2002 TOYOTA ECHO Steering Problems

1. NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER UNTIL EVENT. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 17,000+ MILES ON IT. 2. DRIVING ALONG AT NORMAL RATE OF SPEED, SUDDENLY METALLIC, GRINDING SOUNDS FROM UNDER HOOD (NOT LIKE A BLOW OUT OR TIRE TREAD COMING OFF), SLOWED DOWN TO PULL OVER WHEN CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND LOCKED. HUSBAND PULLED HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED BUT THE WHEELS DIDN'T. NO CONTROL OF CAR WHATSOEVER. CAR HIT GUARDRAIL. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HUSBAND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE WITH HEAD, CHEST, AND BACK INJURIES. 3. STILL HAVEN'T HEARD FROM INSURANCE COMPANY BUT EVERYONE HAS TOLD US THE CAR IS TOTALED. *JB

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A STRAIGHT, DRY ROAD AT 35 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED OSCILLATING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN OUT OF CONTROL OF THE DRIVER. THE CAR HIT THE CURB AND TIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE.

WHEN THE CONSUMER BECAME TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO OSCILLATE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. ONCE THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB IT TIPPED OVER ONTO IT'S SIDE. NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. *PH *CB *NLM