NHTSA Complaint #11477342 — 2021 TOYOTA VENZA

It was raining, I was driving in the far left lane next to the center divider. I noticed the car in front of me drive through a significant collection of water that was the width of the entire lane. I was unable to switch lanes, so I slowed down and went through the water as well. As soon as my Venza came to the collection of water, my steering wheel locked up. I was unable to direct the car in the opposite direction of the pull. I was not able to move the steering wheel at all. The car continued to go in it’s own direction, despite me pumping the brakes. The Venza spun out, hit another car before it crashed into the concrete center divider. As a result I smashed my head on the driver’s side window. My driver’s side air bags NEVER deployed. No air bags in the entire car deployed. After hitting the center divider my car ended up in the car right lane. My car was towed from the scene of the accident, it was not drivable. The insurance adjuster originally totaled the car, then they changed their minds and said the car can be fixed. It’s been 3 months and my car is still in the shop. There were no warning lights, it was a brand new car, I had it less than 6 months. I could have died, other people could have died. If the steering wheel didn’t lock up I could have easily maneuvered through the water, like the car did I front of me and like I have done many times in the past with my previous vehicles. If the driver’s side air bag deployed I wouldn’t have suffered such a bad concussion requiring medical attention, neurologist, loss of work and loss of pay.