de autos cars

The Detroit News reports that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration will announce a formal investigation into complaints about steering in the Toyota Corolla Thursday.

As we reported Wednesday, Toyota is considering a recall of the 2009 and 2010 models, which use electrical rather than mechanical steering...converting the steering wheel from an implement which is directly linked to and physically turns the front wheels into a control device that sends electrical impulses to a computer, which then tells the wheels which way to turn, how much and how quickly.

More than 160 Corolla drivers have complained to the feds, many claiming the cars veered sharply and suddenly at speeds above 40 miles per hour. At least 10 injuries have been alleged.

The NHTSA has been investigating the Chevrolet Cobalt for the same sort of issues. It, too, uses electrical steering.

If there is a recall, it would be a big one. The Corolla is not only Toyota's best-seller, but the #1 selling car in the world. 296,000 were sold in the United States alone in 2009.

The Detroit News says the NHTSA reached its decision to announce the investigation this afternoon. More as it happens.