NHTSA Complaint #11668361 — 2024 TOYOTA COROLLA

Vehicle Information: * Make: Toyota * Model: Corolla Hybrid AWD * Model Year: 2024 * Current Mileage: [14,000] * Mileage When Problem Noticed: ~8,000-9,000 miles Incident Description: My 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid AWD has a severe steering defect. After a right turn, the steering wheel consistently fails to return to center, remaining 5-15 degrees (up to 20 for sharp turns) off-center to the right. It does not self-correct. Occasionally, this also occurs after left turns, but less frequently. The vehicle requires constant, active manual correction to stay straight. If I release the wheel, the car can drift right, posing a significant collision risk. The steering feels "floaty" and lacks the expected resistance to return to center. This issue began abruptly around 8,000-9,000 miles. Multiple dealership visits and alignment checks have not resolved it. No prior accidents or modifications. The Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) system functions smoothly, keeping the car centered. However, immediately after disengaging LTA, the manual steering defect reappears, indicating an underlying mechanical problem, not an electronic one. Safety Concern: This defect creates a serious safety hazard. It demands constant driver attention and effort, leading to distraction and fatigue. This compromises directional stability and significantly increases accident risk, as the car will veer off course if not continuously corrected. I urge NHTSA to investigate this defect. Similar "sticky steering" or "poor return to center" issues are reported in other modern vehicles, and Toyota itself issued CSP 22TE02 for a related "slower to return to center" issue in 2018 Camry models, proving this is a known type of defect, not normal operation.