TSB: Some 2015 ? 2021 model year Corolla vehicles may exhibit a clicking noise when making turns greater than 90 degrees and accelerating with the steering wheel on full lock, such as when performing a U-turn. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Toyota Corolla steering problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Toyota Corolla have filed 22 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 27,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Corolla | 18 |
| 2013 Corolla | 39 |
| 2014 Corolla | 18 |
| 2015 Corolla | 15 |
| 2016 Corolla (this page) | 22 |
| 2017 Corolla | 13 |
| 2018 Corolla | 5 |
| 2019 Corolla | 8 |
| 2020 Corolla | 8 |
5crashes
3injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: Some 2015 ? 2021 model year Corolla vehicles may exhibit a clicking noise when making turns greater than 90 degrees and accelerating with the steering wheel on full lock, such as when performing a U-turn. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 Corolla steering complaints center on electric power steering (EPS) system failures that render the steering wheel stiff, unresponsive, or completely locked. Owners describe the steering becoming like "manual steering" or "driving a tractor," with the EPS warning light often illuminating. Several owners experienced steering wheel lock without warning at low speeds and highway speeds, in one case leading to a collision after the steering froze mid-turn. Another owner reported the car's wheels disengaging from steering inputs at 35 mph, forcing impact with a wall.
Cold-start stiffness is common; some owners find the wheel immovable for minutes after ignition until the car warms. One owner traced the root cause to a malfunctioning electric power actuator control board that can be triggered by hitting bumps or debris, draining battery voltage.
Beyond outright EPS failures, owners report steering that wanders unpredictably—the car swerves left and right on highways despite alignment service and hand control. The front end feels loose and unstable, with shuddering and wobbling in turns. One independent mechanic identified worn suspension parts; another found the steering module and transmission both failed.
Dealers have been unresponsive. Several owners report being told nothing is wrong despite demonstrable problems. Control arm replacement was attempted in one case without fixing the underlying steering instability. No factory recalls or technical service bulletins addressing these failures are mentioned in the narratives.
Same Toyota Corolla steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Electric Power Steering (EPS) System Failure / Loss of Assist
Power steering assistance fails or becomes extremely stiff, rendering the steering wheel difficult or impossible to turn. Often accompanied by an EPS warning light. Multiple owners report the steering becomes like 'manual steering' or 'driving a tractor.' Some incidents occur cold-start or shortly after engine start; others occur while driving at highway speeds.
When: Cold start conditions; after running; at highway speeds; 25,473 to 75,500 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes stiff or immovable; Power steering assistance lost; EPS warning light illuminates; Steering wheel difficult to turn; Steering behaves like manual (non-power) steering; Delayed steering response after cold start
Codes mentioned: EPS
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite steering module replacement needed; one independent mechanic diagnosed steering module failure requiring replacement; dealer-level replacement parts cost reportedly high; one owner replaced control arms without resolving the issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota stated some vehicles working 'per design'; Toyota notified in multiple cases; recall 20V024000 (airbag-related) noted on one vehicle; no recalls or TSBs specifically for EPS failures mentioned in narratives
Steering Wheel Lock / Seizure While Driving
Steering wheel locks or seizes suddenly during vehicle operation, preventing the driver from turning the wheels. This occurs at low speeds and highway speeds; some incidents involve complete loss of steering control leading to collisions. Owners describe the steering wheel becoming frozen, jammed, or locked with no advance warning light in some cases.
When: 5 mph turning maneuvers; 35 mph freeway offramps; highway speeds; one incident at unknown speed
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or seizes without warning; Complete loss of steering control; Steering wheel frozen or jammed; No or delayed warning light; Vehicle unresponsive to steering inputs; Engine restart required to regain steering control
Repairs/costs cited: One independent mechanic diagnosed steering module failure; steering module and transmission replacement identified as necessary; no completed repairs documented in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; investigator sent to inspect one vehicle; no recalls or TSBs documented in narratives for steering lock failures
Steering Response / Control Inconsistency
Steering response is erratic, inconsistent, or uncontrolled. Owners report the vehicle pulls or drifts left/right unpredictably despite hands on wheel and full control, or the car's wheels do not obey steering wheel inputs. One owner described wheels 'disengaging' from steering inputs.
When: Highway driving; low-speed turns; throughout vehicle ownership; 35 mph turns; after alignment service
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle swerves or drifts left/right on highway; Steering wheel inputs do not control wheels correctly; Vehicle shifts hard side to side in turns; Car wheels disengaged from steering wheel control; Steering wheel not controlling car wheels correctly; Driver must 'battle the car' to keep in lane
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment performed without resolving swerving issue; control arms replaced without resolving underlying problems; independent mechanics noted 'major issues' but no specific repairs documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota control arm replacement offered; stated working 'per design' in one case; no recalls or TSBs mentioned for steering control issues
Loose / Unstable Front End and Steering Play
Excessive play or looseness in front end and steering system, creating a sensation of instability and lack of vehicle control. Owners describe the entire front end and steering as loose, with the vehicle feeling 'uncontrolled' especially in turns.
When: 43,000 miles on one vehicle; ongoing since purchase in multiple cases
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive loose play in front end; Loose steering; Entire frame feels loose; Vehicle shudders and wobbles in turns; Loss of control feeling when making turns; Vibration and wobble in floorboard during turns
Repairs/costs cited: Control arms replaced in at least one case without resolving the issue; suspension parts replaced by independent shop; worn suspension parts documented with photos
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Control arm replacement attempted; no recalls or TSBs mentioned for loose front end play
Electrical Power Actuator / EPS Board Malfunction
The electric power actuator control board (green circuit board) for the electric power steering system malfunctions, causing EPS failure and battery drain. One owner identified this as the specific component, relating it to a known issue in the Toyota Yaris 2005. The malfunction can be triggered by running over debris or bumps.
When: Can occur randomly when car hits bump or debris; post-purchase (March 2016)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes stiff; EPS warning light illuminates; Battery drains excessively (12V down to 9.6V); Electrical static noise from overhead light; Engine dies when power steering fails; Malfunction triggered by running over bump or debris
Codes mentioned: EPS
Repairs/costs cited: Electric power actuator replacement required; part cost reported as high; no completed repairs documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or TSB mentioned; owner notes this is a known issue from Toyota Yaris 2005; manufacturer response not documented
Steering Wheel / Column Electrical Issues (Horn, Cruise Control, Buttons Non-Functional)
Steering wheel-mounted controls and horn stop functioning. SRS airbag warning light illuminates, and steering wheel clicks when turned. Buttons on steering wheel no longer respond (cruise control, horn, etc.).
When: Out of nowhere; same day as SRS light appearance
Symptoms owners cite: Horn stops working; Steering wheel buttons non-functional; Cruise control buttons non-functional; Steering wheel clicks when turned; SRS airbag warning light illuminated
Codes mentioned: SRS
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs attempted or completed; owner notes no apparent cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
My SRS airbag warning light came on out of nowhere. Shortly after that my steering wheel continually clicks when I turn it. And within the same day now my horn stopped working as well as all of the buttons on the steering wheel no longer work including the cruise control. The light never went away and the functions of the steering wheel no longer work when there is no cause or reason for this to…
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Toyota Corolla?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2016 Toyota Corolla?
It's a meaningful issue. 22 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 24,999 and 43,000 miles, with the median around 27,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,999; a quarter make it past 43,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Toyota/Corolla.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.