NHTSA complaint: 2002 TOYOTA ECHO — WHEELS
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
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation