2005 TOYOTA CAMRY Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Camry. The contact’s brother performed brake repair on the vehicle and added Prestone DOT 3 brake fluid to the brake reservoir. The contact stated that several days later, while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the brakes locked up and the vehicle failed to move. The vehicle was taken to the brother’s residence by her brother while driving and depressing the accelerator and brake pedal simultaneously. The contact’s brother flushed the brake lines however, the failure persisted. The contact’s brother became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24E101000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Steering) from the NHTSA.gov website. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was cross contamination of the braking system and the entire braking system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, AN ITEM FLEW OUT OF A TRUCK WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONTACT MOVED INTO THE RIGHT LANE SAFELY, THEN SAFELY WENT OVER BACK TO THE LEFT LANE. THE CONTACT THEN MANEUVERED THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BLOODY NOSE AND ANKLE INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN VERTEBRAE IN THE BACK AND BROKEN RIGHT ARM. BOTH INJURED REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT DOES NOT REMEMBER IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS PARTIALLY DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY DON'T NORMALLY SENT OUT INSPECTOR ONLY IF THERE WAS A DEATH INVOLVED. A REPORT WAS FILED FROM THE INSPECTOR THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD COME UNDONE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 800 OR 1000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 1,000

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY I TAKE EVERYDAY AS I WAS MILDLY TURNING WITH THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL SPUNG TO THE LEFT AND THE CAR WENT OUT OD CONTROL SPINNING AND ENDED ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER WHERE THAN MY CAR STARTED TO FLIP OVER NONE STOP AND THE AIRBAGS DIDNT NOT BURST OR COME OUT.

Mileage: 190,000

TAKATA RECALL, MY POWER STEERING HAS BEEN LEAKING. 05/2018 I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, I REVERSED OUT AND STARTED TO TURN A LITTLE BIT AND IT STARTED TO MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND KIND OF HARD TO TURN.(2) TAKATA RECALL MY CAR IS OVERHEATNG AS I WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY I STOPPED PUT IT IN NEUTRAL PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SAT THERE FOR 3 MINUTES AND THE DIAL WENT TO EXTREMELY HOT, I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. EVER SINCE THEN IT DRIVES HOTTER THAN USUAL NOT AS HOT AS IT WAS THAT DAY AND I CAN SMELL BURNT RUBBER WHEN I'M DRIVING OR BURNT SOMETHING I'M NOT GETTING GOOD GAS MILEAGE IT IDLES ROUGH AFTER IT'S BEEN WARMED

Mileage: 185

STEERING WHEEL MAKING KNOCKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP , WAS TOLD MOST OF CAMRYS PRODUCED IN THAT YEAR RANGE ARE AFFECTED AND HAVE SIMILAR NOISE. NOISE IS THERE WHETHER IN MOTION OR STATIONARY.

Mileage: 68,034

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 203,000.

Mileage: 203,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW TENSIONER PULLER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

Mileage: 151,000

MY SERPENTINE BELT RECENTLY STARTED SQUEALING, SO I BOUGHT A NEW ONE AND CHANGED IT MYSELF. UPON CHANGING IT, I REALIZED THAT MY CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAD CHUNKS OF RUBBER THAT HAD COME OFF OF IT, AND IT SEEMED TO BE MAKING THE BELT RUB ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK ON ONE OF THE TENSION PULLEY'S. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT IN 2011, TOYOTA HAD RECALLED 402,000 VEHICLES BECAUSE OF A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT PULLEY, THAT CAUSED POWER STEERING TO GO OUT, AND CAUSE ACCIDENTS. HOWEVER, IN CALLING TOYOTA, THEY STATE THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY'S, EVEN THOUGH THE WEBSITE THAT I FOUND INCLUDED 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY'S IN THEIR RECALL LIST. EVEN NOW WITH A NEW BELT ON, THE BELT IS JUMPING BACK AND FORTH ON THE TENSION PULLEY CAUSING THE CAR TO HAVE A "JITTERY" FEEL WHILE IDLING. I FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS BELT IS RUINED AS WELL. I'M NOT SURE HOW CERTAIN MODELS OF TOYOTA CAMRY'S IN 2005 WOULD'VE HAD A DIFFERENT CRANKSHAFT PULLEY, THAT HAPPENS TO BE DOING THE SAME THING THAT MINE IS DOING NOW (RUBBER SEPERATING FROM THE METAL), YET THEY WERE RECALLED AND MINE WAS NOT.

Mileage: 156,830

MARCH 19TH 2016, DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. APPLIED THE BRAKES/EMERGENCY BRAKE. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATED AND I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER FREEWAY. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HIT A CAR THAT WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY.

