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 ↗2017 Toyota Corolla steering problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Toyota Corolla have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Corolla | 39 |
| 2014 Corolla | 18 |
| 2015 Corolla | 15 |
| 2016 Corolla | 22 |
| 2017 Corolla (this page) | 13 |
| 2018 Corolla | 5 |
| 2019 Corolla | 8 |
| 2020 Corolla | 8 |
| 2021 Corolla | 5 |
2crashes
1injury
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
Owners of 2017 Toyota Corollas in this cluster describe steering and brake system failures that range from intermittent to severe. Power steering loss is the most common complaint — steering becomes hard to turn or unresponsive entirely, sometimes restoring function after a wait, other times locking up hard in one direction and causing loss of control. One owner's steering locked left during a turn; another's failed during a highway merge at 50 mph, causing uncontrollable veering.
Several owners report interconnected electrical failures: lane departure and pre-collision warning lights flashing on and off, cruise control cutting out, ABS faults, and transmission shaking at stops — all tied together in what appears to be an electrical cascade. One owner took their Corolla to the dealer repeatedly over months; technicians make temporary fixes, but the problems return within months.
One owner lost all power and steering mid-freeway after the battery warning light appeared — steering returned only after pulling into a lot. Another reports brake pedal going stiff while reversing, making the car unresponsive to brake input or gear shifts; the problem cleared after a full shutdown and restart.
The pattern here is safety-critical: owners describe losing steering control, braking failure, and inability to manage the vehicle during normal driving. One incident resulted in a totaled car and a cracked telephone pole. Multiple owners note their VINs don't match available recalls, despite reporting problems they believe qualify.
Same Toyota Corolla steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Loss or Failure
Power steering suddenly fails or becomes unresponsive during driving. Owners report steering wheel becoming hard to turn, uncontrollable veering, or complete loss of power steering function that may restore after a period of time.
When: Various speeds; one reported at 62,000 miles; one at 155 miles; intermittent on wet/rainy conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel suddenly hard to turn or unresponsive; Uncontrollable veering left and right; Complete loss of power steering; Power steering warning light illumination; Loss of steering control that momentarily restores
Codes mentioned: Power steering fault code
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported mechanic mentioned rack and pinion as possible cause; one report of power steering related components replaced after additional electrical diagnosis
Electrical System Malfunction Affecting Multiple Systems
Intermittent electrical system failures affecting steering, braking, transmission responsiveness, lane departure alert, pre-collision system, cruise control, and ABS. Symptoms emerge and disappear without warning; dealership repairs are temporary before recurrence.
When: Intermittent, recurring months after temporary dealer repair
Symptoms owners cite: Lane departure alert warning light illumination; Pre-collision system malfunction warning; Cruise control malfunction; ABS system malfunction; Steering unresponsiveness; Brake pedal stiffness; Loss of electrical power; Transmission shaking/acting out of gear at stop
Codes mentioned: Lane departure alert fault, Pre-collision system fault, ABS fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership has performed temporary repairs multiple times; issue recurs after several months
Steering Lockup or Sudden Steering Lock
Steering wheel suddenly locks or shoots hard in one direction (typically left) causing loss of control and potential curb contact or collision. May occur during turns or while driving straight.
When: Intermittent; reported during left turns and right turns
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or shoots hard to left; Loss of steering control; Steering fault warning on dashboard; Inability to control wheel after lockup; Sudden unintended direction change
Codes mentioned: Steering wheel fault code
Repairs/costs cited: One incident resulted in vehicle being driven home; another resulted in total vehicle loss
Unresponsive Brake Pedal and Stiff Braking
Brake pedal becomes extremely stiff and unresponsive during operation. Brake pedal pressure does not translate to braking action, and vehicle may continue rolling backward even after applying brakes and shifting to park.
When: While reversing out of parking spot
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal extremely stiff; Brake pedal unresponsive to pressure; Vehicle continues rolling backward despite brake application; Vehicle continues reversing after shift to drive then park
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner states there is a 'massive recall on this exact problem' for 2013-2019 Corollas, but their VIN is not eligible for recall
Vehicle Pulling and Shaking During Driving
Vehicle shakes, pulls to one side, and feels unstable especially at highway speeds or when turning. Owner reports multiple dealership visits without resolution.
When: During highway driving, particularly over 60 mph; when turning
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulling to one side; Shaking and vibration while driving; Instability feeling like wind is pushing vehicle; Shaking when turning; Veering left and right
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealership visits (6+) without successful repair
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Toyota Corolla?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 62,317 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2017/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.