is there a motoring safety regulator in the uk

bubblesmoney

Hi

Just need some advice.

My wifes car engine management unit failed just 2 months out of warranty while she was driving in a 60mph road. Luckily she had slowed down for a cyclist when the unit failed and car switched off while in motion and she lost acceleration and steering control while she was driving. She tells me that she tried as hard as she could to pull the steering wheel but the steering wasnt working to get the vehicle to the side. It rolled to a stop on the road. She could only pull it to the side of the road after she re started the car and pulled over to the side with warning lights flashing. The car had had its annual service just about 3 months ago at the Toyota service centre as we always get every service repair and MOT at the toyota centre.
The car is stuck at the service centre for more than a week now due to lack of the part as has to come from abroad.

But i was concerned about the safety issue of the steering failing when the engine management unit failed and havent got any satisfactory answers regarding this safety issue and would like to inform any concerned regulators as toyota seem to be fobbing me off over te last week or so inspite of me raising safety concerns about this issue.

Does anyone know if there is any safety regulator looking into motor safety issues or do i just contact DVLA. Any pointers much appreciated. Thank you.

flashg67

Perhaps VOSA?

Have you considered the possibilty that when the car switched off because of the fault, there would be no power assistance to the steering, lack of which can make steering even an average sized car nearly impossible.

bubblesmoney

both me and my wife have driven vehicles abroad without power steering so know how it feels without power steering.

First time it happened a few days before this time, she said vehicle felt different when all the fault lights came up. They couldnt find anything wrong and cleared fault and vehicle worked fine. Next time with same fault lights coming up, engine stopped and steering couldnt be moved at all, she said she pulled with all her strength and vehicle wouldnt move and rolled to stop in middle of road. Only after restarting could she bring it to the side.

I will look into what VOSA is tonight. Thanks.

BeenThroughItAll

bubblesmoney wrote: »

both me and my wife have driven vehicles abroad without power steering so know how it feels without power steering.

First time it happened a few days before this time, she said vehicle felt different when all the fault lights came up. They couldnt find anything wrong and cleared fault and vehicle worked fine. Next time with same fault lights coming up, engine stopped and steering couldnt be moved at all, she said she pulled with all her strength and vehicle wouldnt move and rolled to stop in middle of road. Only after restarting could she bring it to the side.

I will look into what VOSA is tonight. Thanks.

VOSA is now DVSA.

mchale

bubblesmoney wrote: »

But i was concerned about the safety issue of the steering failing

The steering would not have failed, you merely loose power assistance.

loskie

a car with no power assist fitted feels very different from one with broken power steering. You cannot compare the two.

bubblesmoney

i repeat it happened twice with same fault lights coming on. First time she could steer but she said the car felt different which i guess was the power steering not working and the hybrid system failing and only working on petrol engine. by the time she got to toyota show room and switched off engine, the fault went but restarting the faults came back on and so they kept the vehicle and checked and cleared faults and vehicle worked fine later.
Same problem recurred with fault lights coming on while she was driving in a 60mph zone but slowed for cyclist and then fault lights came on and she couldnt steer at all and vehicle glided to stop in middle of road. Could only restart and then steer to side of road.

bubblesmoney

Thanks, yes i contacted them (DVSA help on twiter is different from dvsa on twitter) on twitter enquiring if they look into this sort of stuff and am awaiting a reply. Toyota have said they will look into this. Vehicle been with them more than a week now.

bigjl

That sounds like the car is going into some kind of limp mode.

Not heard of any other Toyota Hybrids doing it.

Good luck with reporting it to VOSA/DVSA. Though I doubt you will get much back from making a complaint.

But if it makes you feel better trying to warn others then go for it.

Don't forget to update the thread so the problem can be aired for the benefit of other Toyota Hybrid owners.

AdrianC

The car would not have met type approval regulations, so could not have been registered, if there was not a permanent mechanical connection from steering wheel to front wheels. It's that simple. With the engine off, turning the steering wheel DEFINITELY changes the direction - but it will take a chunk more effort to do so.

Restarting the car regained power assistance.

bigjl

Don't all Hybrids have electric power assistance?

So that the power assistance remains when the vehicle is in electric only mode?