Mileage: 100,000

A YEAR AGO IN MAY OF 2015, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON HER WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED HER TO CRASH. WE BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC WHO WAS MYSTIFIED, HE SAID HE'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE, IN HIS WORDS, "IT LOOKS LIKE THE PULLEY BENT ON IT'S OWN AND THEN THE BELT CAME OFF." HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD CAUSED THE PULLEY TO GET OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND CHARGED ME ALMOST $500 TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. NEARLY A YEAR LATER, I'M INVESTIGATING BRAKE ISSUES WITH CAMRYS AND I CAME ACROSS THIS RECALL WHICH DESCRIBES PERFECTLY WHAT THE MECHANIC COULDN'T FIGURE OUT. WHY WAS I NEVER INFORMED OF THIS RECALL? MY CAMRY IS A 2005, IT CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. TOYOTA'S NEGLIGENCE ON THIS COULD HAVE COST MY WIFE HER LIFE IF SHE HADN'T NARROWLY AVOIDED THE CRASH THE FAILURE OF HER POWER STEERING ALMOST CAUSED. THIS COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY TOYOTA LONG BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURED THROUGH THE RECALL. I WANT THE COST OF MY REPAIRS REFUNDED BY TOYOTA AND ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS TO GET IT UP TO THE STANDARDS OF THE RECALL PAID BY THEM.

Mileage: 90,000

WHILE DRIVING FROM FRIENDS HOME TO PICKUP KIDS FROM SCHOOL, I WAS GOING ON A 2 LANE ROAD GOING EAST BOUND, CAR WAS TRAVELLING @ 30 MPH ON STARTIGHT ROAD OF SPEED LIMIT 35MPH, ALL OF SUDDEN STEERING AND BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION DUE TO WHICH THE CAR WAS ABOUT TO COLLIDE WITH A TREE HEAD ON, ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE STREERING AND BRAKES STARTED FUNCTIONING AND I TRIED TO AVOID THE TREE COLLISION DURING WHICH THE TRUNK OF THE CAR HIT THE TRUNK OF THE TREE. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE CURB OF THE ROAD

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE STEERING COLUMN MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER AND MORE FREQUENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 35MPH WHEN ROUGH, SOMEWHAT GRINDING NOISES CAME FROM UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR HOOD OF THE 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THESE NOISES CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN I HAD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED, I FOUND I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE BUT WHEN I EXERTED GREAT EFFORT, THE WHEEL DID TURN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO TURN A CORNER AND MOVE INTO A PUBLIC PARKING LOT. AGAIN WITH GREAT STEERING DIFFICULTY AND NOISE FROM BELOW THE CAR HOOD, I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE TO MY HOME AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE CENTER. *TR UPDATED 4/14/16 *JS

Mileage: 78

UPON HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON JULY 30 TH 2014 ON OUR WAY TO LAS VEGAS TO SURPRISE MY FATHER IN LAW FOR 90 YEARS YOUNG I WAS INFORMED BY THE GOOD YEAR SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT WHAT HE WAS ABOUT TO SHOW ME WAS RECALED 2005 9 YEARS AGO! RACK AND PINION STEERING LEAKAGE AND OTHER KNOWN STEERING PROBLEMS. BEING A MECHANIC ALL MY ENTIRE WORKING AND MILITARY LIFE US NAVY .THERES NOT ALLOT OF MECHANICS I DON'T KNOW. FROM THE LEAKY BOOT AND STEERING PLAY THIS WAS A MESS. WHY DIDN'T TOYOTA INFORM ME OF THIS RECALL?. I WILL HOW EVER BRING MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER TO LET THEM SEE FOR THEM SELVES THAT THE PROBLEM IS REAL.AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED 9 YEARS AGO!. ITS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED AND THEY SHOULD HONOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

STARTED NOTICING A WORSENING CLICK IN THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL TURNED INTO A BIG CLUNK. THE WORK COST ME $2000 THROUGH A PRIVATE MECHANIC. I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND MADE A BIG STINK BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER 60K BUT OVER 5 YEARS OLD. BUT THE CAR WAS ALREADY TAKEN APART AND I NEEDED TO GET IT ON THE ROAD FOR WORK. *TR

Mileage: 50,946

THIS INFORMATION IS IN ADDITION TO ODI 10617939 SUBMITTED EARLIER TODAY. THE RACK AND PINION INSTALLED AT 50946 MILES FAILED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE PART AND I WAS CHARGED ANOTHER $450 FOR LABOR PLUS INCIDENTALS. WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF THE REPLACEMENT, CLICKING SYMPTOMS SLOWLY RETURNED IN THE STEERING. I'VE ONLY PUT ANOTHER 12K ON THE CAR SINCE 2011 AND WILL RIDE IT OUT UNTIL THE CLICK TURNS BACK INTO A CLUNK. *TR

Mileage: 65,624

PURCHASED THE CAR ON JULY 17, 2013 IN WHICH I FELT A SHAKING IN THE WHEEL AND A SEVER RATTLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR NEEDED NEW TIRES AND A BALANCE. (THE TIRES WERE BAD-DEALERSHIP WAS SELLING AS IS) PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND HAD THEM BALANCED IN WHICH THE CAR CONTINUES TO SHAKE AND RATTLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO MANY SHOPS AND THEY THINK THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT MAY BE WEARING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY RARE AND WITH THE MILEAGE IT SHOULDN'T BE WEARING. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,207.

