NHTSA Complaint #10311508 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA I HAVE NOTICED STEERING DIFFICULT. I READ BLOGS AT THE TIME AND IT SEEMED FROM WHAT I READ, THAT THIS WAS JUST A DRAW BACK OF THE CAR, SO I LET IT GO. I FEEL I NEED TO REPORT IT NOW. THE STEERING FEELS WAY TO RESPONSIVE TO EVEN THE SLIGHTEST HAND MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL, OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION ON THIS MODEL IS SO STIFF, A BUMP IN THE ROAD CAN CAUSE MY HAND TO MOVE A TINY BIT, RESULTING IN THE CAR MOVING MUCH MORE THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM LITTLE MOVEMENT. THE BEST WAY TO SUM UP THE PROBLEM IS THIS; IT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO JUST GO STRAIGHT, OR HOLD THE WHEEL STILL FOR A SECOND. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY MOVE SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT JUST TO KEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR LANE. GOING AROUND CURVES SMOOTHLY IS DIFFICULT AS WELL. IF IT IS WINDY THIS PROBLEM IS 10 FOLD, AND DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS. I HAVE ALREADY SKIDDED OFF A SNOWY HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE CAR SO EASILY FISH TAILED WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT MY STEERING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, HAD THERE BEEN VEHICLE IN THE LANE NEXT TO MINE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIFIC CRASH. IN MY 17 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER FISH TAILED BEFORE. THE ALIGNMENT AND TIRES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FINE. I HAD THE BRAKE RECALL DONE BEFORE THE ABOVE MENTIONED INCIDENT. THERE DOESN'T FEEL TO BE AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. THE CAR DOES NOT PULL. THE STEERING JUST SEEMS FAR TOO SENSITIVE, THIS COMBINED WITH IT'S ODD AERODYNAMIC RESPONSE, AND BUMPY RIDE MAKE THE STEERING FEEL VERY UNSAFE AT TIMES. EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T FEEL DANGEROUS, IT IS TIRING TO HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT JUST TO KEEP IT IN LANE. I'VE NEVER HAD A STEERING ISSUE LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER CAR. THERE IS ALSO THE OVERWHELMING SMELL OF SULFUR IN THE PASSENGER CABIN SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, SEEMS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DOESN'T HANDLE IT WELL. TOOK IT TO A DEALER FOR THE SULFUR ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT'S NORMAL. MAKES ME LIGHT HEADED AT TIMES, ON TOP OF JUST STINKING UP MY NEW CAR. *TR