NHTSA Complaint #10550072 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 65 IN INDIANA ON A WINDY DAY AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING MY CAR IN MY LANE. THE CAR WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I HAD TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT TO KEEP IT ON THE HIGHWAY. I SLOWED DOWN AND IT DID NOT HELP. FOR A WHILE I HAVE HEARD A CLUNK NOISE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WHEN HITTING A BUMP. I THOUGHT THE NOISE WAS A BROKEN STRUT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP TODAY (MIDAS) IN HAMMOND INDIANA AND THEY SAID THE NOISE WAS PROBABLY FROM A LOOSE TIE ROD. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME HE COULD MOVE THE FRONT WHEEL WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE AIR 1 TO 2 INCHES TO EITHER DIRECTION LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL OR FRONT WHEEL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE TIE ROD HAD OVER ONE INCH OF PLAY GOING INTO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED AT 41,128 MILES. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. MY CAR IS NOW AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER GETTING A BRAND NEW ELECTRIC RACK STEERING GEAR BOX AND TIE ROD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *TR