Toyota has again come under fire, following a further recall of almost half a million vehicles. The recall follows copious reports of steering issues amongst the brand’s large sedan vehicles, largely within the United States. Alarmingly, this problem can cause the steering wheel to lock up mid-drive. Sources allege that there are three unconfirmed accidents, which have resulted from this problem.

Toyota is no stranger to embarrassing vehicle defects, with a series of recalls extending back to the October 2009, which saw 5.3 million cars and trucks recalled due to pedal and floor mat issues. This debacle was followed by numerous other crises, afflicting not only millions of drivers worldwide, but also the brand’s overall market reputation.

The recall will cover 400,000 vehicles sold in the US, most of which are Avalon sedans and a smaller proportion of LX 470 SUV models. The recall exceeds the previous Sienna minivan debacle in April that saw the recall of 600,000 cars, but follows many recalls stemming from various pedal, acceleration, and rusting problems.

Given the announcement of this latest recall, 9.5 million cars in the United States alone will have been recalled by Toyota since last October. Alarmingly, various recalls within this period have extended to 1998 models, meaning that a staggering 39% of Toyota vehicles sold since 1998 have been recalled.

Analysts assert that the problems are not likely to end anytime soon. These sources claim that Toyota’s previous run of growth; increased volume and market share caused the emergence of stark “cracks” in the quality measure system. These cracks are evident not only evident in the US market, but also in other countries such as Japan.

Despite hiring thousands of engineers and quality officers in its major regions, the automaker is apparently still struggling to overhaul the inherently flawed quality control measures. Representatives nonetheless claim they are working diligently to address safety issues and strengthen quality measures. The move follows the extensive criticism leveled at the brand earlier this year regarding its slow response to fundamental vehicular problems. The US Government backed this claim, slapping the brand with a $16.4 million fine for failing to alert the government to the defects in a timely fashion.

It seems the once-smitten consumer base isn’t so strong, with 200 accident lawsuits currently filed against the company in the US and waning resale and stock values. However, drastic discounts and promotions are seeing buyers being slowly lured back into Toyota showrooms.

Here’s to hoping Toyota makes good on its promises to return to that “oh what a feeling” quality it once boasted.