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Sedans Toyota Corolla Toyota Corolla Electric-Assist Power Steering (EPS)
98 messages, Last post on Oct 29, 2009 at 2:09 PM
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I have a 2009 Corolla and I have been having problems with the steering. On highway speed, I feel that the steering wheel suddenly pulls to the right or left but more so to the right and it scares the heck out of me. I have taken it to the car dealership and the mechanic said that there's nothing wrong with it. How can he say there's nothing wrong with it when he only drove it for 7 miles back and forth? I have seen several complaints on the nhtsa.gov website and they all say the same thing. What is going on? I don't feel safe driving the car and I only have it for about 3 weeks now. Please help.
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Replying to: amg1099 (Apr 15, 2009 6:49 pm)
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Replying to: terceltom (Apr 16, 2009 4:59 am) |
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| My 2009 Corolla has almost 12,000 miles. Some will tell you it's something you have to get used to. Not true at all. With my 38 years of driving experience I can truly tell you it's a major problem that Toyota must address soon or there will be accidents because of their EPS. Hopefully not too many casualties but large law suits that Toyota will have to pay and they will have to make changes to the EPS. Big corporations like Toyota only react to one thing, MONEY. I have driven almost every kind of vehicle made. I have been a New York City (Manhattan) yellow cab driver, sanitation worker, tracter-trailer operator, school bus driver, limo driver, auto body shop driver. You name it, I have driven it. The EPS is fine for very short distances. Try to stay straight for more than a few miles on the highway you're in trouble. You are all over the road. This has been my second round trip ride from NY to Southwest, Florida. 1350 miles one way. Very tedious and tiresome to hold the wheel straight. Many times getting to close to other vehicles in nearby lanes. Of course like many of you, bringing it back to Toyota only to be told there is nothing wrong. How many accidents or causalities (God for bid) will it take so Toyota will act on this problem they have. | |
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Replying to: terceltom (Apr 16, 2009 4:59 am) Personally, I don't feel like I should have to adjust to get used to something that is drastically different (in a way that is a step BACKWARDS from Corollas past) from most other vehicles on the road, considering it is at least as expensive as its competitors, and often-times costs more when comparably equipped. If it was improved in handling and people were getting used to having more feel or sharper steering that'd be one thing, but this is reduced feel, reduced accuracy, and reduced confidence on the road. With such light steering, it has apparently become much more likely to get caught in road grooves or be pulled by the grade of the pavement to the left or right, and doesn't track as confidently as the previous model, or its competitors. Just a note though, your car will naturally want to pull slightly to the side of the highway you on or lane your driving in due to the natural grading of the road. To explain, the road is not flat as most will think. To allow for drainage all roads are actually crowned shape to allow for the water to roll to each side. So if on the right side or right lane your car will want to pull slightly to the right because it's lower then the center or left wheel. And if your on the left side or left lane your car will want to pull slightly to the left because it's lower then the center or right wheel. This could be more evident with a car like the new Corolla with the very ease of the new EPS steering. Next time you on the highway see if this is how your car is reacting to the specific lane or side your driving on. Sounds like someone's making excuses for Toyota. All the other systems out there manage to be light enough for gentle parking lot maneuvers (my 74 year old grandmother drives a Civic to the beauty shop weekly, so its certainly plenty light), but have feel, accuracy, and manage not to be thrown around the road like so many owners are complaining about. Sure, you can steer it with your pinky finger (assuming you aren't having to correct for the pull of the road), but then again, I don't consider that "driving."  That's being a passenger in your own car. I understand Toyota is in the business of selling cars, and it is selling Corollas just fine. Toyota also understand what its customers want (to be as isolated and coddled as possible). Every Toyota model emphasizes that by having little road feel, light steering, generally mushy brakes, and overly-lethargic throttle tip-in. To me, they've gone to far with this one though. The 03-08 Corolla rode nicely, had numb but better-weighted steering, and at least it didn't wander down the highway.
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Replying to: denvecsr (Apr 16, 2009 8:49 am)
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Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 16, 2009 9:36 am) Only some Corolla owners might need to adjust to this new technology, others will not and neither will non-Corolla owners, right? reduced accuracy, and reduced confidence on the road. totally disagree, the steering of the new Corolla is more accurate then ever before. There are many ladies that post here that find themselves very confident with their new Corolla. With such light steering, it has apparently become much more likely to get caught in road grooves or be pulled by the grade of the pavement to the left or right Now when I said that it will pull to the grade in the road you said I was just making excuses for Toyota, all cars with quality, light feel steering will pull to the grade of the road. Every Toyota model emphasizes that by having little road feel, light steering, generally mushy brakes, and overly-lethargic throttle tip-in. Totally untrue, Toyota never emphasized they had any of the above. Why would they, that would be like cutting their own throats. Toyota quality and reliability speaks for itself and sells itself. That's why they're consistently in the top two in sales with their Corolla.
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Replying to: terceltom (Apr 16, 2009 12:36 pm) If anyone ever got theirs fixed, please let me know ASAP. Thanks.
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