
Toyotas press room release! Call Toyota experience line
However, the number of people who actually experienced any symptoms caused by the potential defect was quite low. Manufacturers recall vehicles often on speculation that a particular part *might* malfunction based on a statistically relevant sample size indicating that a problem exists (a practice with which I agree). I don't think for a moment that if Chrysler hadn't recalled all of the minivans for the rear door latch issue that a majority of Chrysler minivan owners would've had the rear door latch fail.
That is what I meant by the "majority being affected" - while they may be part of a recall campaign, I still stand by my statement that I have yet to see a specific vehicle-related issue that is actually being experienced by a majority of owners.
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Belittling posters who have issues (and I think everyone here grants that it isn't EVERYONE having true "problems") by insinuating they don't have any problems doesn't help them feel better.
Hyundai has just recalled 2011 Sonatas for a steering issue that hasn't caused any accidents, and has only been reported/documented by 10 owners out of 130k+ vehicles. Toyota wouldn't do the same? I think it'd be in their best interest to do so if a fix is helping those with the problems -- not alleged problems; problems.
Let's say Toyota does recall 2009 Corollas to implement a steering fix. They will likely recall all vehicles of that model year, even though only a tiny minority are experiencing problems. That's my point - there has not been, to my knowledge, a recall based on more than, say, 1% of owners lodging complaints.
The recall itself affects 100% of owners. The problem affects <1% of owners. That's the norm. The recall is done as a preventive measure rather than a curative measure.
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http://autoguide.nascar.com/blog/1042430_toyota-corolla-being-reviewed-for-poten- tial-steering-issue
JUST PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA S ON JULY 23, 2010. THE STEERING DID NOT SEEM RIGHT. AT ONE WEEK I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY GAVE IT AN ALIGNMENT, WHICH DID NOT REALLY IMPROVE THE STEERING. IT IS HORRIBLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY ARMS HURT FROM TRYING TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE. THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME UNTIL I STARTED TO INVESTIGATE, AND FOUND OUT ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. IT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT SWERVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. TRIED PUTTING MORE AIR IN THE TIRES, DOES NOT HELP. I HAVE NOT EVEN MADE MY FIRST PAYMENT YET. I HAVE CALLED CORPORATE OFFICES, AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THEM. WE NEED TO START A CLASS ACTION SUIT.
I OWNED A 2009 COROLLAAND THE ACCELERATOR SURGED IN CHARLOTTE N.C, IN MARCH OF 2010. I TRADED FOR A 2010 COROLLA, THIS CAR HAS AS SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MY INSURANCE AGENT TWICE LAST WEEK, ASKING IF HE HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT STEERING CONTROL. THIS CAR, AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH AND UP MOVES ABOUT THE LANE ABRUPTLY AND IS NOT EASY TO CORRECT. IT IS REALLY EASY TO OVERCORRECT. THE CAR FEELS AS IF THERE IS LOTS OF PLAY IN THE STEERING AND MOVES TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS A CONSTANT ORDEAL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. LAST WEEK I PULLED OVER ALONGSIDE I85 IN SALISBURY N.C. TO GATHER MYSELF. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WARRANTS A RECALL. I'M RELUCTANT TO DRIVE IT, BUT IT IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER
I HAVE A 2010 COROLLA. THE STEERING IN THIS CAR IS NOT RIGHT AND THE THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX .ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WANDERS LEFT TO RIGHT. I AM ALWAYS MAKING SMALL CORRECTIONS TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. THE REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS WHEN ITS WINDY ON THE HIGHWAY A GUST OF WIND WILL MOVE IT ENOUGH WERE ITS BORDERLINE DANGEROUS.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH IT TOOK GREATER EFFORT TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE STEERING EPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DATE THAT THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. REPORT 1007080021 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,966.
CARS ALIGNMENT IS OUT OF WACK. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL TURN ON IT OWN TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID WE CANT DO ANYTHING.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE DROVE THE VEHICLE OVER 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. HE CONSTANTLY HAD TO CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT STAY BALANCED IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS WORSE WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW OR WINDY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER TEST DROVE AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT ON BEHALF OF THE MANUFACTURER TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATOR PERFORMED A VISUAL INSPECTION AND ADVISED THERE WERE NO FAILURES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES WOULD FEEL SPONGY AND WOULD OFTEN FALL FARTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO APPLY STEADY, REPEATED PRESSURE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,100.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME VERY HARD AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. HE WOULD HAVE TO PULL ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTERED IN ITS LANE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RE-CENTER ITSELF WHEN MAKING A TURN DURING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING BOX WAS ELECTRONIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 285 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,270.
