Power Steering Light On problems of the 2009 Toyota Corolla

Electronic power steering in my 2009 Toyota Corolla becomes noticeably loose and will drift to one side while driving. I notice the steering wheel become less responsive after pulling into/out of a driveway, over train tracks, pothole, anything that provides shock to the vehicle with throw off the steering control, but it could be a flat straight road and the vehicle will drift. The steering control is so loose that one must constantly be adjusting the steering wheel to prevent the vehicle from drifting. I had my alignment adjusted 3 times over the past 3 weeks thinking something may be wrong with it, but the technicians stated that alignment was within spec. I purchased new tires (and balanced tires) and the drifting still occurs. Found this technical service bulletin TSB-0140-10 and it is exactly the same drift like crosswind pushing the vehicle. I called a Toyota dealership and spoke to a service technician who stated that the authorized solutions was to replace the ecu with a different ecu part number, calibrate steering wheel centering and again align the wheels for the new ecu. If they give replace it with a different part number why isn't this a safety recall, since they are not replacing it with the same defective part number? someone at Toyota is clearly aware that the old part number is no good. If the vehicle steering goes out even slightly while the vehicle is in motion, why is that not considered a safety recall? no preventative maintenance can prevent this, only a Toyota service center can repair this. This would only be covered by Toyota warranty if the issue was reported within 36 months or 36000 miles, even though a settlement was reached with Toyota in July 2015 that closed the issue with the NHTSA. The Toyota dealership quoted me an out of pocket repair cost of $1200, for something that they know is a problem with the steering control.

Unable to gradually and safely correct vehicle path. When attempting to correct path (stay in the center of my lane), a minute movement of the steering wheel over-corrects and much too quickly moves the vehicle in the direction you are attempting to steer. I have practiced making my steering movements even slighter, but this is much too tedious and one could very easily steer into oncoming traffic. Please note: this is not an issue at speeds below 45 mph, but is dangerous at speeds above 60 mph.

2009 Corolla seems to float all over the road and can't keep it straight. Just today the electric power steering sensor light came on. Until now I thought it may have been the wind or my tires. I purchased new tires but still the same problem of wondering all over the road. I experience this at all speeds.

The electronic power steering in my 2009 Toyota Corolla is very light and too responsive. Since the vehicle was new, the steering requires constant slight corrections to maintain a straight line at highway speeds. Consumer reports also noted in their July 2008 issue in their review of the 2009 Corolla that "the steering is a bit light and rather vague on center. ".

The car oversteered and fishtailed yesterday when I was making a left turn. As a result, I almost crashed into another car in the lane to my right. I was going about 25 mph or less on dry, normal asphalt pavement, in normal weather conditions, after freeway driving in los angeles CA. In a separate incident, I found the steering to be dangerously vague when I was driving around 70 mph downhill on a steep and curvy mountain highway (I-15 in nevada, about 100 miles south of las vegas) in dark. The car was difficult to control, with the steering being extremely light and vague. I checked the wheel vs. Tire movement of my car. It doesn't appear to be an excessive freeplay issue -- in fact there was no freeplay. It appears that they made the steering way too light and, on top of it, very nonlinear -- that is very slow steering response at the center. Because of this the car doesn't immediately steer unless you turn the steering wheel about two inches. I'm sure Toyota did this with safety in mind -- so that the car can't be suddenly steered -- but the end result was unsafe steering instead. It's unsafe because the steering is so vague that people can unintentionally turn the steering wheel without not immediately changing the car's direction but then in a second or two car may veer out of control.

2009 Toyota Corolla steering is extremely light and requires constant correction to hold a straight line. Even on a calm day it is like driving in a heavy wind. On a windy day speed must be reduced to maintain control. If you run the tires at recommended pressure it is even more difficult to maintain control. About 32 lbs is optimum but still work. This way since purchase. If you lit the steering drift go too far a sudden correction causes an oversteer.

Okay enough is enough. I drove on interstate 75 today in florida speed limit is 70mph. I was going between 65-70 and I came inches to hitting an 18wheeler, thankfully in my attempt to control the steering I slightly veered to the right and of course the Corolla veered a lot more to the right than I intended but at least there were no vehicles in that lane. God was with me. I am aware of my car's steering issue but I cannot drive at 30mph on a highway. Keeping the steering straight is a task all on its own. I'm focusing on the car not veering into another lane and causing a fatal accident when I should be focusing on the road and driving in a normal state rather then a panicky one. I drive this highway everyday and I have been close many times to hitting other vehicles. I really need this to be investigated I am becoming more and more scared every day on my drive to work. Driving in that state of mind is not safe. I'm considering my states lemon law petition program because its obvious that Toyota either doesn't care or probably to busy fixing their other flaws. I'm through with Toyota I just want them to take back their Corolla I can care less about the payments I've made. They need to take their car void my loan because I rather walk and have my life than play russian rullet in that car. This is an everyday incident. And although not physically injured, I am developing a fear of driving with this car on the highway. This is crazy. I am only 25 I shouldn't be frightened of driving my 2009 Corolla.

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. Whenever the contact starts the vehicle he noticed that all brake warning lights and power steering light would appear on the dashboard, moments later the contact would loose all power steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealership to have serviced but the contact does not know what service was performed on the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 3000. Updated 4/26/10 the abs light was was on. Updated 07/19/jb.