2005 TOYOTA COROLLA Steering Problems

Complaint Against Ben Nielsen Skyline Automotive – Faulty Repairs & Lack of Response I am filing a complaint regarding incomplete and faulty repairs performed on my household’s 2005 Toyota Corolla CE at Ben Nielsen Skyline Automotive on November 22, 2024 (Invoice #1 attached) and January 3, 2025 (Invoice #2 attached). During my first visit, the mechanic identified an oil leak, added dye to locate the source, and instructed me to return after 100 miles for further repairs. I followed these instructions and returned on January 3, 2025, when the shop also adjusted the tie rod and installed new rear brakes. At the time, I trusted that the work had been completed to a professional standard and that my vehicle was safe to drive. However, during a visit to Shirlington Shell on February 22, 2025, for an unrelated inspection (Invoice #3 attached), their mechanic raised serious concerns about the quality of...

WHILE I WAS GOING INTO A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE KEEP GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE LOSING ALL CONTROLS, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING THE CAR TO SLAM INTO THE CURB. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,272.

MY CAR ONLY HAS 54000 MILES AND SINCE LAST 2-3 WEEKS, ITS STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME SO STIFF. WE DID THE POWER STEERING FLUSH AT 33,000 MILES (AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNER MANUAL) AND IT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL THIS MONTH. BASED UPON THE ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 COROLLAS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HARDWARE PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

MY HUSBAND BOUGHT MY 2005 COROLLA AS A WEDDING GIFT. IT WAS SLIGHTLY USED BUT BOUGHT FROM ONE OF THE BEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN OUR TOWN. IT HAD APPROX. 18000 MILES WHEN I GOT T IN FEB OF 2007. IT WAS VERY BASIC AND A STANDARD. THE SHIFTING/CLUTCH NEVER SEEMED RIGHT FROM THE START BUT I LEARNED HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. IN FEB OF 2010, I WAS LEAVING WORK AND WAS A FEW MILES FROM HOME. I HAD NEVER IN MY MANY YEARS OF DRIVING HAD A WRECK. THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND AS I TRIED TO BRAKE,MY CAR SEEMED TO SPEED UP AND WENT RIGHT UP UNDER THE TRUCK. THE WHOLE FRONT END SMASHED RIGHT UP TO THE WINDSHIELD YET THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. INSURANCE DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS BUT IT WAS RIGHT AT THE POINT WHERE I STILL OWED...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA AVID-ASCEND TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED NO FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AT HIGH SPEEDS. ..UPDATED 08/21/2012 *JS UPDATED 08/23/12 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER OFF INTO ANOTHER LANE AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SIGNS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL. ONCE THE ENGINE RECOVERED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED AND TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO ITS ORIGINAL LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

WHEN REACHING HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50 MPH AND ABOVE) THE STEERING LOSES SOME CONTROL. BECOMES WOBBILY AND CAN SHIFT AND JOLT RIGHT TO LEFT SUDDENLY.

WHEN DRIVING MY COROLLA ON THE HIGHWAY, IN WINDY CONDITIONS, IT IS VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR IN LANE AND THE DRIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE 210 FWY GOING EAST. I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE AND THERE WAS A BIG RIG TO THE RIGHT OF MY VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR BEGAN FISH TAILING. I WAS FIGHTING HARD WITH MY STEERING WHEEL AS TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE BIG RIG NEXT TO ME. I NEARLY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND AGAIN OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR BEGAN FISH TAILING VIOLENTLY WORSE THAN BEFORE. AT THAT TIME I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT, SPINNING MY CAR AROUND INTO THE CARPOOL LANE IMPACTING THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER AND BOUNCING OFF CAUSING THE REAR OF MY CAR TO SWING AND HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER A SECOND TIME . THE CAR THEN CAME TO A STOP LEAVING MY...

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35MPH ON A 50MPH ROADWAY, ANTICIPATING TO STOP OR STEER OFF THE ROADWAY, MY 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO STOP OR STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SOFT SHOULDER TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE STOPPED AHEAD OF ME. ONCE I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE STEERING MECHANISM BECAME NON RESPONSIVE AS THOUGH BOTH BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED. I WATCHED MY VEHICLE CONTINUED ON ITS FORWARD TRAJECTORY UNTIL IT SLAMMED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT THE RED LIGHT. IN ADDITION, ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE AIR BAG ON THIS VEHICLE TO DEPLOY AT IMPACT AT THIS SPEED. TO MY SURPRISE AND THAT OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER FROM TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY, I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE VEHICLE AS NEITHER THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG NOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

I OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA IT WAS WRECKED IN MAY OF 2009 THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THE CAR I TOLD MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHAT HAPPENED BUT THEY DID NOT CHECK INTO IT . I HAVE CALLED THE TOYOTA COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME TO WRITE A LETTER I ALSO HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL ATTORNEYS. I AS OF RIGHT NOW HAVE NO OTHER WAY OF TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT PAY THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY. *TR

TL*THE 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED SINCE THERE WAS A FEE INVOLVED. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE ACTIVATED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000. UPDATED 3/12/10 *CN UPDATED 06/18/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND LOCKED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE SECOND TIME SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED. NONE OF THE REPAIRS CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED USED AT 21,000 MILES. SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 7 TIMES FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND SOMETIMES TO THE LEFT, BETWEEN 40 TO 65 MPH. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE HIGHWAY CONDITIONS HERE IN CALIFORNIA, BUT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON MOSTLY SURFACE STREETS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND THE SAME ISSUE KEEPS OCCURRING. ALSO, IN REVERSE THERE IS A LARGE KNOCKING SOUND AND ACCELERATION WHEN IT IS COLDER THAN 50 DEGREES. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2005 COROLLA SE FEBRUARY 2009. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTICED THAT IT VEERED HEAVILY TO THE RIGHT AND THOUGHT MAYBE THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THAT IT WAS OK. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED SO I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT "ALL TOYOTAS VEERED TO THE RIGHT" AND THAT DOING AN ALIGNMENT WOULD NOT HELP ANY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS HAPPENS ON ALL ROADS AT ANY SPEED, NOT JUST HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT VEERS AT 25 MPH AND THE TECH ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WONT VEER IF I DON'T ACCELERATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC IN THAT. IT SEEMS TO ONLY BE GETTING WORSE I HAVE TO HOLD MY STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 10 DEGREES TO THE...

TL*THE CONTACT HAS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHENEVER THEY WERE ENGAGED. THE BRAKES PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 10 MONTHS. THE TIRES ALSO HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT HAS HAD SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS. THE FIRST TIME THE TIRES AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED, THE MILEAGE WAS 12000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42999.

TOYOTA COROLLA, WIFE COMPLAINED ABOUT INLAWS CAR STEERING BEING SLOPPY SOMETIMES. I DROVE IT TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEM. DRIVING IN STRAIGHT LINE NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING SLALOM FASHION STEERING FELT VERY SLOPPY AND SUSPECTED POWER STEERING. BROUGHT BACK TO HOME AND DID A CHECK OF TIRE PRESSURE WHICH WAS ABOUT 12 PSI IN THE BACK ON BOTH SIDES BUT FONT PRESSURE WITHIN SPEC. ADJUSTED THE REAR TIRES AND PROBLEM DISAPPEARED.. I HEARD OF NHTSA INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM AND WANTED TO REPORT MY FINDINGS THAT LOW PRESSURE CAN SEVERELY EFFECT THE STEERING ON THIS MODEL. *TR