Mileage: 45,000

2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEARING NOISE FROM REAR DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE AND DEALERSHIP MECHANIC REPAIRED BROKEN STRUT BUT NOISE CONTINUED. *SMD WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, AND INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE STRUT WAS BROKEN. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO HEAR THE NOISE, SO HE RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.

WHEN I TOOK MY CAR FOR A TEST RIDE AT DEALER I NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL SHOOK AND TOLD THE SALESMAN IT NEEDED TO BE FIXED IF I PURCHASED THE CAR, HE WAS CERTAIN IT WAS JUST A TIRE BALANCING ISSUE AND IT WOULDN'T COST MUCH TO FIX. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO LESS SCHWAB WHO COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD POSSIBLE BE WRONG SO WE PUT NEW TIRES ON, STILL SHOOK, THEN HAD WHEELS BALANCED AND ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES IN FIRST WEEK OF HAVING CAR, THEN REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS, THEN STRUTS, STILL SHOOK, THEN REPLACED BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, YUP STILL SHAKES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STILL SWEAR IT'S JUST A BALANCING ISSUE SO THEY BALANCED THE TIRES, CAR STILL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I HAVE NOW OWNED THIS CAR FOR 1 YR AND TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, NOW I FIND OUT IT MAY BE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I'M AFRAID THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 166,000

A CONSISTENT GRINDING/KNOCKING/CLUNKING SOUND STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS (0-30 MPH). ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSER THAN NORMAL AT ALL SPEEDS (0-65MPH). THE SERVICE ADVISER AT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY, AND THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD TO COVER THE ~$660 COST. A GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALS SEVERAL SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER LATE MODEL CAMRYS. TOYOTA HAS A TSB T-SB-0296-08 TO "GREASE" THE STEERING SHAFT FOR THE NOISE. HOWEVER, BOTH THE DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS A GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THAT THE GREASE FIX WOULD BE TEMPORARY, AND DOES NOT LAST. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE NEWER REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS ARE BETTER DESIGNED, ARE COMPLETELY SEALED, AND CANNOT BE GREASED. SINCE A TSB IS OUT, IT LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

CAR MAKES A CLUNK SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL OR WHEN YOU GO OVER BUMPS. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS NOT GOOD. THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 2002-2006 TOYOTA CAMRYS. *TR

Mileage: 55,517

AT INSPECTION, THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS LEAKING AND WAS VERY LOW ON FLUID. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT BOTH TOYOTA AND THE DEALER CLAIM THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL? YET I FOUND ON THE NET THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. AS USUAL TOYOTA IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF FIXING A KNOWN PROBLEM UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED! *TR

Mileage: 70,472

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT HAD A FEW STEERING ISSUES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE FRONT TIE ROD END AND WAS STILL NOTICING THE CLICK/CLUNK IN THE STEERING AS I WOULD TURN. I THEN TOOK IT TO TOYOTA TO HAVE RECALLS PERFORMED THAT HAD NOT BEEN DONE BY THE PRIOR OWNER AND MENTIONED THIS TO THEM. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS VERY MINOR BUT THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND I DIDN'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THEY PERFORMED THE RECALLS. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART FAILING AND MOST ALL AGREE THAT THE UNIT IS FAULTY AND SOME HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS BY THEIR TOYOTA MECHANICS. I ALSO FOUND WHERE THE RECALL ON PRIUS AND COROLLA'S WERE FOR THE SAME THING. I TEND TO BELIEVE THAT THE RECALL MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED TO OTHER TOYOTA MODELS INCLUDING THE CAMRY. I SERIOUSLY AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY HOWEVER HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS MINOR. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000. UPDATED 02/27/12 *BF

Mileage: 125,000

HEAR AND FEEL "CLUNKING" OR "KNOCKING" NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. *KB

Mileage: 25,000

2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER EXPRESS DISCONTENT WITH VEHICLE REPAIRS AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THERE WAS A NOISE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART FAILED WITH ONLY 33,103 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 33,103

TOYOTA DEALER COMPLETED A 90,000 MILE CHECK AND REPORTED A LEAK ON THE RACK AND PINION WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AREA. DEALER QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $1900 TO REPAIR. A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AND COMPLETED THE ALIGNMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY $900. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THERE WAS SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND SUDDENLY I LOST POWER STEERING AND LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE FRONT PANEL. I MANAGED HARD TO PULL OFF THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS SO HARD MAKE TURNS TO THE RAMP. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE STARTED TO FLUCTUATE. THERE WAS LITTLE SMOKING COME OUT, I HAD TO STOP THERE. IT WAS TURNED OUT THERE WAS A BELT FELL OUT AND MY ALTERNATOR EVENTUALLY DIED. MY CAR IS 4-CYLINDER, NOT 6. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

MY POWER STEERING COLUMN HAS A LEAK. IT WAS FOUND BY THE DEALERSHIP--CONVENIENTLY ONE YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY--THE COLUMN COSTS $1100-1300 TO FIX. I HAVE UNCOVERED MANY POSTINGS ONLINE OF TOYOTA OWNERS WITH POWER STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS -- MANY -- AND I THINK THAT THIS MAY INDICATE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT HAS GONE UNCHECKED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLUNCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING AREA. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Mileage: 46,000

THERE IS A CLUNK, POP, OR KNOCK TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THERE IS A TSB ISSUED ABOUT THIS AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX IT,SAID THE WARRANTY IS OFF. THE INTRODUCTION, WARRANTY INFORMATION, PARTS INFORMATION, AND REPAIR PROCEDURE SECTIONS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT REMOVAL, LUBRICATION, AND REINSTALLATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT INSTEAD OF REPLACEMENT. APPLICABLE WARRANTY ' THIS REPAIR IS COVERED UNDER THE TOYOTA COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY. THIS WARRANTY IS IN EFFECT FOR 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE VEHICLE''S IN-SERVICE DATE. ' WARRANTY APPLICATION *TT

Mileage: 67,717

THE STEERING COLUMN GENERATES A SOUND SIMILAR TO ICE AND ROCKS SLOSHING AROUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE CHANGES POSITION--FROM STOP TO START, OR ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HEAR THIS SOUND. NOTHING DONE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE, BUT SOUND PERSISTS. THE CAR HAS 48,000 MILES ON IT NOW--SOUNDS BEGAN AROUND 35,000 MILES. SUBSEQUENT EMAIL TO TOYOTA.COM TO REPORT PROBLEM. WAS REFERRED BACK TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SE (25,000 MILES) HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR DOES NOT RECOVER WHEN COMING OUT OF A TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL APPEARS TO BIND/LOCK AND DRIVER HAS TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL TO MAKE THE CARE GO STRAIGHT. PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN PRIMARILY WHEN MAKING A LEFT ONTO A SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC, NOT SO MUCH WITH SHARP TURNS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT STEERING IS IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. I DID REPORT ANOTHER ISSUE WHERE A KNOCKING/BANGING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AT RELATIVELY SLOW SPEEDS BUT DEALER SAID THIS COULD MOST LIKELY BE RESOLVED BY GREASING THE ASSEMBLY, AN ITEM THAT WAS COVERED BY A PREVIOUS TSB BUT SINCE THE CAR WAS OVER 3 YEARS OLD, WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IF NOT REPAIRED THE, SOUND WOULD GET WORSE. *TR

Mileage: 25,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE WHENEVER HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, ON TWO OCCASIONS WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. AFTER AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Mileage: 11,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH AND TURNING IN ANY DIRECTION THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CONTINUE TO TURN IN THAT SAME DIRECTION ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/30/10.*LJ UPDATED 01/04/11

Mileage: 100,000

KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, LOUD NOISE. OCCURRED EVERY TIME TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TOOK TO DEALER AND HAD TO REPLACE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, PART #45220-33270. DEALERS INVOICE WAS FOR $503.51 AND AFTER STATING MY CASE THEY CHARGE ME $233.18 "GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT" THE OLD PART HAS BEEN DISCARDED. THE CAMRY HAD ONLY 37,257 MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 37,257

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO FEEL TIGHT BECAUSE OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING COLUMN, STEERING ASSEMBLY AND THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 38,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10

Mileage: 38,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000. UPDATED 08/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/04/10.*JB

Mileage: 48,000

I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND I WAS MERGING TO ANOTHER FREEWAY I WAS ON THE 5 MERGING TO THE 118 AND THAT IS WHERE I NOTICED THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED AND I COULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. I THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TRYING TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR AND GO WITH THE CURVE AND IT WOULDN'T, I THEN HIT HE WALL 3 TIMES AND FLIPPED MY CAR. I DID NOTICE THIS A MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. BUT THOUGHT IT WAS A GROVE IN THE FREEWAY. THIS TIME I COULD NOT STOP OR CONTROL THE CAR. I GET ON THE SAME FREEWAY EVERYDAY IT WAS 5:30 IN THE MORNING ON THE 7TH OF MARCH, I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MILES WHEN I STARTED TO EXCEL THE PEDAL TO CONTINUE ON TO THE OTHER FREEWAY OVERPASS. I HAVE BEEN GOING ON THIS FREEWAY TO WORK FOR 7 YEARS NOW AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT EXCEPT FOR THE MONTH BEFORE. AGAIN I THOUGHT IT WAS A GROOVE IN THE HIGHWAY. I DID HEAR ON THE NEWS WHEN I GOT HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL THAT THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2005 TOYOTA CARS AND THE STEERING COLUMN SNAPS AND LOSES CONTROL. WHICH WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED, I DID CONTACT TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GAS PEDAL THAT IT WAS THE 2006 THAT WAS BEING RECALLED FOR THE GAS PEDAL. THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE FLOOR MAT THAT GOT STUCK UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD NO RECALL ON THE FLOOR MATS. I FEEL IT WAS VERY WRONG FOR THEM TO KIND OF CUT ME SHORT. I DID SUFFER INJURIES, CUTS AND BRUISES NOT TO MENTION TOTALING MY CAR. INSURANCE DID PAY OFF MY CAR, BUT SUCH A HUGE ORDEAL TRYING TO GET MONEY TOGETHER TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE MYSELF A RICH WOMEN I JUST WANT TOYOTA TO KNOW THAT IT WAS A HORRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME AND THANK GOD NO ONE ELSE WAS INVOLVED. ATTORNEYS DO NOT WANT TO HELP ME FOR SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION OF THE ORDEAL I WENT THROUGH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. I AM DOING ALOT BETTER NOW, BUT THEY DID STOP THE DOCTOR VISITS AND THERAPY DUE TO THE FACT THAT I MAY GET NOTHING OUT OF THIS AND HAVE TO PAY THE BILLS MYSELF. *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT" ON A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO HOGAN AND SONS, A WELL RESPECTED LOCAL REPAIR SHOP (LEESBURG, VIRGINIA) WITH A COMPLAINT OF FRONT END NOISE. A TOYOTA TRAINED TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THIS PART NEEDED TO BE IMMEDIATELY REPLACED AS IT WAS FAILING AND WOULD ADVERSELY IMPACT STEERING AND SAFETY. THE CAR COULD NO LONGER BE ALIGNED WITH THIS FAILING PART. THE CAR HAS 73,371 MILES ON IT AND IS USED FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. A VISIT TO THE LOCAL LEESBURG TOYOTA DEALER REVEALED THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART ON MANY TOYOTAS, BUT THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE IT DURING THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. A CLAIM MADE TO TOYOTA AND AN ARBITRATION REQUEST WERE BOTH DENIED. THIS IS ADDRESSED IN TSB--ST001-06 AND TSB--0296-08. IT IS OUR CONTENTION THAT A PART LIKE THIS SHOULD BE WEARING OUT SO SOON--IN FACT, IT IS ONE OF THOSE PARTS THAT ANY WELL DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED CAR SHOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL AND SAFE UNTIL THE CAR IS JUNKED FOR OTHER REASONS. *TR

Mileage: 73,371

WHEN PARKING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS A CLUNKING NOISE,THE NOISE BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE YEARS GO BY. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR IN WHICH A PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN?WORE OUT? UNTIL THIS PAST FEBRUARY. DURING FEBRUARY I HAD TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON MY 2005 CAMRY LE [XXX]; THIS CAR ONLY HAD 44,950 MILES ON IT WHEN I NOTICED THE PROBLEM (FEBRUARY 12, 2010). ON FEB, 25, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO LEXINGTON TOYOTA, (MA 781-861-7400) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I HAD TO GO IN AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND PHYSICALLY SIT NEXT TO THE MECHANIC WHILE HE DROVE THE CAR BEFORE HE RECOGNIZED A PROBLEM WITH THE SHAFT. HOWEVER, IRONICALLY, WHEN I WENT BACK INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I WAS THEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THESE 'INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS WEAR OUT ALL THE TIME' IF THIS IS THE CASE WHY DIDN'T YOU ISSUE A RECALL??? I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $428.14 TO REPLACE THIS PART. (A FEW DAY LATER MY 1999 CAMRY DEVELOPED AN INTERMITTENT TIGHTNESS, OR VERY STIFF STEERING WHEEL BETWEEN 11' O'CLOCK AND THE 2-3 O'CLOCK POSITIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VIN NUMBER ON THIS CAR IS [XXX]; I'M STILL WAITING TO DECIDE HOW OR WHAT TO DO TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM THAT SERIOUSLY EFFECTS THE SAFE DRIVE ABILITY OF THE CAR.) LIKE I STATED, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A STEERING COLUMN ON ANY OTHER CAR I'VE OWNED, AND I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS WITH OVER THREE EVEN FOUR TIMES THIS MILEAGE. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR WARRANTY ONLY LASTS 36,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS, WHICH EVER COMES FIRST, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS; I THINK THAT YOU EITHER DIDN'T ENGINEER THE PART PROPERLY OR DESIGNED IN TO FAIL IN ORDER TO GET THE REPLACEMENT BUSINESS; EITHER CASE IT RANGES FROM NEGLIGENT TO CRIMINALLY FRAUDULENT. I JUST GOOGLED CAMRY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT? COMPLAINTS AND GOT OVER 17,000 HITS. DO YOU THINK THAT'S TOO MANY? I DON'T THINK THAT TOYOTA NEEDS ANY MORE BAD PUBLICITY, BUT PERHAPS ANOTHER STORY OF TOYOTA'S IRRESPONSIBILITY IS JUSTIFIED. WHY WOULD THE SERVICE MANAGER, BRUCE, CLAIM THAT THEY REPLACE THESE ?INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS, ALL THE TIME"? *TR

Mileage: 44,900

LTR FWD FM (WI) RE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN RE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FM OWNER OF A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY, PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY TO CONSTITUENT & FWD RESPONSE TO DC OFC. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. AS A COST EFFECTIVE FIX, THE SHAFT WAS BEING GREASED AND NOT REPLACED. *JB

MY 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOMETIMES HAS ALL OF THE SUDDEN DIVERTED HARD TO THE RIGHT. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED MANY TIMES AT LONGO TOYOTA IN LOS ANGELES BUT I WAS TOLD NOTHING FOUND. IN FACT, THE PROBLEM EXISTS FOR A FEW YEARS THAT MAKES ME DRIVE MY CAR ANXIOUSLY. RECENTLY, MANY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FOUND ON TOYOTA VEHICLES AND I REQUEST NHTSA SHOULD HAVE AN INVESTIGATION. VIN: [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO COMPLETE A TURN . THE DEALER WAS INFORMED AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT NEVER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF WHAT THE FAILURE WAS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY OTHER FAILURES SINCE THEN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60000. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A STEERING PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST $500.00 TO REPAIR. UPDATED 03/22/10. *JB

Mileage: 55,000

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) DURING THE YEARS 2006-2007-2008 I LEASED AND DROVE A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. SHORTLY AFTER I GOT THE CAR I NOTICED THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND I FELT AS THOUGH I HAD NO CONTROL DURING SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR OVER. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE SERVICE DEPT OF MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER DURING VISITS FOR OIL CHANGES, THEY TOOK THE CAR OUT, TEST DROVE IT AND TOLD ME THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I WAS CONVINCED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT NO ONE BELIEVED ME. I HAVE SINCE TURNED IN THE CAMRY AT THE END OF THE LEASE DATE AND WAS VERY HAPPY TO DO SO. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH TOYOTA AND RELAYED THE ABOVE INFO RECENTLY. MY CONCERN IS THAT SOMETHING COULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAMRY AND THAT SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT BE DRIVING IT. I ASKED TOYOTA IF THEY COULD FIND OUT WHO OWNS THIS VEHICLE AND THEY SHOULD BE ALERTED. I NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT; I ONLY ALWAYS FELT SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON ANY MAJOR HIGHWAY THAT WOULD REQUIRE ME TO TRAVEL AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 50 MPH. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE COULD FIND OUT WHERE THIS CAR IS NOW. VIN# [XXX] . *TR

NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION AND WERE REPORTED TO TOYOTA WHO REPORTED COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF BRAKING PROBLEMS AND WERE REPORTED TO TOYOTA WHO REPORTED COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF STEERING PROBLEMS AND WERE REPORTED TO TOYOTA WHO REPORTED COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WERE REPORTED TO TOYOTA WHO REPORTED COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO TOYOTA UNDER CA LEMON LAW IN 2006 OR 2007. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

STEERING STARTED CLUCKING AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES. SEEMS TO BE SLOWLY GETTING MORE PRONOUNCED. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. HE STATED THAT AT 32,000 MILES THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN HE MADE A LEFT TURN. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LEFT TIRE MALFUNCTIONED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 04/05/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT WHEEL WOULD WOBBLE ON SHARP LEFT TURNS. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/02/10*JB

Mileage: 32,000

I GOT INTO MY 05 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL AND AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT RATHER SHARPLY AND THE CAR REMAINED TRAVELING STRAIGHT. I PULLED BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND TRIED AGAIN - THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE DAY AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND COULD NOT GET IT TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A FEW MINOR INCIDENTS OF THE CAR NOT TURNING TO THE DEGREE THAT IT SHOULD WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AN NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

SUBJECT:2005 CAMRY LE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM I WANTED TO FIND OUT WHETHER THERE'S BEEN ANY CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS REPORTED IN REGARDS TO A CLUNKING, POPPING OR KNOCKING NOISE REPORTED IN TOYOTA'S 2003-2006 CAMRY'S AND THE 2004-2006 SOLARA'S STEERING COLUMNS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, OR GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. MY 2005 CAMRY LE BEGAN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM BACK IN EARLY 2008 AND IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. I TOOK MY CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AT HARBOR AUTO CENTER IN COSTA MESA, CA ABOUT A YEAR 1/2 AGO TO GET THE PROBLEM CHECKED. (I DON'T TRUST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPAIR SERVICE OR THEIR PRICES). UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION HE WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND EVEN FOUND A TOYOTA TECHNICAL SEVICE BULLETIN TITLED "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE", REFERENCE # ST001-06, DATE OF ISSUE 2/16/06 THAT OUTLINED THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING COLUMN. I THEN CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT SINCE MY CAR WAS PAST THE 72,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME. OBVIOUSLY TOYOTA CORPORATION IS VERY AWARE THAT THERE IS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT ON THESE TWO MAKES & MODELS, SINCE EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE SERVICE BULLETON. EVEN THOUGH MY MECHANIC THOUGHT MY CAR WAS PROBABLY OK TO DRIVE, I AM VERY CONCERNED, BECAUSE THE CLUNKING NOISE IS GETTING MORE PRONOUCED THE LONGER I DRIVE THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL, GO OVER SPEED BUMPS OR BRAKE AND TURN. I'M NOT SURE WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE TO GET THIS FIXED, BUT WITH ALL THE CURRENT PROBLEMS TOYOTA IS EXPERIENCING, IT MAKES ME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEPENDABILITY OF MY OWN CAR. FROM NHTSA WEB SITE. *CN

WHEN BACKING UP, DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, A CLICKING OR DULL CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURRENCE IS REGULAR. AT FIRST THIS WAS EXPERIENCED 36K MILES, AT THAT TIME REPAIR WAS DONE UNDER THE WARANTY. UNCLEAR IF THE PART WAS REPLACED OR REPAIRED. NOW SAME OCCURED AT 72K MILES, WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND NO PEPAIRS NEEDED TO BE DONE *CN

WHEN BACKING UP, DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, A CLICKING OR DULL CLUNK CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURRENCE IS REGULAR. NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE TOYOTA VEHICLE FORUMS AND TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB #ST001-06 DATED FEBRUARY 16, 2006 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AS THE CORRECTIVE ACTION. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUM COMPLAINTS OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, THERE IS A TREND DEVELOPING FOR VEHICLES THAT HAVE MORE THAN 40,000 MILES. FAILURE OF THE SHAFT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (STEERING) ON 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. CAR HAS ONLY 36K AND "CLUNKING NOISE. ONLY REAL FIX IS TO REPLACE SHAFT. STARTED TO READ ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THIS MODEL/YEAR. IN SHORT, THE PART APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE AND THE POSSIBILITY FOR STEERING FAILURE IS PRESENT. NO INJURIES TO REPORT; HOWEVER, THE POTENTIAL FOR STEERING FAILURE IS PRESENT. ASKING THAT NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS MATTER TO PREVENT POTENTIAL DISASTER. *TR

Mileage: 36,500

CLUNK IN STEERING WHEEL HAD TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AT 41,000 MILES STARTED THE NOISE AT 36,000. THERE ARE SEVERAL TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE AND NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY OR NOTIFY THE CONSUMER OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

I AM HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL. I ONLY HAVE 45,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY THEY TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ASAP; WITH THE COST OF $500 DOLLARS. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE I SEE THAT THERE IS SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM/COMPLAINT. THEY ALSO HAVE A TOYOTA CAMRY. I TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP PREVIOUS WITH COMPLAINTS, OF COURSE BEFORE MY WARRANTY WENT OUT AND TOLD THEM THAT I FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS PULLING AND WAS STEERING WEIRD. THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. WELL I'M SURE IT WASN'T NORMAL, AND NOW I DON'T HAVE A WARRANTY ON MY CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE! THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SHELBY DURFEE *TR

Mileage: 45,000

IMPENDING FAILURE OF INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS THAT CURRENTLY CAUSES 'CLUNKS' IN STEERING BUT IS PROGRESSING AND COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF STEERING SHAFT AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE OR BINDING OR LOCKING OF STEERING ASSEMBLY. TOYOTA HAS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM TO REPLACE FAULTY DESIGN, BUT ONLY EXTENDS THAT DURING THE ORIGINAL 3/36 WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THUS FAR TOYOTA IS OF LITTLE OR NO HELP. ANECDOTALLY, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS SERIES OF CARS AND SEVERAL OTHER LINES OF TOYOTAS OF SIMILAR VINTAGE. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR 2 YEARS.. THE STEERING COLUMN (SHAFT TO THE WHEEL) VIBRATES AT TIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN GOING OVER CERTAIN OR DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE ROAD... IT IS LIKE A RATTLE VIBRATION. IT IS NOT CONSTANT BUT IS THIS NORMAL?? IS IT A DEFECT?? SHOULD IT VIBRATE AT ALL??? *TR THE CONSUMER FELT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE INFORMED HIM ABOUT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE HE PURCHASED IT. UPDATED 03/12/10

THE STEERING ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY LE 2005 MAKES A PERSISTENT CLUNKING NOISE. WE HAVE NOT HAND ANY INJURIES BUT ARE SCARED TO TAKE THIS CAR ON THE ROAD ESPECIALLY LONG DISTANCES. THE TIRES WEAR OUT QUICKER AND THE ALIGNMENTS DO NOT LAST. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

PURCHASED NEW 2005 CAMRY SE. IMMEDIATELY REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH SEVERE PULLING TO THE LEFT (ACROSS LANES IF NOT HOLDING STEERING WHEEL FIRMLY.) ALSO, COMPLAINED OF INTERMITTENT HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH. AS IF SOMEONE HAD HIT THE CAR FROM REAR. THIS CAUSES A BROAD PERIOD OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION AS THE DOWNSHIFT OCCURS AND THE REVS INCREASE. THE TIRES ALSO WORE OUT AFTER 8,000 DUE TO PULL. TOOK TO NUMEROUS REPAIR FACILITIES AND THEY ALL SAID THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETINS. CAR NOW HAS 40,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS OUT OF WARRANTY AND TSBS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR ONE YEAR. APPLICABLE TSBS ARE: ST005R-01, TC003-05, AND ST002R-04. OTHERWISE LOVE CAR. HAVE HAD OVER 12 TOYOTAS AND THIS IS FIRST WITH A PROBLEM. *TR

THE STEERING OF THE CAR WAS SLIGHTLY BUMPY, WAS NOT EVIDENT IN THE BEGINNING. AFTER FEW MONTHS OR SO OR CLOSE TO 42K MILES THE STEERING BEGAN TO MAKE SOME BUMPY NOISES. WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY . WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY DEALER EVEN DURING MY VISITS TO THEM WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO CHANGE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FOR $500+. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON ONE OCCASION, THE WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, BUT THE WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ANOTHER OCCASION. SHE JIGGLED THE KEY AND STEERING WHEEL UNTIL THE STEERING COLUMN UNLOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SHE SHOULD CONTINUE TO JIGGLE OR "PLAY" WITH THE STEERING AND THE KEY UNTIL SHE IS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION TO START. THE WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN, BUT SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN AND CHARGED THE CONTACT $75. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DIAGNOSED FOR $65 AND STATED THAT THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Mileage: 34,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND. HE ALSO FEELS A SLIGHT BUMP ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,147 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Mileage: 15,000

HEARD A THUMPING NOISE IN THE DRIVE SHAFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WOULD NOT GO AWAY, TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO LOOK AT. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY A TOYOTA DEALER THERE IS A PART IN THE DRIVE SHAFT THAT LINKS TO THE CONTROL ARM OF THE WHEELS, THIS PART HAS FAILED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND DISABLED MY ABILITY TO TURN MY WHEELS, AND CAUSE A DEADLY ACCIDENT, TOYOTA MOTOR CORP, HAS FAILED TO NOTIFY THERE CUSTOMERS OF THIS TSB BULLETIN, AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL ITEM. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE HAD OVER 100 AND 1000'S OF 2005 CAMRY'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE KILLED OR TOYOTA SUED TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED. THE PART IN THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED, THERE IS A TSB ON THIS, BUT TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIX THIS DUE TO THAT MY CAR HAS OVER 36K MILES ON IT, AND UNDER 50K, NOT ONE PERSON AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WOULD FIX THIS FOR ME, WITHOUT CHARGING ME, YET THIS PART HAS BEEN PUT ON A TSB BULLETIN. THE DEALERSHIP NOR TOYOTA DID NOT INFORM ME OF THIS SITUATION. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, YET THE LACK OF TOYOTA TO DUE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I TOOK MY CAR TO PRIORITY TOYOTA, BECAUSE THE SERVICE BEING PROVIDED BY THE OTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA WAS SUBARU. I DO NOT BLAME PRIORITY TOYOTA FOR NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM, IN FACT THEY WERE THE VERY FIRST DEALERSHIP TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE OTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH I TOOK MY CAR TO THESE OTHER DEALERSHIPS FOR SERVICE. FIRST TEAM TOYOTA WAS THE MAIN DEALER THAT SERVICED MY CAR WHEN THERE WAS LESS THAN 36K MILES ON IT. I USE TO BRING IT TO THEM AND HAVE THEM CHECK EVERYTHING, AND THE ONLY TSB THEY TOLD ME ABOUT WAS THE BELT PULLEY, TSB, WHEN I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY OTHERS, THEY SAID THAT WAS IT. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL "CLICKS" WHEN CHANGING DIRECTION. THERE IS ALSO AN INCESSANT AND RANDOM VIBRATION THAT FEELS ALMOST LIKE "DRIVING OVER BUMPS" ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE IS ALSO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER DID NOT COVER THIS UNDER THE TSB, BUT INSTEAD CHARGED ~$500 FOR THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT. CAR IS 2005, WITH 44K MILES. *TR

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO ODI NO. 10172668 ON THE STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT. WHEN THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND THE DEALER COULDN'T DIAGNOSE IT, I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA CORP. THE DEALER REVISITED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE STEERING RACK (UNDER WARRANTY). THE CAR DRIVES GREAT AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 6,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD AND EXCESSIVE PLAY OCCURRED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 1/29/2007 - *NM

Mileage: 55,000

WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY SIX MONTHS OLD, THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. SO, I HAD TO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WORK DONE (UNDER WARRANTY). AFTER THE REPAIR THE NOISE STOPPED, BUT THE STEERING STILL DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT TO ME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY DROVE THE CAR AND INSPECTED THE STEERING SYSTEM AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. NONETHELESS, I AM QUITE SURE THE STEERING IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR. SOMETIMES THE STEERING SEEMS TO CATCH AND I FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE GOOD CONTROL, PARTICULARLY DURING A WIDE LEFT TURN THROUGH A LARGE INTERSECTION. *JB

Mileage: 6,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SHAKES, AND BOUNCES WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS. ADDITIONALY, THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE, AND A GRINDING SOUND IS COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Mileage: 10,000

DT: ABOUT 300 MILES WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE, AND CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. AT 537 MILES, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THEN A LEFT TURN, AS DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND. STEERING WHEEL HAD NO CONTROL. THE WEATHER WAS DRY, A FLAT ROAD. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 65 PMH. VEHICLE CRAHED INTO A WALL. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN BACK, AND ARM. DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE AND BRUISES. *AK

Mileage: 300