I HAVE A BRAND NEW COROLLA 2010 I BOUGHT THIS MAY OF 2010. IF I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY, I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY CONTROL THE WAY THE CAR MOVES. IT WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT IN THE LANE. THE CAR WILL WANDER AND ITS LIKE THE WIND IS HITTING MY CAR. I'M RETURNING IT THIS WEEK, BUT I REALLY HOPE THIS WILL GET FIXED SOON.
THE ODI STARTED AN INVESTIGATION IN FEB. ABOUT THE STEERING ON '09 AND '10 COROLLAS. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE 168 COMPLAINTS AND 6 CRASHES. NOW THERE ARE OVER 500 COMPLAINTS AND 34 CRASHES INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES, AND NO UPDATES. SOMEBODY PLEASE ACTUALLY READ THIS AND LET US UNFORTUNATE TOYOYA OWNERS KNOW WHAT IS GPING ON! THE MATRIX WAS ALSO LISTED IN THE INVESTIGATION, BUT THERE ARE NO STEERING COMPLAINTS FOR THOSE MODEL YEARS LISTED. I OWN A 2010 COROLLA AND HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT, BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES,AND CALLED ODI AND GOT NO HELP FROM ANYONE. THESE CARS HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WIYH DRIFTING ALL OVER THE ROAD (AS 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS SAY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER) AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HOPE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS KEEP CHECKING UP ON THEM. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR LISTENING!!!!
2010 TOYOTA CORROLA STEERING PROBLEM. CAR WANDERS ON HIGHWAY HARD TO HOLD IN LANE DUE TO ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING RECURRING BRAKE AND STEERING FAILURES. REPEATED PRESSURE WOULD HAVE TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,020.
I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SELLING DEALER TWICE AND AN ADDITIONAL DEALER ONCE. I TOOK IT IN FOR WHAT I DEEM AS UNSAFE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WANDERS EVEN WHEN HOLDING THE WHEEL LOCKED STRAIGHT WITH BOTH HANDS. THE DEALERS CHECKED ALIGNMENT AND SAID ITS THE NATURE OF THE ELECTRONIC
No one insinuated that the EPS problem was "minor", what we continue to state is that this problem is affecting only a very small number of late model Corollas.
NOW WHY DON'T YOU ADDRESS THIS FOR ONCE?
You have been reminded on at least three different occassions that your 2008 Corolla didn't even have EPS, so how in the world could it have had this EPS problem ?
From a third party, I'll tell ya, whether you intend it to sound that way or not, you belittle people when using language such as the "supposed" steering issue. You're implying that you don't believe them.
You're right about the '08 having no EPS. They also had no steering feel, but it can't be blamed on EPS; it's characteristic of Toyotas. They ride nicely and handle poorly by relative standards.
How'd that make you feel? You're simply doing it to those who have the problems, just in a more patronizing manner. Two wrongs...
The Corolla I've driven (2010 S model) was completely uncommunicative, as Toyotas generally are. It wasn't unsafe or "problematic" though; it was just an inherent design of the car. I think too many people are confusing the real "problem" with the fact that they don't in-fact drive well (too-light and numb; fine for searching a crowded parking lot but not confidence-inspiring at 70 mph). There are two seperate issues; one that Toyota is addressing due to safety concerns.
Looking at it another way (a rather negative way)... if a problem like unintended acceleration really did affect all owners of a particular model, there wouldn't be many cars left to bring in for the fix. :sick:
You can modify any car and make it handle better or worse.
Clarification - Bottom line is YOUR new Toyota Corolla with EPS sucks
I AM a Toyota loving lurker on Edmunds! I own three Corollas, a "92", a "01" and a "09" and guess what? "I would recommend this wonderful little car to all my friends and family", as you put it. Is there a problem with that? I couldn't be happier with my 2009 Corolla as well as my other two. In fact, last year I just parted with an "86" Toyota Tercel that gave me 200,000 miles and 24 years of great service.
Face it babe, you got a lemon with yours! :lemon: