2007 TOYOTA RAV4 Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 222,822.

Mileage: 222,822

while driving down the big bear mountain, the vehicle lost power steering i could not turn the wheel and hit the railing, thank god i didn't hit another car. The battery light was flashing steering locked up other dash lights came on. The mechanic could not give me any answers, Toyota says there is no recall on this and after reading other complaints about the 2007 Toyota RAV 4 i am shocked that the dealership has nothing to say and can not fix the problem, this is so dangerous and i am at a loss on how to fix the problem. who has to die for them to take this problem seriously!!!

AT 65270 MILES RAV4 FAILED STEERING INSPECTION WHICH IS MANDATED BY NC. PARTS REPLACED PASSED INSPECTION BUT SQUEALING CONTINUES GETS WORSE AFTER ABUT 15 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING - METAL TO METAL CONTACT? 265 COMPLAINTS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE OVERALL STEERING SYSTEM SQUEALING OCCURS AT IDLE WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED, RELEASE BRAKE TURN LEFT OR RIGHT SQUEALING STARTS UNTIL ENGINE SHUTDOWN. NO VIBRATIONS FELT STEERING WHEEL. SUNDAY IN CITY DRIVING - 15 MINUTES AFTER START UP.

Mileage: 56,270

OIL BURNING. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL BURNING. A QUART EVERY 200 500 MILES ON AVERAGE.

Mileage: 150,000

KNOCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING AND HAVE PAID OVER $2,500.00 WITH THE PROBLEM NEVER GETTING FIXED BECAUSE EVERYONE THINKS IT IS SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY ARE ALWAYS WRONG.

Mileage: 141,000

FOR ENGINE, IT HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I NEED TO ADD 1 QTR OF OIL AFTER 1.5K MILES DRIVE. FOR STEERING, IT MAKES CRACKING SOUNDS WHEN HAVING TURN THE STEERING IN A SLOW MOTION DRIVE BACKING UP FROM GARAGE.

TOYOTA 2007 RAV4 STEERING MAKES A KLUNKING / POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, WHEN TURNING EITHER DIRECTION, WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVING. NO SOUNDS ON FREEWAY. ISSUES SEEMS TO BE STEERING COLUMN.

Mileage: 149,000

DEFECTIVE STEERING ASSEMBLY, MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING SLOWLY. I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RESULTED WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING

Mileage: 143,000

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ARROW HWY IN THE RAIN WHEN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. I LOST POWER FROM BOTH MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS COASTING DOWN TO AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION WHEN I MADE THE DESCISION TO TURN RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. THE STEERING WAS SO HARD THAT I NEARING HIT THE CENTER DIVIDE. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BARELY WORKING AND MANY OF MY DASH ICONS WERE COMING ON RANDOMLY. THROUGH IT ALL, MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND I MADE TO THE NEXT STREET THAT TURNED INTO CONDOS THAT HAD PARKING SPACES. I SHUT MY ENGINE OFF AND TRIED A RESTART. THE ENGINE,OF COURSE,DID NOT START. AFTER BEING HAULED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN ALTERNATOR THAT SHORTED THE BATTERY. HAVING A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN THIS ELECTRICAL AREA, I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN BUT WITH PROPER DESIGN IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE BATTERY WAS SAVED AFTER RECHARGING. HERE IS MY POINT; I DON'T WANT ANY ONE THAT I KNOW AND LOVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAD TO. THOSE THAT DRIVE THIS CAR SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH A CAR EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICAL STEERING. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE STALLED; WHICH, BY THE WAY WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN A SHORT TIME.

Mileage: 110,000

MY 2007 RAV4 IS EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE STEERING FEELS SUSPECT AT TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. A ONLINE SEARCH, REVEALED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. TOYOTA DIAGNOSES THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN.IS THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS IT A SAFETY CONCERN?

STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE LOSE AND THERE IS A THUNDER NOISE COMING FROM RACK AND PINION ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVES IN THE CITY OR OVER A HUMP.NO MATTER HOW SMALL IS, ALSO WHEN DRIVING AND MAKE RIGHT TURN

Mileage: 1

WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING, THERE ARE VIBRATIONS. TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT SHOUD BE REPLACED AND THE INTERMEDIATE LINKAGE RACK LEAKS. THE SOUND SYSTEM MAKES NOISE WHEN STOP OR DRIVING DOWNHILL OR UPHILL.

ONGOING AND VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED AT LOW SPEEDS, AT TIMES THE NOISE CAN ALSO BE HEARD WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS RAV4 MODEL AND IT SEEMS TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO REMEDY THIS. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, THE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE STEERING MECHANISM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT ALL TIMES.

Mileage: 80,000

I RECEIVE LETTER BY MAIL, ABOUT TAKADA AIR BAGS, AND THANKS BECAUSE DEALERS,NEVER MENTION THAT PART,AND IS UNFAIR, SPECIAL WENT BUY A USED CAR,AND PAY MORE MONEY,,WELL RECEIVE A FEW MONTHS LATER A RECALL FOR COMPSUPTION MOTOR OIL, NEED TO BE DONE, AND TRIED 2 OR 3 TIMES,BUT THE ADVISOR AND TECH,ARE MERO WORRY ABOUT FIXED UNCOVER WARRANTY REPAIRS, BECAUSE TRANSMISSION GOES BAD,TOW 140 TO DEALER,AND MAKE ALL KIND OT TRICKS TO MAKE ME PAID,FINALLY THEY ADMIT TO FIXED BUT CHARGE ME $618.00 FOR ALIGNMENT THE 4 TIRES,REPLACE REAR SEAL, THE INTAKE FUEL SYS AND USE THE WORD, PER CUSTOMER REQUEST,CUSTOMER AUTHORIZED, BUT NEVER COMMENT OH IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE TECH RECOMMENDS,WARRANTY IS GOING TO AVOID,DECLINE THE REPAIR, AND GET SERVICE HISTORY AND FOUND THEY DID ALL THE WORK FOR THE CAR RECALLS TO,AND I'M THE ONLY OWNER,BUT BUY THE CAR IN 2015 WITH 80,000 MILES AND A LOT OF FALSE,IRREGULARITIES, SO WANT TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS FOR THE LEMON LAW CASE MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY TRAVEL TO MEXICO,ENSENADA, AND I'M WORRY,CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE,MY CAR DON'T WANT TRAVEL IN THE CAR,AND IS CORRECT,BUT I'M SCARE TO BE INVOLVE IN ACCIDENT,CAR NEED TO BE CHECK BUT BY A DEALER,A GOV TECH,OE A SERIOUS ORG. OK TM.

Mileage: 105,550

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MIDDLE SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

AUDIBLE CLUNK SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER CAN ALSO FEEL A KNOCK THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR (E.G., ABOUT 40 COMPLAINTS OF THIS KIND HAVE BEEN FILED FOR 2007 RAV4S ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM). IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT; TOYOTA HAS FOR EXAMPLE ISSUED TSB 0318 08 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, IT IS DUE TO A SHAFT TOLERANCE THAT IS TOO LOOSE; THE CLUNK SOUND WOULD ONLY BE AN ANNOYANCE, BUT NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. GIVEN THAT THE STEERING IS CRITICAL FOR CONTROL AND SAFE OPERATIONS OF THE CAR, I FEEL THAT ANY NOISE IN THE STEERING MIGHT INDICATE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 107874 MILES (FROM THE FIRST OWNER) ON 05/09/2014, AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY DURING THE FIRST WEEKS OF USE. WE BELIEVE THE CONDITION HAD ALREADY EXISTED BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT WE HAVE NO INFORMATION AT WHICH MILEAGE THE PREVIOUS OWNER STARTED TO NOTICE IT.

Mileage: 108,250

CONSTANT CLUNKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL

Mileage: 100,000

WHEN I BACK UP ON ANY KIND OF AN INCLINE, THE CAR JERKS AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE "HIT" SOMETHING IT JERKS SO BADLY. IF I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL, IT STOPS THE JERKING BUT THE MINUTE I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN, IT JERKS AGAIN AND MAKES A TERRIBLE NOISE. I CAN STILL BACK UP BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR IS FALLING OUT. IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED 2 YEARS AGO. I KEPT THINKING IT WAS ME UNTIL I GOOGLED IT TODAY AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL IT'S UNSAFE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. MY VEHICLE ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE AND WAS REPAIRED EARLIER THIS YEAR. NEEDS TO BE A NATIONAL RECALL AND FIXED PROPERLY.

Mileage: 141,000

NHTSA RECALL NO 16V 596. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE RECALL COMPLETED AT WASHINGTON NC PECHELES TOYOTA. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF 10 25 2016. WHAT IS THE HOLD UP? FAILURE OF RLSA WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL- SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 51,607

WHENEVER YOU MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS ISSUE FOR OVER 5 YEARS & YET THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BY A REMEDY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED BY TOYOTA. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE & FIX THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS & CITY STREETS.

Mileage: 45,000

CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL ON VERY LOW SPEED OR ON CAR THAT IN NOT MOVING. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING STATE INSPECTION [CAR WAS IN GARAGE AND WAS NOT MOVING]. CAR HAS JUST ABOVE 30,000 MILES, MOSTLY CITY DRIVING, REGULARLY, BUT SHORT DISTANCE COMMUTE.

I HEAR A CLUNK, POP OR KNOCK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS (TECH SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08). TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. HOWEVER, TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE STEPS TO ISSUE RECALL TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART.

Mileage: 98,000

I HEAR A CLUNK, POP, OR KNOCK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. TOYOTA WAS ACUTELY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08) AND HAD TO REDESIGN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE STEPS TO RECALL ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES AND REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I URGE THE NHTSA TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO FORCE TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AS THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WITNESSED IN A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE 06-07 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES.

Mileage: 66,000

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS MAKING CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM FEARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND THE STEERING IS DANGEROUS.

Mileage: 65,000

R/R SWAY BAR END LINK BROKEN. UPPER AND INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BROKEN.

Mileage: 118,000

LEFT FRONT INPUT SEAL HAS LEAKED FLUID TWICE NOW. FIRST TIME WAS 9/25/2012 @ 56,516 MILES. SECOND TIME WAS ON 1/12/2016 @ 101,753 MILES. MY INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SERVICE, CORAM PRECISION AUTO OF CORAM, NY WENT TO TOYOTA TO GET THE SEAL NEEDED TO FIX THE LEAK BOTH TIMES AND ASKED TOYOTA PARTS COUNTER IF THEY KNEW OF A RECALL AND THEY SAID NO. THEN THEY ASKED WHY THEY HAD SO MANY SEALS IN STOCK IF THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALLS. I AM ON THIS WEBSITE AND DON'T SEE ANY RECALLS EITHER BUT I WONDER IF ANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. NOTE: I HAVE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR MY TOYOTA RAV4 FOR GAS PEDAL AND NOW FOR THE 'REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING' WHICH EXTENDS MY WARRANTEE UNTIL 2017 FROM TOYOTA AND FROM NHTSA FOR MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG IN 2014 BUT CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THIS WED SITE. PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH ME ON THE SEAL PROBLEM AND IF THE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA TOLD ME 'NO" BUT I DON'T TRUST THEM. THANKS, WPZIEMS 02/01/2016.

Mileage: 56,576

CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, NOTICEABLE AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS NEW BUT WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE LEFT FRONT STRUT. ON OUR LAST SERVICE WE WERE TOLD IT INVOLVED THE STEERING. NOTE: RAV'S FRONT BUMPER HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BEFORE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO US. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS MINOR DAMAGE JUST NEEDED REPAINTING..THIS VEHICLE HAS 64,000 ORIGINAL MILES.

NOTICED CLUNKING IN STEERING WHEN TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. LOOKED UP PROBLEM ON INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO INTERNET THERE OVER 400,000 COMPLAINTS. CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM AND IT REQUIRES REPLACING STEERING SHAFT. I ALSO READ ON THE INTERNET THAT VEHICLES WHO REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT OFTEN HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO ME THAT TOYOTA CAN NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND NOW IT BECOMES THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP ON CHANGING AN INTRICATE PART TO DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES. WHY WITH SO MANY FAILURES HASN'T YOUR AGENCY WARNED THE PUBLIC OR IS NHTSA SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE OR SAFETY CONCERN. PLEASE INFORM ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A PROBLEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AND I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $800.00 TO FIX IT.

Mileage: 94,000

DRIVING 50 MPG AROUND CURVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEERING LOCKED UP HARDLY ABLE TO PULL.OFF SIDE OF ROAD. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY 2 TIMES AND HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES BEFORE IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS.STEERING FROZE HAD TO GET OF TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THEN IT WAS ABLE TO STEER BUT BATTERY.LIGHT FLICKERS. THREE OTHER LIGHTS ON THE LEFT OF THE DASHBOARD STAYED ON AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. WENT TO PEP-BOYS AND I WAS ASKED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND ONE DAY LATER SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 75MPH AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS WHEN A BUNCH OF WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (INCLUDING BATTERY, AIR BAG, AND BRAKE), MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND MY SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET MY CAR SIT FOR A MINUTE, RESTARTED MY CAR AND THREE DIFFERENT LIGHTS CAME ON (VSC, CHECK ENGINE AND SLIP INDICATOR) AND MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T WORK ANYMORE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 110,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE; THIS IS A DEFECT. FROM READING ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS COULD BE A FATAL DEFECT AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 110,000

LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007 AND WITHIN 2 YEARS (~30000 MILES) THE SAME ISSUE HAD OCCURRED AND TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE PART UNDER WARRANTY. WITHIN 6 YEARS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I AM FACING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO TOYOTA FOR A FREE REPAIR BUT TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER PRODUCT DEFECT. THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT AND ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AND HENCE TOYOTA SHOULD MAKE A NATIONAL RECALL.

Mileage: 128,671

AT 51,000 MILES, THERE IS A HEAVY RATTLE IN THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS. AFTER REPLACING SEVERAL PARTS, LOCAL MECHANICS NOW TELL ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0319-08. I DO NOT FEEL ANYTHING ABNORMAL IN THE STEERING WHEEL, STEERING IS SMOOTH AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICEABLE DRIVING ON SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES. THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH TIME, SO I AM CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING COULD FAIL ALTOGETHER.

Mileage: 50,000

I PURCHASED MY RAV4 USED ABOUT 12 MONTHS AGO. WITHIN THE PAST 3 MONTHS I'VE NOTICES PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING. SLOW TURNS MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND WITH LOOSE MOVEMENT AND VIBRATION FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. INITIALLY I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD STRUT, WHICH I REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET A LITTLE WORSE BY THE DAY. IN CHECKING ONLINE I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, SOME RESULTING IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. IT APPEARS THAT THE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE SINCE THE PROBLEM IS SO WIDESPREAD. I HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL ON THIS AND WONDER WHY SINCE STEERING IS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPT. TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE.

Mileage: 95,000

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CLUNK, WHEN I TURN STEERING MAKING NOISE. I TALK TO A MECHANIC HE SAYS NEED TO REPLACE STEERING. IT IS SO EXPENSIVE, MY INCOME IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS. PLEASE GIVE ME ADVICE [XXX]@GMAIL.COM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND SENSORS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,800.

Mileage: 79,800

THUMPING SOUND IN STERRING PASSEGER SIDE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID RACK AND PINION MUST BE REPLACED AT 52,000 MILES? THUMPING SOUND IS NOT ALWAYS BUT IS GETTING WORSE AS CAR IS IN MOTION. FRANKLY SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT. FEELS VERY UNSAFE, SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS WEAK POINT OF ALL RAV4 FOR YEARS 2007-2008

Mileage: 48,000

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS SOME CLUNKY NOISE AROUND 46,000 MILES, BUT RECENTLY IT IS GETTING LOUDER. IT BECOMES A MAJOR CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND ME; THEREFORE, I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP (FIRESTONE) TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE RESULT CAME BACK TO BE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, BUT THEY SAID THAT IF I ONLY HAVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY WILL REPAIR IT WITH FREE OF CHARGE AND THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS UP TO 36,000 MILES. IF NOT, THEY WILL CHARGE ANOTHER 130 SOME DOLLARS TO JUST DIAGNOSED AGAIN, BUT WILL WAIVE IT ONCE I DO THE REPAIR WITH THEM. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT MORE PEOPLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDER PROBLEM FOR THIS TYPE MODEL OF CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND PRIOR TO THIS THERE WERE VARIOUS REPLACEMENT RECALL SUCH AS THE SUSPENSION, GAS PEDAL, AIR BAGS, AND ETC. HOW COME THIS ISSUE ISN'T ON THE RECALL LIST?

Mileage: 50,000

DRIVING 55 MPG AROUND CURVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEERING LOCKED UP HARDLY ABLE TO PULL.OFF SIDE OF ROAD. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY JULY 25 2015 GOING 60 DOWN BUSY HEY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND STEERING FROZE HAD TO GET OF TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THEN IT WAS ABLE TO STEER BUT BATTERY.LIGHT FLICKERS HA D BATTERY LREPLACED DAY BEFORE.

Mileage: 90,300

I WAS DRIVING AT 25MPH WHEN THE RED BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. I SHUT THE CAR OFF TO GO INTO A STORE TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS GOING TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND WENT BACK TO MY CAR AGAIN TO RESTART. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD I NOT BEEN ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55 I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME TURNING THE WHEEL AT ALL.

Mileage: 107,000

WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THERE IS A LOUD CLUNK AND THE STEER WHEEL SHAKES. WHILE MAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEED AND DRIVING OVER POT HOLES THE SAME LOUD CLUNK. THE DEALER SAID ITS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING SHAFT THAT HAS 2 DIFFERENT PARTS. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT BEING COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID NO. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE AND A COUPLE HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOU THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 100000 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA HAS MADE 2 REPLACEMENT PARTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A NATIONAL RECALL ON THIS PART AND HAVE TOYOTA COVER THE REPAIRS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED.

Mileage: 150,000

THE CAR FAILED TO START, THE BATTERY WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND HAD NOT WATER IN IT. CHANGED THE BATTERY, THE CAR STARTED PROPERLY; HOWEVER, ONCE SET TO DRIVE IT HESITATED A BIT, AS IF IT WERE CHOCKING FOR LACK OF GAS BUT IT HAD GAS. DROVE ON AND AT ABOUT SPEED OF 40 MPH STEERING BECAME HARD TO HANDLE, AC AND ENGINE CUT OFF. RESTARTED IT DROVE BACK HOME... JUST MADE THE LAST PAYMENT ON THE CAR, CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE DEALER.

Mileage: 128,910

WHEN PULLING OUT FROM STOP SIGNS HEARD CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IN MARCH 2015 NOISE IS THERE AGAIN. THERE IS A LITTLE OVER 80000 MILES ON VEHICLE. BAD ENOUGH IT WENT BAD ONCE.NO IDEA WHAT COST WILL BE TO REPAIR SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 29,884

AS SOON AS I BACK UP OUT OF THE GARAGE, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE AS I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL, MORE SO TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT INTO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND HAD 2 EMPLOYEES DRIVE IT. THEY BOTH AGREED IT WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, POSSIBLY A BRACKET. WHEN I TURN IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL DOESN'T WANT TO GO ANY FURTHER, MAKES THIS LOUD CLUNKING SOUND THEN LETS GO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND THE TIGHTNESS IN THE TURN HAS WORSENED.

Mileage: 58,500

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS DEVELOPED A LOUD CLUNK AND SLIGHT BINDING WHEN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM TOYOTA APPEARS TO BE A WORN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. IN MY OPINION, THE STEERING SHAFT ON THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT RESEMBLE THOSE ON OTHER CARS IN THAT STARTS CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN RUNS VERTICALLY DOWN THROUGH THE DASH AREA CHANGING DIRECTION ABRUPTLY. OTHER VEHICLES HAVE A GENERALLY STRAIGHT STEERING SHAFT IN LINE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AXIS AND NO ABRUPT CHANGES IN ALIGNMENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSIONS ON TOYOTA RELATED WEBSITES OF SIMILAR RAV4 STEERING SHAFT PROBLEMS. IS TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND PREPARING AN INVESTIGATION OR REMEDY. *JS

Mileage: 105,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 3/18/15*CN UPDATED 8/18/2015*JS UPDATED 10/19/2015 *JS

Mileage: 37,000

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A "CLUNKING/POPPING" NOISE COMING FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE STEERING LINKAGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK-AND-PINION ASSEMBLY.IN EARLY 2014, A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN INDIANA RECOMMENDED SERVICING THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY VIA AN ISSUED TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED IN THE SPRING OF 2014 (COST=$1000, CAR MILEAGE ~65K).I HAVE SINCE JOB RELOCATED TO NEW JERSEY AND THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED (CAR MILEAGE ~75K).A DEALERSHIP HERE TOLD ME THAT THE RACK-AND-PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACE (EST. COST= $2000).GENERAL SIGNS OF RACK-AND-PINION FAILURE AS STATED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL RESEARCH ARE NOT OBSERVED IN MY CAR (SIGNS INCLUDING "PLAY/SLOP" IN THE STEERING WHEEL, LOOSE STEERING, STIFF STEERING, ETC.).FURTHER RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE HAS SHOW MULTIPLE HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF RAV4 OWNERS INQUIRING ABOUT THIS ISSUE EITHER VIA RAV4/TOYOTA FORUMS, OR THROUGH THE NHTSA AND OTHER THIRD PARTY AUTO SAFETY AGENCIES.THE DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO BE GUESSING AT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND THEY ISSUE REPAIR GUIDELINES BASED ONLY ON SERVICE BULLETINS WITHOUT FULLY INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE.THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WITH A "CLUNKING/POPPING" NOISE WITH THE STEERING ASSEMBLY OF THESE AUTOMOBILES.OWNERS OF THIS (HIGHLY RATED, ABUNDANTLY SOLD) RAV4 MODEL SHOULD BE ISSUED A RECALL BY TOYOTA TO HAVE THE RACK-AND-PINION AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY FIXED WITHOUT CONSUMER PURCHASE.TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS, AS THEY HAVE ISSUED MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS, BUT HAVE YET TO DEEM THE ISSUE A SAFETY CONCERN LEAVING THEIR LOYAL OWNERS WITH REPAIR COST IN UPWARDS OF $3000 FOR CARS THAT ARE WELL UNDER 100,000 MILES, BUT OUTSIDE OF TOYOTA'S WARRANTY PERIOD. PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND THEIR PRECIOUS PASSENGERS, SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA. *TR

Mileage: 77,300

THERE ARE MULTIPLE KNOCKS COMING UP THE STEERING SHAFT AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION RECALL AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP I WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THE SHAFT IS CRACKED AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. I NEVER NOTICED ANY STEERING SOUNDS BUT NOW THAT I'M SPECIFICALLY LISTENING FOR IT I DO HEAR IT. I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DEALER STATED THEN THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. MOST OWNERS WILL NOT KNOW THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE SOUND IS NOT THAT NOTICEABLE AND I ASSUME THAT IF LEFT UNCORRECTED LOSS OF STEERING WILL OCCUR. *TR

Mileage: 80,842

VERY CLUNKY AND NOISY STEERING RESULTING AN A VAGUE, UNSAFE SENSE OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED (REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN). SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. *TR

Mileage: 68,900

THE STEERING COLUMN BINDS TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER SUCH THAT THE VEHICLE NEVER STEERS STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE SITUATION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ALWAYS WANT TO STEER OUT OF THE INTENDED LANE CAUSING DRIVER FATIGUE AT BEST AND AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY HEADING OUT OF ITS INTENDED PATH TOWARD OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CLUNKS AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THE COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 10,554

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE LAST TIME WAS JULY 28, 2014. WE SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND RESTART IT, AND THEN IT WORKS OK. WE ARE AFRAID THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING IT AND WE WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT. FROM ONLINE I HAVE LEARNED THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OCCURRENCES OF THIS. I'M SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL, I THINK IT IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN! *JS

Mileage: 111,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITH THE ENGINE AND VSC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER STEERING ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL YOU CAN HEAR A CLUNK OR A THUD. *TR

Mileage: 67,795

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 10/7/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 3/11/15 *JS

Mileage: 81,000

AS DAUGHTER WAS ENTERING FREEWAY STEERING FAILED, REAR-ENDED BY 18 WHEELER. *JS

Mileage: 109,989

NOTICED KNOCKING/CLUNKING NOISE FROM STEERING AT LOW SPEED AS DESCRIBED IN T-SB-0318-08 STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE' DATED OCTOBER 20, 2008. TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS AS DETAILED BY THE T-SB. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT BOTH THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THE STEERING RACK HAVE PLAY IN THEM AND RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BOTH BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT REPAIRED AND CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WAS $2700 SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED TWO MONTH PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE IN. GIVEN THAT THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN, I OPTED TO HAVE THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE DONE AND PAID $2731.77 FOR THE REPAIR. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA RAV FOR MODEL YEARS 2006 - 2008. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT SOME DRIVERS MIGHT NOT ASSOCIATE THE NOISE WITH A SERIOUS ISSUE, TOYOTA MOTORS SHOULD: 1.INSTATE A RECALL TO INSPECT ALL PARTS RELATED TO THE STEERING MECHANISM IN EFFECTED MODELS. 2.REPLACE ALL EFFECTED PARTS AT NO COST TO THE OWNER 3.REIMBURSE DILIGENT OWNERS WHO NOTICED THE ISSUE, REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERS AND PAID TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. BEST REGARDS. *JS

Mileage: 74,627

CLUNKING SOUND IN STEERING AT LOW SPEED. *TR

ON AUGUST 29, 2011, 19 YEAR-OLD SUBJECT WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT ACROSS AN INTERSECTION WHEN SUBJECT WAS STRUCK ON DRIVER SIDE BY A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. SUBJECT WAS STRUCK BY A MOTORIST THAT ACCORDING TO POLICE OFFICER REPORT, RAN A RED LIGHT. SUBJECT WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT WITH GREEN LIGHT WHILE DRIVING A WHITE 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH APPROXIMATELY 104,299 MILES. SUBJECT PURCHASED RAV4 VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA IN APRIL OF 2011. SUBJECT PURCHASED 2007 RAV4 ON ACCOUNT OF THE AIRBAG SAFETY FEATURES (HEAD, SIDE, FRONT, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS) TO PROTECT SUBJECT FROM INJURY. ON AUGUST 29, 2011, SUBJECT 2007 RAV4 SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM ROCKER PANEL TO ROOF AND FROM FRONT LEFT BUMPER TO DOORS. STRUCTURAL, SUSPENSION, WHEEL, AND STEERING COMPONENTS WERE ALSO DAMAGED AS PER THE APPRAISER'S DAMAGE ESTIMATE FOLLOWING THE AUGUST 29, 2011 ACCIDENT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. A LETTER WAS SENT TO TOYOTA. CALLS WERE MADE TO TOYOTA TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND TOYOTA DENIED CLAIMS OF ANY WRONGDOING OR DEFECT. SUBJECT WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA DECLINED TO INSPECT VEHICLE. RECENT NOTICES OF RECALLS RECEIVED ALONG WITH TOYOTA SENDING EMAILS TO SUBJECT TO TRY TO PURCHASE SUBJECT RAV4 LENDS CREDIBILITY TO SUBJECT ASSERTION THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND PROTECTED SUBJECT FROM INJURY DURING THE AUGUST 29, 2011 INCIDENT. THE AIRBAG FEATURES FAILED SUBJECT AND FAILED TO PROTECT SUBJECT FROM INJURY ON AUGUST 29, 2011. 2007 RAV4 WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY GEICO AND LIBERTY MUTUAL. THIS ACCIDENT TOTALED A RAV4 AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. GIVEN INADEQUATE ATTENTION WAS GIVEN TO SUBJECT AND INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER BY TOYOTA, SUBJECT SEEKS INVESTIGATION AND REMEDY FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED. *TR

Mileage: 104,299

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER A SECOND TIME WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN FAILED BUT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. P/S LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. BARELY AVOIDED COLLISION WITH LARGE TRUCK. STARTED ENGINE AFTER 20 MINS., P/S LIGHT OUT & STEERING NORMAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO FOUND CODE C1524 (LOW VOLTAGE IN POWER STEERING). IN ORDER TO FIND ROOT OF PROBLEM I NEED TO PAY $200 FOR DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH I REFUSED. THIS IS NOT A WEAR/TEAR ISSUE BUT EITHER A DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION. CALLED TOYOTA, ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC & TOYOTA REFUSED SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRENTY. GUESS TOYOTA COULD CARE LESS ABOUT CUSTOMER SAFETY EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH SAME COMPLAINT! *TR

Mileage: 53,574

ON MARCH 21ST THE ABS, VSC, TRACTION AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN DRY WEATHER CONDITION. WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ON, THE ABS SYSTEM WAS TRIGGERED MAKING DIFFICULT TO BRAKE TO STOP. SINCE THEN THE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF AND SO I'VE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A HIGHER SPEED RATE 60 MPH, SLOW SPEED 20 MPH, AND EVEN STOPPING. ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8 I BROUGHT THE RAV4 TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT THE BREAKS WERE OK. DEALER SAID: IT IS JUST THE A REAR SENSOR THAT NEEDS TO BE RESET. SO DEALER TECHNICIAN RESET THE SENSOR THE SAME DAY. ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 AROUND 6:00 PM WHEN TURNING LEFT AT A CORNER I HEARD A TICKING NOISE THEN FOUR WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED AGAIN AND THE BREAKS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AGAIN. I'LL BRING THE RAV4 TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 12, 2014 AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. THE CODES THE DEALER HAVE INITIALLY WERE C0210 AND C1223. MY SPOUSE AND I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THE RAV4 WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE SENSOR THAT THE DEALER TALKS ABOUT IS EITHER FIXED OR REPLACED. I DON'T WANT TO BE EXPOSED NOR EXPOSE MY FAMILY TO ANY POSSIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SENSOR/BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, AT HER EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 52,730 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,134. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN UPDATED 08/04/14

Mileage: 52,730

NO CRASH INVOLVED. NO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, WAS INFORMED THE RACK ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO DEAL WITH A CLUNKING NOISE THAT A TECHNICIAN HAD NOTICED. I CHECKED AND FOUND THAT WHILE PARKED AND IDLING, PULLING THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION DID PRODUCE THE CLUNK. AFTER ADDITIONAL ESTIMATES, SETTLED ON A SPECIFIC REPAIR VENUE AT ALMOST $1700. ALSO INFORMED BY ONE OF THE ESTIMATORS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD SOON NEED REPLACED. NOT SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR AT THIS TIME. I WAS INFORMED BY ONE OF THE ESTIMATORS THAT MOST VEHICLES WOULD NOT HAVE REQUIRED A WHOLE RACK REPLACEMENT (OR AS MUCH MONEY) FOR A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS, BUT RATHER THE 2007 DESIGN WAS INTEGRATED RATHER THEN MODULAR. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

THE STEERING MECHANISM MAKES A CLUNK WHEN TURNED. THE DEALER SAYS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME DEFECT ON THE INTERNET. TOYOTA ISSUED A BULLETIN IN 2008 TELLING DEALERS TO REPLACE THE SHAFT ON CARS STILL ON WARRANTY BUT WILL NOT REPLACE OURS BECAUSE IT IS MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD. A MECHANICAL FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE COMPANY AT THEIR COST SINCE IT IS NOT CAUSE BY USE BUT BY POOR ENGINEERING OR ASSEMBLY. *TR

Mileage: 28,950

THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IN SOME STATES THE TOYOTA HAS CHANGED THEM FOR NO COST AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, BUT KNOW THE DO NOT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF CLAIMS IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE ON THIS MODEL, BUT CONTINUES TO BE IGNORED. ON FRIDAY 03/08/2014 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAVE IT CHECKED BECAUSE OF THIS, AND WHAT THEY TOLD ME WAS THAT IT WAS MY STRUTS. WELL AFTER GETTING THEM CHANGED IT TURNS OUT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AN ADDITIONAL 502.00 FOR THIS. THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS CLAIMS ABOUT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND TOYOTA IS NOT REALIZING THE SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH IT PLACES IT CUSTOMERS. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

REFERENCE TOYOTA RECALL: TIS DESIGNATION C2J FOUND AT: HTTPS://TECHINFO.TOYOTA.COM/TECHINFOPORTAL/STATICCONTENT/EN/TECHINFO/HTML/PRELOGIN/DOCS/CP/C2JTOFAQ.PDF REFERENCE QUESTION Q1A AND ANSWER A1A: "....ALIGNMENT WILL BE SET AND THE ARMS WILL BE SEALED WITH EPOXY." REFERENCE QUESTION QUA AND ANSWER A1C: "IF THE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT SHIFTS OUT OF SPECIFICATION, REAR SUSPENSION ARMS OR OTHER COMPONENTS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED." REFERENCE MY PHONE CONVERSATION WITH TOYOTA @ 888-270-9371 ON 11 FEBRUARY 2014 @ 0800 AND THEIR ASSIGNED CASE # 1402110228: MY QUESTION TO TOYOTA TO THE ANSWER A1C ABOVE: WHO PAYS FOR THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SUSPENSION ARMS OR OTHER COMPONENTS? THEIR ANSWER WAS: THE OWNER. MY COMPLAINT DEALS WITH FAIRNESS. DUE TO A TOYOTA DESIGN DEFECT, REAR CONTROL ARMS MUST BE ENCASED IN EPOXY THUS RENDERING REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENTS IMPOSSIBLE. IF AN OWNER HITS A POTHOLE, AND REAR WHEEL(S) ARE KNOCKED OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE CONTROL ARM AND/OR ASSOCIATES COMPONENTS MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACE - AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO THE OWNER. THIS COULD GENERATE LARGE PROFITS TO TOYOTA DUE TO A REMEDY FOR ONE OF THEIR DESIGN DEFECTS. WITHOUT THE (EPOXY ENCAPSULATION), A MERE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT MIGHT RECTIFY THE MISALIGNMENT. A POSSIBLE $50 VERSUS $500 REPAIR. ADDITIONALLY, IF THE CONTROL ARMS MUST BE REPLACED TO ALIGN THE BACK WHEEL(S), TOYOTA IS THE ONLY ENTITY THAT HAS THE KNOW HOW AND PARTS TO RE-ENCAPSULATE THE NEW CONTROL ARM(S): MORE PROFITS FOR TOYOTA. OWNERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES THIS REMEDY WILL HAVE ON THEIR VEHICLE SO THEY CAN DECIDE IF THEY WANT A VEHICLE IN WHICH THE REAR WHEELS CANNOT BE ALIGNED WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. MY QUESTION TO NHSTA: WHY SHOULD THE OWNER PAY FOR REPAIRS TO ONE OF THEIR REMEDIES? IS THIS FAIR?

Mileage: 30,304

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR TIE ROD/SUSPENSION BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2013. TODAY I CALLED LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE FIX. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO FIX YET AVAILABLE....OBVIOUSLY VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WORRIED ABOUT HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PART/DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND WRECK. I THINK NHTSA SHOULD FORCE THE ISSUE WITH TOYOTA NOW IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG!. LOCAL DEALER ADVISED ME WHAT SOUND, LOUD RATTLING IN BACK OF VEHICLE TO LISTEN FOR....REALLY UNBELIEVABLE THE DELAY. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND PARKED CAR. STARTED CAR 10 MINUTES LATER AND HAD NO POWER STEERING. PS WARNING LIGHT ON DASH WAS NOW ON. WITH A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT, THE CAR COULD BE DRIVEN ABOUT A MILE BACK HOME. WHEN READING THRU THE OWNERS MANUAL, IT BECAME EVIDENT THERE WERE DIFFERENT POSSIBLE FAILURE CONDITIONS, EACH REPRESENTED BY DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHT STATES. A FLASHING LIGHT THAT WENT OFF AFTER A FEW SECONDS, A FLASHING LIGHT THAT STAYED ON, A FLASHING LIGHT THAT STAYS ON IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL DASH WARNING LIGHTS BEING ON AT THE SAME TIME, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE STEADY LIGHT AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF ASSIST SYSTEM. I BELIEVE IT WAS SIMPLY THE LUCK OF THE DRAW THAT OUR FAILURE OCCURRED IN A PARKED CONDITION. I WAS RAISED ON A FARM DRIVING MONSTROUS OLD TRUCKS WITH NO POWER STEERING. THEY WERE TOUGH STEERING, BUT THIS SMALL SUV TOOK AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO TURN. FAILURE IN TRAFFIC OR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. I DO NOT BELIEVE MY 82 YEAR OLD MOTHER COULD SAFELY CONTROL THE CAR, IF THE FAILURE UNEXPECTEDLY OCCURRED IN MANY OF THE DRIVING CONDITIONS SHE EXPERIENCES IN HER DAILY DRIVING. LANE CHANGES, MERGING TRAFFIC, 90 DEGREE TURNS, PULLING OUT TO PASS, ICY ROADS, AND HYDROPLANE CONDITIONS COULD ALL QUICKLY BECOME LIFE THREATENING WITH THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WATER PUMP FAILURE. *SMD THE #6 IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED, AS IT WAS SHORTING OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE, WHEN IT WAS TURNED.*JB

IN OCTOBER I NOTICED A CLUNK IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES IN THE STEERING SHAFT. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED ON MY 2008 TACOMA, VIN. NO.: [XXX], WITH ONLY 37000 MILES, AND REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER REP., THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME A $350 CREDIT AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR FUTURE WORK, HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT WAS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER. I FEAR NOW THAT MY RAV 4 IS GOING THE SAME ROUTE. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 58,760

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS AN AUDIBLE CLICK ACCOMPANIED BY FEEDBACK THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE HARDWARE USED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THESE WEAKENED COMPONENTS, WHEN COMPLETELY COMPROMISED, MAY LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. WHEN ASKED, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE IN THE ABSENCE OF A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS OF THE PURCHASE OF OUR NEW 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WE NOTICED A "CLUNKING" SOUND AND FEEL IN THE STEERING AT SLOW SPEED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER, GETTLE TOYOTA OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REFERRED TO THE PARTS REPLACED AS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT/ STEERING SHAFT ASSY. (THE SERVICE WRITER SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS). THE SAME APPARENT PROBLEM APPEARED AGAIN IN APPROXIMATELY JUNE OF 2013 AND IS WORSE NOW IN JANUARY 2014. IT HAS BECOME QUITE ANNOYING AND NOW BOTH MY WIFE AND I WONDER IF THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN, I.E. LEADING TO A STEERING FAILURE. OUR ORIGINAL DECISION TO BUY THE RAV4 WAS PRIMARILY BASED ON A VERY HIGH SAFETY RATING AFTER WE WERE INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS INJURY CRASH WHICH DESTROYED OUR PREVIOUS VEHICLE. WE ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA QUALITY IN GENERAL AS OUR RAV4 APPROACHES ONLY 75,000 MILES. I WOULD REQUEST THE RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE FOR MANUFACTURER-SPONSORED REPAIRS TO FOLLOW THE ALREADY HISTORICAL TSB OF 2008 FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN '06 AND '07 RAV4S. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

A R E CALL NOW ON THE CLOCK SPRING STOP ACTING STUPID'S. *TR

THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE ACCOMPANIED BY A TUG AT THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN MAKING TURNS EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. MOST NOTABLE AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THIS NOISE STARTED THIS SUMMER AT AROUND 32000 MILES AND IS BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE STEERING. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 36000 MILES. FROM READING COMMENTS ON LINE THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 RAV 4. IS TOYOTA GOING TO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? THEY MOST CERTAINLY SHOULD! *TR

Mileage: 32,000

THERE IS A LOUD "THUD" SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING TURNS (LEFT OR RIGHT). THE SOUND HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT HAS BECOME FAR WORSE VERY QUICKLY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2013. I CAN TELL THE STEERING WHEEL IS HITTING SOMETHING INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN (THE SOUND PLUS A TUG AT THE WHEEL WHEN I TURN THE CAR). I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND WANT TO BE SURE THERE IS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLUCKING NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,851.

Mileage: 1,000

CLUNK NOISE FROM L\R STEERING AND EXCESS PLAY IN STEERING DIAGNOSED AGAIN..AND (COST ME $59..AT DEALER).. AS PROBLEM WITH STEERING SHAFT\INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ..WAS QUOTED $428 TO CORRECT..THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 2009 @ 27,477 MILES AT WHICH DEALER REPLACED STEERING SHAFT AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT @ NOCHARGE AS WAS UNDER WARRANTY..UNDER TSB 0318-08 AND TSB327.. USING PART NOS..45221 & 45260.. I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH REPLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS( OR BAD TSBS) ..NEVER HAD THIS KINDA PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER TOYOTA OR VEHICLE..THIS SHOULD BE UNDER A RECALL AS I REFUSED TO PAY AGAIN FOR A SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 78,311

I STARTED EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. RIGHT NOW, IT'S REALLY BAD. I TOOK IT IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT 62K MILES AND THEY SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AT A COST OF $6,400 OUT OF OWNER'S POCKET. THEY SAID IT HAD BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE I TOOK IT IN HENCE, COST TO OWNER. I REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA HEAD QUARTERS AND THEY OFFERED TO REIMBURSE $1K AFTER I SEND THEM RECEIPT OF REPAIRS, SINCE THEY SAID MY WARRANTY EXPIRED NOT LONG BEFORE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A KIND GESTURE BUT I DIDN'T HAVE $5,400 TO SPEND ON THOSE REPAIRS, SO I DIDN'T TAKE THEM UP ON THAT OFFER. I ASKED ABOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STATED MODEL, AND THEY SAID I MAY HAVE SEEN THIS REPORTED FREQUENTLY IN FORUMS ONLINE, BUT UNTIL ENOUGH PEOPLE REPORT THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA'S HEAD QUARTERS THEY WON'T HAVE GROUNDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER AN IS NOW ACCOMPANIED BY VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HOPE TOYOTA SEES THE NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL SOON. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,633.

Mileage: 71,633

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING A HARD TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED FOR TWO YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. KMJ

Mileage: 19,000

OBVIOUS CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING, ESPECIALLY IN TURNS. I FOUND OUT THROUGH ROUTINE MAINT. AT A TOYOTA DEALER THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH STEERING LINKAGE. I WENT OUT ONLINE AND SEE THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN ON HOW TO FIX THIS, BUT ALSO I READ NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL. OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE SADDLED WITH THE COSTS, WHEN IT IS A DEFINITE DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE ADDRESS, THANK YOU. *JS

KNOCK AND SUDDEN SHIFT OF STEERING WHEEL. NOISE APPEARED TO COME FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AND ALONG THE STEERING COLUMN OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. HAS GROWN WORSE WITH USE, BUT VEHICLE ONLY HAS 30,250 MILES. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE; DANGER OF LOSS OF STEERING. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JS

Mileage: 25,650

MY STEERING MECHANISM HAS BEEN MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, AND GRADUALLY, OVER A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS, IT HAS GOTTEN LOUDER. AT LAST SERVICE, I INQUIRED ABOUT THE NOISE AND WAS TOLD, IT WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT... NORMAL WEAR-N-TEAR. COULD IT BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF IT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE TO BE DEALT WITH THRU A RECALL. I HAVE READ A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

NO ACCIDENT HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT CONCERNED ABOUT POPPING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN MAY BECOME AN ISSUE AT SOME POINT. TOYOTA SAYS VEHICLE IS SAFE BUT CONTINUOUS POPPING SOUND IN STEERING COLUMN HAS US CONCERNED. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN 2009 AND TOYOTA REPLACED PARTS IN STEERING COLUMN TO FIX IT. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS OUT ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM, IN 2011 PROBLEM HAS RETURNED, WELL THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND TO FIX PROBLEM IS A LARGE OUT OF POCKET COST.

AT 44,000 MILES MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 DEVELOPED A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING SYSTEM WHEN TURNING. AS TIME WENT ON THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION ONLY GOT WORSE. I FOUND A TSB WHICH APPEARED TO DEAL WITH THE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING, T-SB-0318-08. I ALSO DISCOVERED SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS MYSELF. MY VEHICLE, IDENTIFIED BY VIN, WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE TAHARA PLANT AND WAS AFFECTED BY THE TSB. IN MY RESEARCH I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS TSB AND A DIFFERENT PART THAT WAS BEING USED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ONE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA MUST CONFRONT AND ADDRESS WITH A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. OBVIOUSLY THE PART INSTALLED ORIGINALLY WAS DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA SUBSEQUENTLY A REPLACEMENT PART THAT IN DUE COURSE WAS ALSO DEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE SO THEY DEVELOPED A THIRD PART. THE PART IN QUESTION IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. AS A RESPONSIBLE GRANDPARENT THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT I WAS GOING TO LET THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT POSSIBLY INJURING MY GRANDCHILD. THE QUOTE FROM THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS $1100 TO DO THE REPAIR AND ALIGNMENT (WHICH THE TSB SAYS IS UNNECESSARY IF THE REPAIR WAS DONE CORRECTLY). I HAD A CERTIFIED TOYOTA MECHANIC COMPLETE THE REPAIR FOR UNDER $700. NOW I AM WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND IDENTIFY THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AS A SAFETY RECALL SO THAT ALL OF THE THOUSANDS OF RESPONSIBLE RAV4 OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM CAN HAVE IT CORRECTED. *TR

Mileage: 44,000

I HEAR A CLUNK. POP OR KNOCK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN T-SB-0318-08, A NEW INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION, THAT IS TO REMOVE AND REPLACE BOTH STEERING AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS (NO. 1 AND NO. 2.). THE TSB EXPRESSLY STATES THAT THE REPAIR IS COVERED ONLY UNDER THE 3 YEAR/ 36K MILESTOYOTA COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY. MANY OWNERS OF THE RAV OF THIS ERA HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND IT OFTEN OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED. ALSO, MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SOUND GETTING WORSE OVER TIME IF NOT FIXED. ( THIS INFORMATION IS FREQUENTLY STATED IN FORUMS AND BLOGS ABOUT THIS ERA RAV 4). I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WILL, AT SOME POINT, RESULT IN NEGATIVE STEERING EFFECTS, IF NOT LOSS OF STEERING. AS SUCH, TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO INITIATE A RECALL CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS TSB PROBLEM UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 13,975

THE RACK AND PINION STEERING MAKES A LOUD CLONKING SOUND WHEN TURNING VEHICLE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEFECTIVE PART IN ALL 06-08 RAV4'S. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER BECAUSE OF ANNOYING RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT, AND WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE DEFECTIVE STEERING RACK MADE NOISE AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED (ESTIMATED COST OF $1,984 INCLUDING PART AND LABOR COSTS), OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE COULD BREAK DOWN. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (OCCURRING IN PARTICULAR TO THOSE RAV4 2006-2008 PRODUCED IN SHOKKI, JAPAN) AND TOYOTA OFFERED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING RACK IF A VEHICLE IS UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. TOYOTA HAS DOCUMENTED THIS ISSUE--REFER TO T-SB-0308-08, OCTOBER 8, 2008. APPARENTLY MY RAV4 IS OVER 6 YEARS OLD (BUT ONLY RAN 31,400 MILES) AND NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I TALKED TO TOYOTA NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND TOYOTA DECLINED TO REPAIR THE PART AT THEIR COST. I DEMAND THAT NHTSA/DOT TAKE AN ACTION TO INVESTIGATE THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE SO AS TO PREVENT RAV4 DRIVERS FROM FACING FATAL ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 31,400

THE STEERING IS LOOSE AND THERE IS A PULLING AND/OR POPPING FEELING WHEN TURNING. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY WIFE AND SHE NOTICED INDICATOR LIGHTS SUDDENLY COMING ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE SPUTTERING AND STARTING TO STALL. PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING, SHE NOTICED THE POWER STEERING INOPERABLE AND SHE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STEERING TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER LANE AND TO A STOP. SHE CALLED ME AND I CALLED FOR EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. AT THIS TIME, AS THE ENGINE RAN, THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE. IT WAS THEN TOWED HOME. MY MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THE BATTERY TO BE UNDERCHARGED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR NOT PROPERLY CHARGING THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE POWER STEERING AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS RESUMED BACK TO NORMAL. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT SHOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS LONG AS THE ENGINE WAS IN OPERATION. IF THE BRAKING SYSTEM CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AS THE ENGINE RAN, THE POWER STEERING UNIT SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO OPERATE SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN STAY IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IF MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND ON A BUSY INTERSTATE FREEWAY, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. PLEASE LOOK INTO GETTING TOYOTA TO RECALL AND CORRECTING THIS SAFETY ISSUE ON MINE AND OTHER 2007 RAV4S. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. A REPLY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 49,889

THE STEERING SHAFT HAS A CLUNK NOISE AND A CLUNK OR SHIFT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN 2006 AND SUBSEQUENT RAV4 AUTOS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY FELT AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES AND INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS MAY EVEN OCCUR AT LESS MILEAGE. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING COMMON PROBLEM IN RAV4S THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM, WHY HAS TOYOTA NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE AND WHY ARE THEY PERMITTED TO CONTINUE TO SELL CARS WITH THE PROBLEM?? MY DEALER ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR 50% OF THE CHARGE. TOTAL BILL FOR MY 50% WAS $173.72 I READ ON INTERNET THAT AS MUCH AS $800 WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 42,124

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT SOMETHING HAD BECOME LOOSE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,400.

Mileage: 18,000

VEHICLE PARKED STARTED TURNED STEERING WHEEL EXIT FROM GARAGE LOUD NOISE AT FULL LOCK LEFT AND RIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER . INFORMED PROBLEM IN MIDDLE SECTION STEERING SHAFT INHERENT TO V6 REPAIR COST 325 DEALER SAID INABILITY STEER NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

I BROUGHT THE RAV 4 IN FOR A RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE BY TURNING THE WHEEL. WE HAD NOT NOTICED THE ISSUE PREVIOUS TO THIS. THEY STATED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THAT THE COST WAS > $500. I DECLINED THE SERVICE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF SINCE NEW. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED TO THOUSANDS OF RAV 4 DRIVERS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT TOYOTA IS NOT RECOGNIZING AND FIXING THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. THANKS. *TR

Mileage: 70,701

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WHEEL BEGAN TO SQUEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

AT APPROX. 25000 MILES,I STARTED HEARING A THUMPING NOISE WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURNS, I DON'T DRIVE IT THAT OFTEN, SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT, UNTIL IT STARTED HAPPENING MORE AND MORE, I THEN HAD 31,000, I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND SEEN IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR OF THE RAV4, I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED THE STEERING GEAR AND LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED , IT WOULD COST $2259.00 PLUS TAX FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I REFUSED THE REPAIR AT THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY .I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR ONLY THE PART, BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPAIRED THAT AND WHILE THERE THEY ALSO SAID MY WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY THEY GAVE WHEN I BOUGHT THE RAV4, THIS IS ANOTHER PART THE 2007 RAV4 HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT. I PAID OVER $1,000.00 OUT OF POCKET FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 31,367, FOR PARTS THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ARE FAULTY, I AM THE ONLY OWNER. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

GETTING THE CLUNK/THUNK WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. CANT BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS NOT STEPPED UP WITH A ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MFG DEFECT OF MATERIAL OR PG DESIGN AND ASSISTED CUSTOMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED WITH MY SON DRIVING THIS CAR AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED EVEN WITHOUT TOYOTA'S HELP. *TR

Mileage: 82,080

THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER IDENTIFIED IT AS THE "INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 07-08 RAV." HE SAID THE COST TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE $650.72. I ASKED HIM IT WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA, AND HE SAID NO. I ASKED IF IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND HE SAID, "THE STEERING COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING." I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN AND DON'T WANT MY STEERING TO FAIL WHILE I'M DRIVING. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 07-08 RAV'S, I AM REQUESTING THAT IT BE TURNED INTO A NATIONAL SAFETY RECALL FOR TOYOTA TO FIX. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 35,000

IN A PARKED POSITION OR WHILE TURNING ,SOMETIMES, THERE IS A VIBRATING/CLUNKING SOUND MADE BY THE STEERING/STEERING SHAFT...TOYOTA SUGGESTS REPLACING FOR $520.00 PLUS TAX.... FOR THE YEAR AND MILEAGE ON VEHICLE I THINK IT'S A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. *TR

Mileage: 27,461

UPON TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS PRE-OWNED VEHICLE I NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY WHILE TURNING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ISSUES IN THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY INDICATED THE "SPLINES" WERE STARTING TO WEAR AND THAT DELAY IN REPAIR COULD SEE WORSENING OF SOUND AND POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH STEERING. YET THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO DANGER. WHILE PERHAPS THAT WAS THE CASE I FELT THAT A STEERING FAILURE WAS AN IMMEDIATE DANGER AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. PRICE WAS APPROX. $420 FOR LABOR AND PARTS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS A BIT I FIND THAT TOYOTA HAS RECALLED A SIMILAR PART ON SOME OF IT'S OTHER VEHICLES, SUCH AS THE PRIUS. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THIS PART IS NOT RECALLED ON THE RAV 4 OR ANY OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 57,025

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS WHENEVER THE CONTACT MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,684. UPDATED 10/24/13*LJ

Mileage: 48,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,400. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ

Mileage: 1,900

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SENSOR PROBLEMS, REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE AT THIS POINT. HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL BEARING AND WIRING DUE TO CORROSION, FREE OF CHARGE NOW OTHER SIDE HAS SAME WHEEL BEARING, CORROSION PROBLEM AND THEY WANT $1000.00. HAVE ALSO HAD A CLUNKING IN STEERING COLUMN (BAD KNUCKLE JOINT) THAT TECH'S HAVE NOT FOUND. HEAR THAT WOULD COST AT LEAST $800.00. THEY ALSO SAY WATER PUMP LEAKING AND NEED REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT ENGINE DAMAGE ANOTHER APPROX. $1000.00. I'VE BEEN ONLINE AND THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS DISCUSSED BY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS. THE TECH TOLD ME THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS TO INCITE A RECALL. MEAN WHILE I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 60K. NOW THEY WANT 3K TO FIX CURRENT PROBLEMS. *TR

HEAR A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. ONLY HEAR IT WHEN TURNING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

WHILE GETTING RECALL WORK DONE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO SAY THAT THEY DETECTED A 'CLUNKING' IN MY STEERING COLUMN THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE STEERING SHAFT AND IT WAS A 'KNOWN ISSUE' WITH THE MODEL BUT NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

THE VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT IS CAUSING ISSUES WITH WHEELS WHEN TURNING. I HAVE READ A BUNCH OF OTHERS COMPLAINTS. PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA RECALL THIS PART AND REPLACE THERE IS A CLUNKING IN MY STEERING WHEN I TURN THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT AT ANY SPEED. THE STEERING FEEL AS THEIR IS LOOSENESS CAUSING NON ACCURATE TURNING AND WOBBLESNESS. JAN 14, 2013 - WESLEY CHAPEL , FL - STEERING TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THERE WAS A LOUD STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. BULLETIN OUT ON THIS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. A NEW SHAFT IS GOING TO RUN $400.00 PLUS AT LEAST AN HOUR OF LABOR. THIS MEAN THAT IT IS GOING TO COST EACH OWNER OF THIS RAV4 MODEL AT LEAST $500.00. TOYOTA HAS PUT A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS VERY PROBLEM. THE BULLETIN # IS TSB-0318-08 REV1. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM AT THE BASIS OF THIS PROBLEM. VIEW DETAILS NOV 14, 2010 - HOWELL, NJ - STEERING AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES WE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AT 69,457 MILES WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. HE INFORMED US THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT $456.00 WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER ASKING ABOUT A POSSIBLE STEERING DEFECT I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL MAINTENANCE. WITHOUT A REPAIR I AM AFRAID I MIGHT LOOSE MY STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

SUDDEN CLUNK NOISE AND JERKING MOTION IN STEERING WHEEL. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

I'VE BEEN HEARING CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDES. NOT ALWAYS PRESENT BUT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH RECALL NOTICES FOR REAR SUSPENSION AND POWER WINDOW SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DID NOT BELIEVE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, AS HE IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE STILL PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION, AFTER THE DEALER IT WAS FIXED. DUE TO THE ONGOING SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, IT WAS AFFECTING THE STEERING SHAFT, RACK AND PINION AND TIE ROD. UPDATED 03/12/13

THERE IS A CLUNKING IN MY STEERING WHEN I TURN THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT AT ANY SPEED. THE STEERING FEEL AS THEIR IS LOOSENESS CAUSING NON ACCURATE TURNING AND WOBBLESNESS. *TR

Mileage: 83,120

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THERE WAS A LOUD STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF UPDATED 03/11/13.*JB

Mileage: 36,000

NOTICE A POPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. FOUND TOYOTA BULLETIN T-SB-0318-08 WHICH SUPERSEDED TSB ST001-08. THE BULLETINS GAVE NEW PARTS AND REPAIR FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. IF TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, THE FIX SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA. THE PARTS PERSON SAYS HE KNEW THE PART NUMBER BY HEART SINCE SO MANY WERE BEING REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 67,902

MY CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE AT THE STEERING WHEEL EVERY TIME I WOULD TURN IT IN ANY DIRECTION AT ANY SPEED. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR SO I CALLED TOYOTA AND SCHEDULED FOR MY CAR TO BE INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD I HAD 3 RECALLS ON MY CAR. AFTER ALL THE REPAIRS WHERE MADE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY CONCERN THEY STILL HAD WAS THE CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ACCESSORY SHAFT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DECLINE THE REPAIR DUE TO THE COST. I DECIDED TO DO RESEARCH OF MY OWN AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER TOYOTA RAV 4 OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. ALL HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND FEEL THE SAME FRUSTRATIONS AS I DO. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE A DEFECT IN THEIR DESIGN AT THE EXPENSIVE OF THE CAR OWNER. *TR

Mileage: 113,205

STEERING HAS PLAY AND CLUNK AT TIMES CAUSING CAR TO SWERVE DO MECHANICAL DEFECT AND/OR OVER CORRECTION OF THE DRIVER DO TO SENSATION OF LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. AFTER READING USER FORMS ON THIS VEHICLE IT IS COMMON TO THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA TO PREVENT FATAL ACCIDENTS. RECALL ITEMS SHOULD INCLUDE MIDDLE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION. WEBSITES BELOW TELL PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN TO TOYOTA BUT THIS SHOULD BE MANDATED BY THE NHTSA HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/99-4-3-MECHANICAL/82616-STEERING-INTERMEDIATE-SHAFT-CLUNK-SOLUTION.HTML. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THREADS ON THE TIE ROD HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN - TOYOTA SERVICE INSPECTED SAME - SUGGESTED STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED MILEAGE ON CAR 59200. *TR

Mileage: 59,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILED CAUSING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE APART TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHICH OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Mileage: 25,000

THERE IS A STEERING SHAFT DEFECT IN TOYOTA RAV4 2007 TOO. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

AROUND THE 12TH OF OCTOBER 2012 I STARTED TO NOTICE A SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. WITHIN A FEW DAYS I COULD HEAR IT WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOWER SPEEDS. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MENTIONED IT. HE SAID THAT IT SEEMED TO BE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. I CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALER TO ENQUIRE ABOUT COST OF PART AND REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS AROUND $400 AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 1.6 HOURS TO REPAIR AT $80/HOUR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS SAME PROBLEM, THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY NOW. IF I HAD NOT ASKED MY MECHANIC TO CHECK THE PROBLEM I VERY LIKELY WOULD OF HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE SPLINES FINALLY GAVE OUT. I HAVE THE OLD SHAFT NOW AS I HAD MY MECHANIC ORDER THE PART FROM A TOYOTA DEALER (THE PRICE WAS JUST OVER $100) AND IT TOOK HIM 1.7 HOURS TO DO THE REPAIR, SO IT COST ME ABOUT $200 TOTAL. TOYOTA SAID THAT IF THERE WERE A RECALL I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF MY MONEY BACK. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. IT WOULD BE STUPID OF THEM TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A DEATH!! I'VE HAD 2 RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF AND THERE ARE 2 MORE THAT WILL NEED TO BE DONE SOON. DID SOMEONE DIE TO GET THEM TO RECALL FOR THOSE PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A RECALL ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS 2004-2009. I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4...THIS IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED. *TR

Mileage: 72,200

SOON AFTER PURCHASING MY 2007 RAV4 SPORT I STARTED HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I MADE TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS CLICKING OCCURS WHILE TURNING AND DOES NOT DEPEND ON SPEED OR DEGREE OF TURN. I'VE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RAV4 OWNERS AND BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL. *TR

THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SHAFT CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE IN STEERING. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS... HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. *TR

DEALER INFORMED ME YESTERDAY THAT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE MANUFACTURE.SHAFT WAS REPLACED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AT A COST OF $880, OF WHICH I HAD TO PAY $500 AS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER DOWNPLAYED WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT INSISTED THAT I SHOULD PAY $715 TO REPLACE THE SHAFT WHICH IS MAKING KNOCKING NOISES WHEN DRIVEN. THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I'VE HEARD THAT OTHER MODELS IN THE LINE HAVE ALSO SUFFERED SIMILAR STEERING ISSUES. CAN ONLY HOPE IT DOESN'T LEAD TO STEERING FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 82,172

WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT A STRANGE NOISE HAPPENING AND YOU CAN FEEL SOME SORT OF BUMP OR CATCH IN THE STEERING. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. A NEW SHAFT IS GOING TO RUN $400.00 PLUS AT LEAST AN HOUR OF LABOR. THIS MEAN THAT IT IS GOING TO COST EACH OWNER OF THIS RAV4 MODEL AT LEAST $500.00. TOYOTA HAS PUT A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS VERY PROBLEM. THE BULLETIN # IS TSB-0318-08 REV1. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM AT THE BASIS OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 71,832

AT ANY SPEED, AN AUDIBLE "CLUNK" IS PRESENT WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. FURTHERMORE, ONE CAN FEEL A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT EXACTLY MATCHES THE "CLUNK" SOUND. DURING LOW SPEEDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION IS PROMINENT ANY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE SOUND IS LESS PRONOUNCED, BUT A VIBRATION AND FEELING OF "LOOSENESS" IN THE STEERING IS PROMINENT. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS USED AS A FAMILY CAR WITH YOUNG CHILDREN (AND A PREGNANT WOMAN) PRESENT, THIS NOISE/VIBRATION COMBINATION IS DISTURBING AS WE FEAR STEERING FAILURE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08 WHICH MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF MY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT IS APPARENT THAT TOYOTA ISSUED THIS TSB AS A RESULT OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND DEVELOPED A PROCEDURE AND REPLACEMENT PARTS TO CURE SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

HI GOOD DAY, I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAIN ABOUT MY VEHICLE PROBLEM TOYOTA RAV4 2007 "STEERING KNOCKING" WHICH AFFECTS MY DRIVING ABILITY CAUSE IT BOTHERS ME WHILE DRIVING DUE TO NOISE EVERYTIME I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. I ALREADY WRITE THE COMPANY ABOUT THIS MATTER BUT THERE IS NO PROPER ANSWER ABOUT THE DEFECT. I SEARCH THE VEHICLE DEFECT ONLINE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RAV4 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE IT'S NOT TO LATE TO NOTIFY THIS PROBLEM AND NOT WAITING FOR THE TIME THAT IT WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS TO THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I AM JUST ANTICIPATING THAT THERE WILL BE NO FUTURE ACCIDENTS ARISE RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

FOR 2 YEARS PRIOR TO TAKING THE CAR TO TOYOTA FOR REPAIR, I WAS HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, NORMALLY WHEN I BEGAN USING THE CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM, EXPECTING IT TO BE A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKEN ALONG WITH A YOKE ASSEMBLY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALARMED THAT I HAD BEEN DRIVING A CAR WITH A BROKEN STEERING SHAFT FOR SO LONG. TOYOTA REPLACED THE BROKEN PARTS AND CHARGED ME $600. I THOUGHT TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE COST AS A WARRANTY ITEM BUT THEY REFUSED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A STEERING DEFECT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF VIA A SAFETY RECALL. HAD THE SHAFT BROKEN OR BECOME MORE DAMAGED THEN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

Mileage: 45,980

DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING. CAR FEEL VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY ON VET SURFACE AND DURING BRAKING. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

ON MARCH 29, 2012, I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY & HEARD A CLUNK. CHECKED REAR UNDERSIDE & SAW NOTHING AMISS. ARRIVED IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AND HEARD 3 MORE CLUNKS (WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS). THEN THE FINAL EXTRA LOUD CLUNK AS THE STEERING WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ON MICHIGAN AVE. IN FRONT OF THE HILTON HOTEL DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (5 PM) DOING 25 TO 30 MPH. CARS ALL AROUND ME. GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES & EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO WARN OTHERS, AS I KEPT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM WAY LEFT TO WAY RIGHT. EASED MY WAY FROM CENTER LANE OVER TO THE CURB. CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING! RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS TILTED AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE--TOP OUTWARD, BOTTOM INWARD. IN ANOTHER 15 MIN. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 50 --60 MPH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO INDIANA. TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR SAID: "BOLT RUSTED THROUGH. IF KEEPING CAR, SUGGEST GETTING LEFT REAR SUSPENSION REPLACED TOO BECAUSE IT IS GETTING READY TO GO. A COMPANY REP IS GOING TO COME OUT TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER EXACT FAILURE JUST RECENTLY." THE REP DECIDED HE DID NOT NEED TO SEE IT. (I'M SURE HE WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE BIGGER PROBLEM TOYOTA WOULD BE FACING.) VEHICLE FACTS: 2007 RAV-4, MILEAGE: 43,185, ONE OWNER, GARAGE KEPT (EXCEPT FOR VACATIONS). LAST 27-POINT INSPECTION: (1-21-2012) 2 MONTHS BEFORE FAILURE. NO ITEMS IN THE SECTION TITLED "UNDER VEHICLE" WERE EVEN CHECKED OFF AS COMPLETED (GOOD OR BAD). THIS INCLUDED "SUSPENSION & STEERING LINKAGE". I PAID $778. TO HAVE BOTH LEFT & RIGHT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES REPLACED & AN ALIGNMENT. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FROM TOYOTA, THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID "NO. THEY CONSIDER IT NORMAL "WEAR & TEAR". NOTE: CASES LIKE MINE ARE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP AS "TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS" BECAUSE I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING OR ANYONE. AND THOSE THAT ARE ACCIDENTS COULD POSSIBLY BE MISTAKEN AS: "OVER-CORRECTIVE STEERING!" *TR

Mileage: 43,185

MY RAV4 WAS MAKING POPPING NOISES IN THE STEERING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THAT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CAR HAVING A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH STEERING, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. ANYWAY, I HAD TO PAY $380 TO HAVE THAT FIXED AND THEY ALSO DID AN ALIGNMENT. THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF THE REPAIR. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND ON THE WAY HOME, IT STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE POPPING AND CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR-END. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK TO TELL THEM TO COME GET IT BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT BACK TO THEM. AFTER THE TOW TRUCK CAME, MY HUSBAND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CAR BECAUSE OF REAR SUSPENSION AFTER AN ALIGNMENT. I AM WRITING THIS TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT MY PROBLEMS WITH 1) THE STEERING PROBLEM AND 2) THE REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. AGAIN, THIS ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP! *TR

Mileage: 69,500

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXPECTED RECALL CONCERNING REAR TIE RODS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SOMETIME AROUND JUNE 2011, SHE BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE; SOMETIMES FROM THE LEFT AND SOMETIMES FROM THE RIGHT. FINALLY, IN DECEMBER 2011, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS CONFIRMED THERE WAS A NOISE, BUT THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IN MAY 2012, THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE, ONLY PERIODICALLY. ON MAY 3, 2012, AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE NOISE BECAME EVEN LOUDER. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, GOING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE ROAD AND DOING A COMPLETE 360 DEGREE TURN. SHE FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP IN A SAFETY ZONE. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS BENT IN AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND ALMOST OFF THE VEHICLE. ON MONDAY MAY 7, 2012, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE LEFT REAR TIE ROD SNAPPED AND THE RIGHT ONE WAS IN A WEAKENED CONDITION AND BOTH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

FELT A LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING, A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS. UNDER WARRENTY, AT APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES, THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. AT APPROXIMATELY 56,000 MILES, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. WAS ADVISED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD FAILED ONCE AGAIN. COST OF REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED AT $628.00. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND RECEIVED A CASE MANAGER. CASE MANAGER INFORMED ME THE FINAL OFFER TOYOTA WOULD MAKE IS TO PAY THE COST OF THE PART, I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE APPROXIMATE $300.00 LABOR COSTS. THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE REPLACEMENTS SHOULD THE PART FAIL AGAIN. CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO PROPERLY ADDRESS. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

ABOUT 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE DATES ABOVE, I NOTICED A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I TURNED IT. I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AND I MENTIONED IT TO A FRIEND AT WORK. HE MENTIONED RESEARCHING IT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTED HAVING SOMEONE LOOK AT IT. I TOOK HIS ADVICE AND SAW THAT RAV4S DID HAVE SOME STEERING ISSUES. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AT THE CHARGE OF $45.00 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND $428.77 PARTS AND LABOR FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 950,000

THE CAR MAKES A CLUNKING, POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER SAYS IT IS A INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR IT, IT IS NOT COVERED OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER QUOTED A PRICE OF $350, FOR THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND $ 700. IF BOTH SHAFTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEED, PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED AND WHEEL TURNED AT 45 DEGREE ANGLE, DISABLING THE AUTOMOBILE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP HAD PREVIOUSLY CHECKED A KNOCKING NOISE IN REAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN FAULT AND THAT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH THREADS ON THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY TO HOLD THE TIE ROD SUFFICIENTLY. I HAVE FOUND OTHER REPORTS OF THIS TIE ROD FAILURE. SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

TOOK MY RAV4 IN FOR SERVICE OF FIVE THOUSAND MILES OIL CHANGE. AT THAT TIME WHEN I PICKED UP CAR WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO GET MY STEERING LOWER SHAFT REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN HAVING STRANGE NOISES SINCE ABOUT 30000 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THE STEERING. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS THE STEERING AND I NEED TO GET IT FIX RIGHT AWAY. I FEEL THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAN TOYOTA WANTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IS THIS BEING LOOKED INTO? READING ONLINE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY 2007. *TR

Mileage: 49,328

STEERING POPPING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEED. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

I HAVE 2 TOYOTA RAV4S - BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THE STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING A "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY, MANY OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AND TOYOTA HAS ISSUED T-SB-0318-08 BULLETIN WITH AT PROCEDURE TO REPAIR AN INADEQUATELY DESIGNED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT LONG-TERM SAFETY AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF THIS REPAIR IS NOT DONE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL AND OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY.

Mileage: 35,000

THIS TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN HAVING CLUNKING WITH STEERING THE VEHICLE RIGHT AND LEFT DIRECTLY AFTER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE CLUNKING WORSENED SO IT WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A REPLACEMENT PART THAT WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS RAV4 WITH THE STEERING COMPONENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DESCRIBED THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A FACTORY DEFECT? THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT QUOTED ME A $3500 CHARGE FOR REPAIR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT I NEED TO PAY AN ENORMOUS COST FOR A FACTORY DEFECT THAT IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

JUST LIKE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF 2007 RAV4 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING A DISTINCTIVE KLUNKING NOISE AROUND 35,000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE SIDE..... MY PROBLEM WAS THAT IT WAS MAKING CRACKING NOISE ALL THE TIME, WHEN TURNING OR ESPECIALLY PARKING THE CAR.... ALSO A PROBLEM WITH MY DRIVER VISOR FLAP NOT STAYING IN UPWARD POSITION IT WAS HANGING DOWN HALFWAY AND FACES FORWARD. I HAD TO PAY 75 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT, WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. SINCE SO MANY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNER ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS IT SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL STATUS!!! *TR

Mileage: 35,000

EXPERIENCE KNOCKING AND POPPING NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. MY VEHICLE HAD 31,247 MILES ON IT WHEN I BROUGHT IN FOR AIRBAG RECALL. THEY ASKED ME ABOUT THE KNOCKING AND I SAID YES IT'S KNOCKING. ASKED IF IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME IF IT WAS....I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $500 TO REPAIR. I DID RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND 117 COMPLAINTS. WHY HASN'T TOYOTA RECALLED THIS? I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. TOYOTA KNEW THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

I WAS JUST IN A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT WHERE I LOST STEERING AND CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER READING ONLINE ABOUT THE KNOCKING IN THE STEERING FROM OTHER OWNERS, I BELIEVE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH NOONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED I AM WORRIED ABOUT OTHER DRIVERS SAFETY. MY CAR AND TWO OTHERS WERE TOTALED. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER AND I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE NOTICED SOMETHING WITH THE STEERING AND CHECKED IT . I JUST HAD A 50000 MILE CHECKUP. I REALLY FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT CAN BE FATAL. I AM LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR DID GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THOUGH. I HOPE SOMEONE KNOWS HOW TO GET AHOLD OF ME AND HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. BUT JUST TO SAY EVERYONE ELSE, PLEASE BE CAREFUL. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 RAV4 FROM TOYOTA OF BRAINTREE IN 2007. 1. IN 2009 I COULD HEAR WIND IN THE DRIVER'S WINDOW; I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED, TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID I WAS HEARING THINGS. 2.THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAUGHT FIRE (I HAD THE KEYS WITH ME) I HAD TO SPEND $606.01 TO FIX IT, TOYOTA SAID THERE WAS WATER INTRUSION (I THOUGHT, IT PROBABLY WAS, BECAUSE OF THE AIR LEAK PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN 2009) 3. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT STRANGE WHEN I DROVE, I TOOK IT BACK FOR SERVICE, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS STEERING SHAFT INTERNAL FAILURE WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; I FOUGHT TO GET THAT FIXED OUT OF WARRANTY. 5. ON NOVEMBER 25, 2011 I WAS DRIVING, THE WINDOW FELL IN ON ME AND ON NOVEMBER 26, 2011, I HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED FOR $338.30 7. NOW, OIL IS LEAKING INTO THE MUFFLER. (I PURCHASE OIL FREQUENTLY) THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 4.5 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE MAJOR PROBLEMS, WHEN I PURCHASED THIS RAV4, IT WAS GOING TO BE MY LAST VEHICLE PURCHASE BECAUSE TOYOTA ADVERTISES LONGEVITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE WHO DRIVE 1990 AND 1995 TOYOTA PRODUCTS WHO HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. I WAS ALSO TREATED VERY POORLY DURING SOME OF MY REPAIR VISITS. AFTER THE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE OWNER OF TOYOTA OF BRAINTREE, [XXX] BUT HIS RESOLUTION WAS GIVING ME $13,000.00 FOR MY VEHICLE (WHICH I OWN) AND ME PURCHASING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE, WHICH MEANT I WOULD HAVE A MONTHLY PAYMENT. I DID CONTACT TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA AND FILED A COMPLAINT AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY RESOLUTION. SINCE THEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT STATING THEY CAN'T HELP ME. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE, SINCERELY, TOYOTA RAV4 OWNER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

Mileage: 18,462

BEGAN EXPERIENCING A DISTINCTIVE CLUNKING NOISE, AT LOW SPEEDS, WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CLUNK COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FELT AS THOUGH A BUSHING WAS DEFECTIVE, OR THEIR IS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. NO NOISE FROM THE FRONT END, OR UNDERCARRIAGE, JUST AT THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN TURNING, AT LOW SPEEDS. TOYOTA STATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A PART REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH COULD BECOME FATAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL STATUS, AS IT INVOLVES THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. *TR

Mileage: 34,400

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT STARTED FAILING CAUSING KNOCKING NOISES WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. TOYOTA WILL ONLY REPLACE WITHIN STANDARD WARRANTY PERIOD AS THEY DON'T THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB

Mileage: 34,500

SEVERAL YEARS AGO I NOTICED A POPPING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. I THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE I FREQUENTLY USED THE TILT AND TELESCOPE FEATURES TO LET ME USE MY WORK LAPTOP WHILE IN THE CAR. (I AM A RETIRED HOSPICE NURSE.) I JUST FIGURED IT WAS AGING FROM OVERUSE. HOWEVER, LAST WEEK I TOOK THE 2007 RAV4 IN TO MY TIRE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE ALIGNMENT WHILE THEY DID SOME OTHER WORK. THE MECHANIC WAS SHARP AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD FIRST THOUGHT THE SAME THING ABOUT THE STEERING WHEEL BEING THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE, BUT INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND FOUND IT WAS THE "INTERMEDIATE SHAFT" OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. I'VE LOOKED UP THE TSB'S AND THEY ARE 0318-08 AND ST001-08, AND THEY DESCRIBE MY CAR EXACTLY. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TOMORROW-2-3-12-TO HAVE A LOCAL DEALER LOOK AT IT. THE CAR HAS 69659 MILES ON IT NOW, BUT ONLY 49882 WHEN I RETIRED IN MAY OF '10 AND IT WAS MAYBE A YEAR BEFORE THAT (AT 33842 MILES) THAT THE NOISE STARTED. THIS HAS CERTAINLY NOT BEEN THE CAR OUR '96 RAV WAS. I CALL IT MY BAD LUCK CAR FOR VARIOUS REASONS AND IT APPEARS IT STILL IS. THE TIRE MECHANIC SAID THE REPAIR WAS ABOUT $400. *KB

EXPERIENCED KNOCKING NOISES WITH VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. CONDITION HAS WORSENED OVER THE LAST YEAR. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD RESULT IN STEERING FAILURE AND AN EXPECTED INABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

EXPERIENCED KNOCKING AND POPPING NOISE WITH VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CONDITION WORSENED OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW WEEKS AND EVENTUALLY BECAME CONSTANT. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

"KLUNKING" NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN. NOTICED INTERMITTENTLY INITIALLY,NOW ALL THE TIME. OCCURS AT ANY SPEEDS BUT PRIMARILY LOWER SPEEDS AND WHILE STOPPED. WORSENING OVER TIME. *KB

Mileage: 80,000

UPON STARTING THE CAR THE RED POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT (P/S) STAYED ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 2 WEEKS. WE ARE TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. OTHERS ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM SAY IT COST $2500 TO FIX!! TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON RELIEVED THE PROBLEM BUT IT CAME BACK AGAIN A WEEK LATER. GM ISSUED A RECALL QUICKLY FOR ITS CARS WHEN THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW ELECTRIC INSTEAD OF HYDRAULIC STEERING. THIS IS ANOTHER MAJOR DEFECT FOR TOYOTA WHICH COULD BE VERY SERIOUS IF THE STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING! LOSS OF STEERING CAN RESULT IN MAJOR ACCIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS MATTER. LIVES WILL BE SAVED IF YOU MAKE TOYOTA MEET ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

HEARING A CLUCKING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN FOR LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT WAS GETTING WORSE AND INCREASED FREQUENCY SO WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. SERVICE DEPT PERSONNEL SAID THEY HAD REPLACED OTHER STEERING SHAFTS BUT NO RECALL ON OUR RAV4'S YEAR. 2001 & 02'S AND OTHER YEARS HAVE RECALLS. SEARCHED ON-LINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER POSTS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON 2006 & 07 RAV4S. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE STATED THE STEERING WILL EVIDENTLY GO OUT. DEFINITE MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. $800+ COST TO FIX. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

EXPERIENCED KNOCKING AND POPPING NOISE WITH VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CONDITION WORSENED OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW WEEKS AND EVENTUALLY BECAME CONSTANT. THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING RACK AND NOT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY PER T-SB-0308-08 "STEERING RACK NOISE". I'M CONCERNED THIS MIGHT BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 172,812

MY RAV4 HAS BEGAN HAVING CLUNKING NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHES ON THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THIS IS PREVALENT WITH RAV4'S AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL. IS THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN? WILL THIS EVENTUALLY BE A RECALL? *TR

Mileage: 46,000

AT 66,000 MILES HEARD & FELT CLUNKING IN THE STEERING, & THEN SPENT $2033 PLUS TAX AT THE TOYOTA DEALER TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS #1 & #2, & POWER STEERING RACK. TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. *TR

Mileage: 66,700

ON OR ABOUT 9/01/11, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A POPPING/CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING MY CAR LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEN PARKING AND WHEN TURNING INTO OR BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY (APPROX 5MPH). THIS CLUNKING SOUND WAS OCCURRING WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO EITHER SIDE AND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WITH THE CAR RUNNING AT A COMPLETE STOP. ON 10/27/11, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN WINSTON SALEM, NC AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR WOULD NEED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AS A RESULT OF THE REPLACEMENT. ON 11/01/11, I HAD THIS SERVICE DONE AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (REPLACED STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, ITEM #45260-42090, AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT.) I PAID A TOTAL OF $479.73 FOR THIS SERVICE. NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN #ST001-08, ITEM #10024291, WAS ISSUED 2/08/08 FOR THE 2007 RAV4 STEERING COMPONENT. IN SEARCHING MYCARSTATS.COM ALONG WITH OTHER SITES ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE AND COMPLAINT. A REPAIR COST OF $479.73 IS SUBSTANTIAL, AND SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED, I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS STEERING SHAFT COMPONENT FOR THE 2007 RAV4. *KB

Mileage: 130,000

STEERING MAKES POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING SPACES. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS SHRUGGED OFF AS NOT A BIG DEAL, BUT THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $500 TO FIX. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE. IT WAS LUBED AND I WAS TOLD THAT MIGHT HELP AND THAT IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY; HOWEVER AFTER REVIEWING COMPLAINTS ON-LINE, IT APPEARS A LOT OF '07 RAV'S HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AT DIFFERENT MILEAGE POINTS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY TOYOTA. I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE ON THIS. *KB

Mileage: 80,000

I NOTICED A 'CLUNKING SOUND' WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL EITHER DIRECTION ON MY TOYOTA RAV 4 2007 VEHICLE. THIS IS TOYOTA VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU WANT PROOF CHECK BELOW LINK THAT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND REPLY TO MY EMAIL. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2007/STEERING/MAKES_NOISE_WHEN_TURNING_THE_STEERING_WHEEL.SHTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-RAV4/TS93FJA7TI04QEESV/P3 HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/DEALER-RECOMMENDS-I-REPLACE-THE-INTERMEDIATE-STEERING-SHAFT-IN-25-YEAR-OLD-RAV4-291 HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.DEVDAILY.COM/BLOG/POST/PAGE-1/RAV4-STEERING-NOISE-EPIDEMIC. *TR

RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED A 'CLUNKING SOUND' WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL EITHER DIRECTION ON MY TOYOTA RAV 4 2007 VEHICLE. I AM BRINGING IN THIS VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED OUT BY MY LOCAL DEALER. I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALL NOTICES ON THIS STEERING NOISE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4, 2007. I HEARD STEERING COLUMN NOISE RIGHT AFTER IT CROSSED 35000 MILE ONLY. I READ IN THE INTERNET MANY RAV4 USER MENTION THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA KNOWINGLY NOT RECALLING THE VEHICLES TO FIX IT. THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH $550 COST. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED BY MANY RAV4 BUYERS, TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THIS FREE. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

PURCHASED THE ABOVE VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE ON OCTOBER 25 2011 FROM AN AUTO BROKER IN ORANGE, CA WHO HAD ADVERTISED THE CAR IN AUTOTRADER.COM AS A CLEAN AND LOW MILEAGE(UNDER 26,000 MILES) AND IN HIS EMAIL TO ME STATED THAT THE UNIT WAS COMPLETELY INSPECTED AND WARRANTY. SINCE BUYING IT 2 1/2 DAYS AGO WE HAVE ONLY TAKEN IT OUT ON 3 OCCASIONS LOCALLY AS I HAVE A RENTED CAR AND WANTED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE RENTED CAR WHILST WE HAVE IT. I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT JUST FELT WEIRD AND UNSAFE. HAVING GOOGLED THE PROBLEM I REALIZE THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OF RAV 4 AND SO MANY THEIR PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE BROKER AND WAITING TO HEAR FROM HIM. I AM AMAZED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT TREAT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SERIOUSLY TO DO A FREE REPAIR AND RECALL. I CALLED THEM THIS MORNING AND THEY STATED AS THE CAR IS OVER 3 YEARS THEN THERE IS NO WARRANTY!!! TOYOTA PLEASE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND DO NOT RISK PEOPLES LIFE!! AS FAR AS THE BROKER IS CONCERNED I HAVE TO RESERVE JUDGMENT UNTIL I SEE HIM AND FIND OUT WHAT HE IS WILLING TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THE BROKER IS SOLUTIONS AUTO SALES, MISSION VIEJO, CA BUT I MET HIM AND BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HIS OFFICE IN ORANGE, CA. *TR

Mileage: 26,000

LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A "CLUNKING" NOISE AND LOOSE FEEL TO THE STEERING SYSTEM OF MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO REPAIR THIS ITEM AT THEIR EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A DEFECT ACCORDING TO THIER OWN BULLETINS. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0319-08" TO TELL THE TOYOTA MECHANICS HOW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFTS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A MANDATED RECALL BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING INJURED DUE TO STEERING FAILURE! WHEN CONTACTING TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES, THEY ALSO REFUSE TO TELL CONSUMERS WHAT GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THEY ARE CLEARLY TRYING TO AVOID PAYING FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT!!! *TT

Mileage: 43,137

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 IS MAKING AN UNSETTLING CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT HANDS TURNS. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY COUNTLESS TOYOTA RAV4 AND CAMRY OWNERS, AND TOYOTA HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGING DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD WEAR OUT IN A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 40K MILES, AND IS A TOYOTA DESIGN FLAW. QUOTED REPAIR COST IS ~$800, BUT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS IT IS IMPACTING. ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING COMPONENTS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

AT AROUND 60,000 MILES, MY 2007 RAV4 BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD THUMPING, KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHAFTS EVERY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE ISSUE WAS NOTICEABLY WORSE AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE IMPACT COULD BE FELT AS A TREMOR THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. BY 70,000 MILES, I FEARED FOR MY SAFETY DRIVING AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 35MPH. THE PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ALL THREE ADVISED THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD BE REPAIRED URGENTLY AS IT IS AN IMMEDIATE DRIVER SAFETY CONCERN. FURTHER RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH 2006-2008 YEAR RAV4S. TOYOTA RECOGNIZES THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILURES ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT THE ISSUE OF TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. THIS FLAW IS COVERED BY WARRANTY FOR VEHICLES UNDER 3 YEARS OF 36,000 MILES, BUT COSTS OVER $1,000 TO REPAIR (AT THE OWNER''S COST) OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS ISSUE OBVIOUSLY RELATES TO A DESIGN/MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION DEFICIENCY WITH THIS MODEL. OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ALREADY LISTED ON NHTSA SITE. ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM CLEARLY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THUS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA IS KNOWINGLY IMPOSING RISK ON ITS DRIVERS UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS DEALT WITH, BY A MANDATORY RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

WHENEVER I TURN THE WHEEL (DOES NOT MATTER WHAT DIRECTION) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN IT MAKES A CLUNK NOISE, AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR HANDS. *TR

THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. LOOKING AT SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IT WOULD APPEAR THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RAV4'S MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN. THERE IS ALSO A LOUD INTERMITTENT MOANING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO TOYOTA SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE FOUND. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

I BEGAN HEARING A CLUNK IN MY STEERING COLUMN APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO. I PURCHASED MY 2007 RAV 4 AT THE END OF JANUARY 2008. IT HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (2/8/08) ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN: HTTP://WW2.JUSTANSWER.COM/UPLOADS/SND27613/2008-10-14_215655_RAV_4_STEERING_2.PDF. NOW I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS NEEDED TO REPLACE AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (5,000 MILES OR 9 MONTHS TOO LATE). TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. MY MECHANIC URGED ME NOT TO DO ANY LONG DISTANCE DRIVING OR WAIT VERY LONG TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR 5 DAYS (APPARENTLY MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!!!!). PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 40,000

WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, VEHICLE MAKES A THUMPING NOISE. THE THUMPING NOISE SEEMS TO COME FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. I FEAR LOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OF THE VEHICLE, AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. I FEAR THIS DEFECT IN THE STEERING WILL IMPACT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I FEAR COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 DEVELOPED CLUNKING THAT IS HEARD AND FELT IN STEERING AT SLOW SPEEDS (EXAMPLE: PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE.) WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED ROUTINELY AND FOR ANOTHER RECALL (CARPET/GAS PEDAL), THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION. THE PROBLEM WAS THE "STEERING ROD" AND REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. THE CAR IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT "WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE" AND THAT "IT WOULD GET WORSE." GIVEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS ALREADY DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNERS, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. IS WAITING FOR A COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS RECALLED? SINCE TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, CAN NHTSA TAKE A PROACTIVE RESPONSE, RATHER THAN WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT WITH FATALITY TO PUSH THE ISSUE? *TT

Mileage: 65,000

STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA HAS ISSUED T-SB-0318-08 BULLETIN WITH A PROCEDURE TO REPAIR AN INADEQUATELY DESIGNED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT LONG-TERM SAFETY AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF THIS REPAIR IS NOT DONE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL AND OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 172,000

CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED IN 2007 TOYOTA RAV4, WHICH STARTED AT 39,000 MILES AND REMAINS AT 51,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 39,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV4. STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ITEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *KB

Mileage: 47,500

2007 TOYOTA RAV4. STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ITEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *KB

Mileage: 47,500

TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SB0318-08 DESCRIBES A STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILURE THAT IS WIDESPREAD (BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH) FOR THE 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE TSB ALSO INDICATES THAT A NEWLY DESIGNED PART IS REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS WAITED THE 3 YEAR - 36 MONTHS WARRANTY TO EXPIRE IN ORDER TO CHARGE ITS CUSTOMERS TO FIX THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT - AT A COST OF OVER $1,000. GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE RECOGNITION BY TOYOTA THAT FAILURES OCCUR FREQUENTLY AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT VIA A NEWLY DESIGNED PART - A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SO OWNER'S CAN HAVE THIS PART REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 43,721

STEERING SYSTEM MAKES KNOCKING NOISES WHEN CAR IS TURNING EITHER RIGHT OF LEFT. USUALLY AT SLOW SPEED. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

WHEN MOVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, CLUNKING SOUNDS ARE HEARD. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA, IT WAS DISMISSED AS BEING A RESULT OF THE COLD WEATHER. WARMER WEATHER AND SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN; A PROBLEM TOYOTA IS AWARE OF, BUT HAS NOT RESPONDED TO PROACTIVELY. *TT

Mileage: 40,000

STEERING IS BEGINNING TO FEEL LOOSE. WHEN MAKING TURNS TO RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND AT LOW SPEEDS. GETTING WORSE WITH TIME. THIS APPEARS TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION DESCRIBED BY MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS WHO ARE REPORTING THAT LED TO THEIR REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS ON WHICH TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT NO RECALL. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. FIRST NOTICED THE CLUNKING SOUND AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. *TT

Mileage: 45,000

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND TOYOTA HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DEALING WITH IT; STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND IS COVERED UNDER TWO NUMBERS; ST001-08 AND LATER T-SB-0318-08. THE SHAFT IS COMING APART AND MAKES NOISE PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEED. ACCORDING TO REPORTS IT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES. I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF MY PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD THE NOISE WAS NOTHING; THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED IN THEIR SYSTEM. LATER I FOUND OUT WHAT THIS ISSUE WAS AND THAT THEY KNEW. SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET IT FIXED BUT THEY WANT $800 TO FIX WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN DEFECT. THEY RECENTLY OFFERED TO FIX IT FOR $600; NOT MUCH OF AN OFFER SINCE MY LOCAL MECHANIC WILL DO IT FOR THE SAME PRICE. SINCE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE WITH ISSUES AND I WOULD ASSUME POSES A SAFETY ISSUE I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO DO A GENERAL RECALL. I HOPE YOU CAN FORCE THEM TO DO SUCH. *KB

Mileage: 35,000

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND TOYOTA HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DEALING WITH IT; STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND IS COVERED UNDER TWO NUMBERS; ST001-08 AND LATER T-SB-0318-08. THE SHAFT IS COMING APART AND MAKES NOISE PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEED. ACCORDING TO REPORTS IT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES. I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF MY PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD THE NOISE WAS NOTHING; THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED IN THEIR SYSTEM. LATER I FOUND OUT WHAT THIS ISSUE WAS AND THAT THEY KNEW. SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET IT FIXED BUT THEY WANT $800 TO FIX WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN DEFECT. THEY RECENTLY OFFERED TO FIX IT FOR $600; NOT MUCH OF AN OFFER SINCE MY LOCAL MECHANIC WILL DO IT FOR THE SAME PRICE. SINCE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE WITH ISSUES AND I WOULD ASSUME POSES A SAFETY ISSUE I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO DO A GENERAL RECALL. I HOPE YOU CAN FORCE THEM TO DO SUCH. *KB

Mileage: 35,000

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. I NOTICED A CLANKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD "INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACEMENT." MY CAR WAS JUST 1000 MILES OVER OF THE 36000 MILES WARRANTY. DEALER SAID IT WILL COST ME 600 PLUS TAX TO FIX IT. BUT THEY ALSO MENTIONED THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE TO FIX RIGHT AWAY. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT MANY TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS A BULLETIN STATING THIS IS CAUSED BY A LACK OF GREASE AT ONE OF THE JOINTS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT TOYOTA SHOULD FIX AT THEIR COST. I THINK IT IS TIME FOR THE DEALER TO TAKE SOME ACTION REGARDING THIS. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

TOYOTA RAV4 STEERING, CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS DISTINCTIVE CLUNKING, CLACKING AND BANGING SOUNDS WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. NOTICED IT AT 37,204 MILES, RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. HAS TSB ON THIS PROBLEM WHICH REVEALS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT DEFECT AND NEW VERSION AVAILABLE FOR FIX. WEB CHECK ALSO REVEALS EPIDEMIC EXISTS FOR THIS PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CONFIRM PROBLEMS WHICH THEY DID. CALLED TOYOTA BUT THEY WILL DO OR PAY NOTHING SINCE VEHICLE IS PAST WARRANTY. WHAT DOES WARRANTY HAVE TO DO WITH THIS? THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. I AM VERY ANGRY AT TOYOTA AND IT'S STANCE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. A MANDATORY RECALL NEEDS TO BE ENACTED. *TR

Mileage: 37,240

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE WAS EXHIBITED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF THE STEERING SHAFT WAS NOT REPLACED, THE VEHICLE COULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

STEERING BEGAN EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT 'CLUNKING' FEEL AND NOISE. IT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA GARAGE FOR REPAIR, AS I WAS CONCERNED THE STEERING WOULD FAIL, AND WAS DISTURBINGLY SURPRISED TO FIND THEY HAD THE PART IN STOCK. I USE TO WORK IN AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIPS PARTS DEPARTMENTS AND WE NEVER STOCKED A PART OF THIS NATURE AS IT WAS AN ITEM THAT DIDN'T NORMALLY WEAR OUT. COST TO REPLACE IT WAS AROUND $500. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS ITEM HAS A POOR HISTORY THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF BUT DIDN'T NOTIFY THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

AT ANY TIME DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN CAN MAKE AN AUDIBLE CLUNK WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. IT GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE WORRY IS THAT THE STEERING JOINT COULD COMPLETELY DISLOCATE DISABLING CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM DOCUMENTED IN A TSB BY THE MANUFACTURER. TYPICAL REPAIR COSTS CAN EXCEED $800. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

STEERING COLUMN HAS A CATCH IN IT WHEN TURNING...TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ..BUT THEIR HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT...

CLUNKING-GRINDING SOUND IN STEERING COLUMN WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED RAV4 DOES NOT TRACK ON HIGHWAY AS IT DID BEFORE...LIKES TO WANDER, ALWAYS CORRECTING THE STEERING. DEALER STATES THERE IS A TSB TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

Mileage: 35,700

DRIVER OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO SKID AND INTERMITTENT WARNING BEEP CAME ON. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND UPON EXITING AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, DRIVER SAW THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS SLANTED INWARD APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN. ALL OTHER TIE RODS APPEARED NORMAL. TIE ROD WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 43,500 MILEAGE. *TR

Mileage: 43,500

CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING. TOYOTA WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIRING COSTS BEING CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

REPLACED LOWER AND MIDDLE STEERING SHAFT. REPLACED STABILIZER BAR CONTROL END LINKS, FRONT AND REAR AND STRUTS.

Mileage: 57,594

CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING MECHANISM. REPLACED LOWER AND MIDDLE STEERING SHAFT AND FRONT AND REAR END LINKS. *TR

Mileage: 57,594

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHENEVER ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 60,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A KNOCKING NOISE WAS EXHIBITED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHENEVER MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 20,000

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 10322423 I FILED ON MARCH 26, 2010. AT 37,109 MILES MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD A BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. AT 46,781 MILES I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT MY LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY (NOT A TOYOTA DEALER). THEY RECOMMENDED I HAVE TOYOTA LOOK AT THE VEHICLE SINCE THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS BAD. I TOOK THE RAV4 TO A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALER IN THE AREA. THEY CONFIRMED THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WHILE THEY WERE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE'S STEERING SYSTEM. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE RACK AND PINION BEING REPLACED, THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HAD NO POWER STEERING AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AT 48,555. THE SECOND TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE WAS BEING CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION. I DO NOT HAVE THE BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING SINCE THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) FOR THE BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN ' REPLACEMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS. THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE BINDING AND THUMPING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION, NOT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION PROBABLY WAS BAD AT 37,109 MILES. MANY 2006-2008 RAV4S HAVE REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMNS. DOES TOYOTA REALLY KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS ON THE 2006-2008 RAV4S? IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA DOES NOT CONSIDER A STEERING PROBLEM A SERIOUS ENOUGH PROBLEM FOR A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 46,781

AT AROUND 20,000 MILES, MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN I MADE RIGHT HAND TURNS. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SOUND. OVER TIME, THE CLUNKING GREW LOUDER AND COULD BE FELT TRAVELING UP THE STEERING SHAFT. I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN JUST SHY OF THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY LIMIT AND WAS TOLD THAT ONCE AGAIN THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DETECT ANY SOUND/DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR A SAFETY RECALL ON AN OIL HOSE, I MENTIONED THE STEERING PROBLEM YET AGAIN AND LO AND BEHOLD, THEY COULD NOW DETECT IT! HOWEVER, MY CAR WAS NOW PAST THE 36 MONTH COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY COVERAGE, SO THE REPAIR WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN PULLED UP THE SERVICE BULLETIN T-SB-0318-08, DATED 10-20-2008. IT CLEARLY DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM JUST AS I HAD DESCRIBED IT TO THE TECHNICIAN, AND WAS POSTED ALMOST A YEAR BEFORE MY SECOND TRIP TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED YET, AND NOW THE CLUNK IS HEARD AND FELT WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME WILL BE IF I IGNORE THE PROBLEM INDEFINITELY. I DO KNOW THAT I AM ONE OF MANY 2006-2008 RAV OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS DEFECT ON THE INTERNET. BASED ON THIS NUMBER, TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THE DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

ON 2007 AND 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES, THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FAIL. TOYOTA HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT DESCRIBES THE FIX: TSB 0318-08 REV1. DRIVERS WILL BEGIN TO FEEL A "THUNK" IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND MY MECHANIC (AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP) INFORMED ME THIS WOULD BECOME A SAFETY PROBLEM IF LEFT UNFIXED. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CAUSED BY ANY KIND OF DRIVER ERROR. RATHER, IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE STEERING COMPONENTS. ON MY 2007 RAV4, THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AT AROUND 55,000 MILES, AND WAS FIXED PER THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCED ABOVE. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

TSB ST001-08 STEERING GEAR BOX SHAFT . I HAVE A SEVERE CLUNKING NOISE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE NOISE APPEARS WHENEVER I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN A LITTLE BIT AND CONTINUES INDEFINITELY. I HAVE HAD THIS NOISE FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. ACCORDING TO OTHER RAV4 OWNERS, TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGING THE OWNERS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE NOISE STARTED AND NOW IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NO LONGER COVERED (THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 3 YEARS AGO AND HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT). WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 1, 2010 FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE MILEAGE WAS ONLY 26496 (I PURCHASED IT ON JUNE 16, 2007). I MENTIONED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANY PROBLEMS. I AM UNABLE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND DO NOT FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, AND TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR IT (IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM, ONE THAT AFFECTS 2006 AND 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES). *TR

I OWN A 2007 RAV4 THAT HAVE KNOCKING SOUNDS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AT A COST OF $355.00. THE CAR HAS 31000 MILES AND JUST PASSED THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIR. MANY OTHER 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0319-08" TO TELL THE TOYOTA MECHANICS HOW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFTS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 LTD 4X4 HAS AN AUDIBLE AND PHYSICAL CLUNKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING AT ANY SPEED IN EITHER DIRECTION. I BEGAN NOTICING THE SOUND AROUND 80,000 MILES AND THEN BEGAN FEELING IT AROUND 90,000. I HAD IT LOOKED AT MY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN AND WAS TOLD MY ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS DEFECTIVE BUSHINGS THAT ARE A DESIGN FLAW AND THE ENTIRE DUAL STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR $820.00. I WAS ALSO TOLD IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE STEERING WILL NO LONGER BE FUNCTIONAL WHEN THE BUSHING ACTUALLY GIVE OUT. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE HELL WOULD HAPPEN GOING 60 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY ON MY DAILY COMMUTE WHEN MY STEERING FAILS. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW BY TOYOTA, HOW ON EARTH DOES THIS NOT QUALIFY AS A SAFETY RECALL!!!?!?!?!?! *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I OWN TWO 2007 RAV4S. BOTH HAVE KNOCKING SOUNDS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IN ONE OF THE CARS LAST WEEK AT A COST OF $440.00. I WILL HAVE TO DO THE SAME REPAIR ON THE SECOND RAV4 THIS WEEK. THERE ARE LESS THAN 33,000 ON EACH CAR. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIR. MANY OTHER 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0319-08" TO TELL THE TOYOTA MECHANICS HOW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFTS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.

STEERING HAS HAD A "CLUNKING" NOISE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I READ ONLINE FROM NUMEROUS OTHER 2007 RAV4 OWNERS THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0318-08 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED ONE OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS HAS INSTRUCTED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. REPAIRS COST ME $414.00. NOISE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. I OWN TWO RAV4S YEAR 2007. BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Mileage: 23,000

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WHICH SOME OF THE RAV4 OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING AS I BROWSE THROUGH THE INTERNET I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYBODY FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS. MY CAR IS ONLY 38 MONTHS OLD AND BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. I HAVE 37000 MI ON IT. WHAT I NOTICED IS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I'M TURNING SLOWLY TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, MOSTLY WHEN I'M PARKING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT IS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL MIGHT GET STUCKED. *LN

Mileage: 37,000

STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT - GRINDING AND BUMPING THROUGH STEERING COLUMN. *LN

Mileage: 14,010

POPPING AND CLUNKING SOUND AND FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL NOTICEABLE MORE AT LOW SPEEDS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ONE THAT TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE OF TO THE POINT OF ISSUING SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2008 ADDRESSING THE CONCERN. THE SOLUTION IS A RE-DESIGN OF THE COLUMN COMPONENTS. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT PASSED ON TO VEHICLE OWNERS AS APPARENTLY TOYOTA REALIZED MANY FAILURES WOULD OCCUR OR BE NOTICED BEYOND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS DESERVES A RECALL. A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW IN A SAFETY COMPONENT SHOULD NOT COST THE CONSUMER $700 TO $1000 TO REPAIR. NOR SHOULD IT TAKE A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS OR LOSS OF ONE LIFE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

I NOTICED A "POPPING" SOUND AND STARTED FEELING A "THUNK" IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ~ 40,000 MILES IN OUR 2007 RAV4. THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS TYPICAL AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. UPON CHECKING INCIDENT REPORTS I DISCOVERED IT IS CERTAINLY TYPICAL, BUT WHETHER I SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT IT IS UNDETERMINED. TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2008, NEITHER THEY NOR THEIR DEALERS INFORMED THE OWNERS. THE PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT IT WARRANTED A REDESIGN OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT COMPONENTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED THROUGH A RECALL.

Mileage: 40,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 (46K MILES) STEERING MAKES POPPING AND CRACKING SOUND DURING STOPPED AND LOW SPEED TURNS. TOYOTA ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN OCTOBER 2008 ALLOWING FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ONLY IF CUSTOMER COMPLAINED. IT APPEARS TOYOTA WAS BETTING THE PART FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AFTER THE 3 YEAR 36K MILE WARRANTY. TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. A STEERING COMPONENT DEFECT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. TOYOTA QUOTED A $480 REPAIR COST. *TR

Mileage: 46,376

I RECENTLY REPLACE BOTH INTERMEDIATE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT IN MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 DUE TO EXCESSIVE CLICKING NOISE AND DISTURBING FEEDBACK ON STEERING WHEEL. CAR HAS 49K MILES ON IT, NOTICE THE ISSUE AROUND 45K MILES BUT UNFORTUNATELY A LOCAL MECHANIC MISDIAGNOISED THE PROBLEM AS A TIE ROD ISSUE. AS THE NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL FEEDBACK BECAME MORE SERIOUS, I WENT TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION. GIVEN THE DANGERS AROUND LOSS OF STEERING WHEEL AND POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS CRASH, I BELIEVE THIS WEAR AND TEAM ON THE STEERING SHAFT IS WAY TO PREMATURE AT THIS AGE. I HAVE NEVER HAD STEERING WHEEL DEFECT IN OVER 8 CARS I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 4 YEARS OLD. PART REPLACED INCLUDED BOTH STEERING WHEEL SHAFT AND ASSEMBLY AT TOYOTA DEALER WITH NEW PART. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

THERE IS A CHRONIC CLICKING/CLUNKING SOUND ON THE STEERING COLUMN AS IT IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT AS THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. MIGHT BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE OVER THE SHORT OR LONG TERM. DO WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH HAPPENS BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS LOOKED AT? *TR

Mileage: 40,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. HOURS LATER, HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE BATTERY WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. WHENEVER HE WOULD MAKE A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MADE A "CLANKING" NOISE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,500.

Mileage: 77,500

KNOCKING AND BANGING NOISES WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. SOMETIMES WHEN GOING OVER MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. MOST NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES WE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AT 69,457 MILES WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. HE INFORMED US THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT $456.00 WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER ASKING ABOUT A POSSIBLE STEERING DEFECT I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL MAINTENANCE. WITHOUT A REPAIR I AM AFRAID I MIGHT LOOSE MY STEERING.

Mileage: 69,457

LAST NIGHT, MY RAV4 BATTERY DIED DUE PRESUMABLY TO THE REAR DOOR LIGHT GETTING ACCIDENTALLY TURNED ON. UPON JUMP STARTING THE CAR, EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THEN, THIS MORNING, THE BATTERY WAS NOT QUITE UP HIGH ENOUGH TO START THE CAR, SO I JUMP STARTED IT AGAIN. IT STARTED, BUT A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY, I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE ASSIST. IT REQUIRED EVERY OUNCE OF FORCE I COULD MUSTER TO TURN THE VEHICLE AROUND AND GET IT BACK TO MY HOUSE. THANKFULLY, THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS NEAR MY HOUSE AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY LAST NIGHT OR THE CHP WOULD HAVE BEEN SCRAPING ME OFF A BRIDGE POST. THE RAV4 CANNOT REALISTICALLY BE STEERED BY AN AVERAGE PERSON WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST BECAUSE OF THE GEARING RATIO, MAKING THIS A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. IF A VEHICLE CANNOT SAFELY OPERATE, THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT OPERATE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT, BECAUSE THE BATTERY PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN POWER SMOOTHING, AND BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE PUMPS ARE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, A LOW BATTERY CAN RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE PUMPS WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL FUNCTIONAL. THIS CAN EASILY RESULT IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE BARRELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 80 MPH. I BELIEVE THAT FIXING THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES A FUNDAMENTAL REDESIGN OF THE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PUMPS TO ADD ADDITIONAL CAPACITORS SO THAT THE BATTERY IS NOT PLAYING SUCH A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SMOOTHING OUT THE PULSATING DC FROM THE ALTERNATOR ALONG WITH THE ADDITION OF SENSOR HARDWARE TO DETECT A LOW BATTERY CONDITION AND ACTIVATE AN INDICATOR LIGHT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. IDEALLY, THE STEERING GEARBOX SHOULD ALSO BE REDESIGNED WITH A LOWER GEAR RATIO SO THAT IT DOES NOT BECOME UNDRIVEABLE. WITHOUT THESE FIXES, THE 2007 RAV4 IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNSAFE. THIS DESIGN FLAW PROBABLY ALSO AFFECTS MOST OTHER LATE MODELS OF TOYOTA. *TR

Mileage: 22,300

2007 TOYOTA RAV4. HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT MORE AT SLOW SPEED. TOOK TO THE DEALER LAST OCT 15 AND REPLACED STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY CHARGE $520.00 FOR LABOR AND PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, HE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND; THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 03/02/11

Mileage: 43,000

AN OBVIOUS "CLUNKING" SOUND BECAME EVIDENT RIGHT AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION TO THE SOUND A "LOOSENESS" WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN IS ALSO EVIDENT. RESEARCH SHOWS THOUSANDS OF THESE REPORTED. DEALERS HAVE BEEN REPLACING PARTS TO NO AVAIL AND TO MUCH COST. THE PROBLEM CAN BE EASILY HEARD AT LOW SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING IN OR OUT OF DRIVEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, ETC. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH APPROX 65,000MILES REQUIRING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT IN STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART IN TOYOTA CARS AS IT IS DOCUMENTED FREQUENTLY ONLINE BY TOYOTA OWNERS. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN SENT TO DEALERS RE THIS SITUATION. HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT ALL TOYOTA OWNERS ARE AT RISK. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

I HAVE A 2007 RAV 4. IN AUG 2008 IT STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE NOISE WENT AWAY. NOW IT IS OCT. 2010 AND THE NOISE IS BACK BUT VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. SEARCHING 07 RAV 4 CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN I REALIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A PRONOUNCED CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDANT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE TWO INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS IN THE VEHICLE IN WHICH BOTH WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 12/16/11*LJ UPDATED 01/20/12

Mileage: 48,000

KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN OF 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. HAPPENS WHEN TRUCK IS MOVING AND TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 . REPORTED A LOUD CLUNKING IN THE STEERING. THE NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL KEEPS GETTING WORSE. CAN FEEL A CLUNKING IN THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPORTS, STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACING. MANY OTHERS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS. NOT MUCH HELP FROM TOYOTA IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. *TR

THERE IS A LOUD "KLUNK" IN STEERING IN THE TURNS. TOYOTA DEALERS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION, BUT NO RECALL. I FEEL UNSAFE AND ITS SOUNDS LIKE DEFECTIVE TO ME - MY TOYOTA RAV4 07 ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH 40000 MILES. DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS? I JUST WANT THOSE BIG GUYS IN JAPAN KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I AM WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO TAKE ACTION. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

STEERING GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAUSING PROBLEMS. A LOOSE THUNK SOUND IN STEERING WHILE TURNING CORNERS. ALSO SOME VIBRATIONS ON HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 19,191

1. WHILE DRIVING A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 AT LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGED, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE RADIO SILENCED FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE SAFELY STOPPED. NORMAL STEERING RESUMED RADIO CAME BACK ON AND CLUSTER LIGHTS STOPPED FLASHING. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MILES AND PARKED FOR APPRX. 1 HOUR. 2. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, AGAIN NO RADIO, BUT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED TO FULL BRIGHTNESS. NO WARNING/FAULT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAR WAS "JUMP-STARTED". WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING STALL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGED AGAIN. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED. THE CAR ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING NORMALLY. 3. WHILE LOADING THE CAR, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE REPEATEDLY 4 - 5 TIMES. THE TOYOTA OF WALNUT CREEK (CALIFORNIA) TECHNICIAN STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS A DISCHARGED BATTERY, CAUSING THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST TO NOT OPERATE AND STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CANNOT ENGAGE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK DID ENGAGE, NOT A LACK OF STEERING ASSIST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED HE "CANNOT DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, HE NOTICED THE SAME FAILURE EVEN AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

Mileage: 28,000

CLUNK IN POWER STEERING AND/OR RACK-AND-PINION AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A SLOW SPEED (CAN BE HEARD AND FELT ON STEERING WHEEL). HAS BEEN REPORTED ORIGINALLY ON 10/03/07 (ODI# 102047400), AND AFTER THAT GLEN TOYOTA PERFORMED REPAIR AS DESCRIBED IN TSB ST001-08, BUT REPLACED THE ONLY 1 PART OUT OF 2 DESCRIBED IN TSB - NEW, REINFORCED PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GONE FOR A WHILE BUT RETURNED AS A RESULT OF UNCOMPLETED TSB REPAIR PERFORMED. *TR

Mileage: 40,500

KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 27,000

OUR 2007 RAV4 RECENTLY DEVELOPED A CLUNKING SOUND WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. WE WANT TOYOTA TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, PREFERABLY THROUGH A RECALL, JUST AS GM IS DOING (FEB 2010 GM RECALL ON EPS). LOOKS LIKE MANY OF THE NEW EPS SYSTEMS MADE BY JAPANESE MANUFACTURER JTEKT ARE FAILING, AND WE ARE AFRAID THAT WE ARE SEEING ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A POTENTIALLY WORSE PROBLEM. STEERING IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH A PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA TO DO A RECALL, ESPECIALLY AFTER GM HAS DONE SO FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 - CLUNKING AND POPPING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ADVISED BY MY SERVICE MANAGER TO REPLACE STEERING SHAFT BUT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THERE IS NOT A RECALL. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROX A YEAR NOW WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE NOISE IS GETTING WORSE AND HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I HOPE WE DO NOT HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN" MY TOYOTA 2007 RAV4'S STEERING WHEEL MAKES KNOCKING, CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING SINCE SUMMER 2009 EVEN THOUGH IT STILL HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE ON IT. MANY RAV4 OWNERS HAVE THESE PROBLEM AND PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA DO A RECALL ON THIS STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSES ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES A REPLACEMENT OF A INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WHICH COULD COST UP TO $900. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO THIS MATTER. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN" MY TOYOTA 2007 RAV4'S STEERING WHEEL MAKES KNOCKING, CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING SINCE JUNE 2010 EVEN THOUGH IT STILL HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE ON IT. MANY RAV4 OWNERS HAVE THESE PROBLEM AND PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA DO A RECALL ON THIS STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSES ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES A REPLACEMENT OF A INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WHICH COULD COST UP TO $900. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO THIS MATTER. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN IN ANY DIRECTION IT MADE A CLANKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT SINCE THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE STEERING GEAR SHAFT, NUMBER ST001-08. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55000.

Mileage: 36,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH SOME OF THE SERVICE COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,000.

Mileage: 26,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH STEERING MECHANISM CAUSING A CRUNCHING FEELING IN HIS HANDS AND SOUNDS OF METAL GRINDING, ALMOST EVERY TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED. *TGW

CLUNKING IN FRONT WHEN TURNING; DEALER SAYS THE LINKAGE IN STEERING SHAFT (CONNECTING THE TWO PIECES THAT IT IS COMPRISED OF) IS LOOSE AND CREATING THE NOISE - BUT NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. $833 ESTIMATE TO REPAIR. PURCHASE AT 41,587 MILES - AT 45,442 WHENIT WAS CHECKED BY DEALER. DID NOT REPAIR (DO NOT HAVE FUNDS) AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN!!! SAME COMPLAINT FROM NUMEROUS OTHERS AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2007/STEERING/INDEX.SHTML. *TR

Mileage: 45,442

I HAVE A STRONG POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY CAR. IT STARED VERY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR ABOUT 7,000 MILES AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FEEL IT. IT IS NOW PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR THE WORK THAT NOW IS LOUDER THAN EVER. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU TURN WHEN AT A STOP EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS NOT A SERIOUS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL WEB PAGES WITH FEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SO IF IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN WHEN IT BREAKS HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO STEER? FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA RAV4 AND THEY WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 7,000

I 'D LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. TOYOTA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAIR THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE PROBLEM, (PLEASE SEE T-SB-0318-08 OCTOBER 20, 2008). IF THE VEHICLE WERE UNDER WARRANTY, TOYOTA WOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES AT NO COST. HOWEVER, THE COST IS NOT COVERED IF THE VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN 36,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW UP ON MY CAR UNTIL AFTER 36,000 MILES. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST TO FIX THIS TOYOTA PART DEFECT WILL BE OUT OF MY POCKET, AND IT'S VERY SUBSTANTIAL ($890) . I'M AFRAID THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY CREATE POTENTIAL STEERING PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

PURCHASED A NEW 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM MCGEORGE TOYOTA IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. IN MID 2009 THE STEERING STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE. HAD TO TAKE THE CAR THRICE TO THE DEALER BUT FINALLY THEY SAID THERE IS A BULLETIN FOR THE ISSUE AND REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNDER WARRANTY. DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED AND TAKEN THE CAR BACK MANY TIMES SINCE BUT THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION. THE SOUND IS GETTING LOUDER AND AN ARTICLE IN THE RICHMOND TIMES 05-11-10 INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MANY OF TOYOTA MODEL SUV'S. THE DEALER NOW CLAIMS THAT ALL RAV4'S AND TOYOTA MINIVANS MAKE THE NOISE AND IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I AM CONCERNED SINCE MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

I HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH PROBLEMS ARISE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE CONCERNS FOR MANY CUSTOMER WHO HAVE OWNED RAV 4 AND TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE OR EVEN LETTING THE CUSTOMERS BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT STARTS OFF AS A CLUNK SOUND WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT OR LEFT OR WHEN YOU ARE BACKING UP, IT STARTED FOR AROUND 32,000 BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL I PUSHED THE ISSUE. BY THAT TIME IT WAS JUST PASTED THE WARRANTY (37000 MILES). *TR

OEM BATTERY DIED. VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED. DURING SUBSEQUENT OPERATION POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING DIFFICULTY STEERING VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 STEERING COLUMN (INTERMEDIATE SHAFT). THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT BY TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB IN 2008. ONLY HAVE 16.5K MI. (LOW). DEALER WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANT (BOUGHT IN SEPT. 2006). *TR

Mileage: 16,000

CLUNKING SOUND WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. TOYOTA ISSUED TSB 0318-08 REGARDING ISSUE AND HAS PER THE TSB "A NEW INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION." DESPITE WIDESPREAD FAILURE OF STEERING LINKAGE MECHANISM TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE PART AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

2007 RAV 4SPORT HAS CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. NOTICED IT AROUND 30,000 MILES, & IS ONE OF THE MAINTENANCE ITEMS THE DEALER IS SUPPOSED TO CHECK EVERY 5000 MILE SERVICE WHICH I HAVE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. (INSPECT STEERING LINKAGE AND BOOTS).MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT, & I HAD ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM , & HE ACTED LIKE HE HAD NOT EVER HEARD OF A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING, BUT CAME UP WITH A $590.00 REPAIR PRICE & TOLD ME IT WAS UNSAFE. HE WOULD NOT COVER THE DEFECT BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY COVERED UNTIL 36,000 MILES. I CAME HOME & GOT ON THE INTERNET, & THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS EVERYWHERE. PLEASE HELP? *TR

THERE IS A CLUNKING/KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING SHAFT. ONLY NORMAL USE ON THIS VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS. A FAILURE IN THE STEERING SHAFT COULD CAUSE DEATH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BY ISSUING T-SB-0318-08, BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL OR PAY FOR REPAIR AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS BY THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE CHANGED THE PART USED HERE (NEW PN 45221-42070). THIS IS SERIOUS AND AFFECTS ALL 06-08 RAV4 SUVS. JUST SEARCH FOR "STEERING CLUNK RAV4" IF YOU WANT EVIDENCE.

Mileage: 45,000

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.

Mileage: 37,109

TOYOTA RAV4 2007. I'VE BEEN HEARING UNUSUAL SOUND WHEN I TURN STEERING WHEEL SPECIALLY FROM PARKING POSITION. TOYOTA ELK GROVE CA SAID THIS IS NORMAL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL. ANY NOISE WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL IS NOT NORMAL BECAUSE TURNING STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T SUPPOSE TO PRODUCE NOISE. *TR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF STEERING AT VEHICLE STARTUP. STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE IN EITHER DIRECTION AND P/S INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN RESTARTED FOR STEERING TO FUNCTION. MORE FREQUENTLY - STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE SLIGHTLY AT STARTUP AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO LOCK, BUT CONTINUES TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. TOYOTA DEALER SAID CAUSE WAS LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE AND REPLACED BATTERY. PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER. WILL RETURN VEHICLE - STILL UNDER WARRANTY - FOR ANOTHER REPAIR OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 16,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION AT ANY SPEED HE HEARD A NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT BOTH OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS BE REPLACED. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,025. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,100.

Mileage: 37,025

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 4WD V6 LIMITED THAT HAD A DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED STEERING SHAFT. IN EARLY 2009, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOUD "CLUNK" WHEN MY VEHICLE TURNED SLOWLY (FWD OR BACK FROM A STOP) OR WHEN I ENTERED OR EXITED MY DRIVEWAY. QUICK RESEARCH REVEALED OTHERS WITH THIS CONDITION ON 2006 AND 2007 RAV4S, IT WAS LIKELY A DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT..IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED AT THE JOINT, AND IT WAS WEARING/LOOSENING. TOYOTA HAD APPARENTLY ISSUED A T-SB-0318-08 TO REPLACE THE SHAFT WHEN OWNERS COMPLAINED. I TOOK MY RAV4 IN FOR SERVICE TO CHECK, AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, MY MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, AND DESPITE NUMEROUS DIPLOMATIC ATTEMPTS ON MY PART, TOYOTA DENIED COVERAGE ON THE BASIS OF MILEAGE, DESPITE MY ARGUMENT OF A SAFETY DEFECT. I ARGUED THAT THIS LOOSENING/DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT COULD BREAK AND CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WAS IGNORED NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TOYOTA "CUSTOMER SERVICE" CHANNELS. MY LOCAL DEALER WAS FRIENDLY, BUY UNABLE TO CONVINCE TOYOTA TO HELP. I FINALLY DECIDED TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE, FEARING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY STEERING, AND TOYOTA COULD NOT ASSURE ME THAT THE STEERING WAS SAFE WITHOUT THE REPAIR (THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT). I TOLD THEM I WOULD BE REPORTING THIS TO THE NHTSB, AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO CARE. I SPENT OVER $500 TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED STEERING SHAFT, AND I HOPE OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE ARE REPORTING THIS TO HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR POTENTIAL SAFETY DEFECTS. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

STEERING ISSUE WITH 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT. BIG NOISE AND SUDDEN SLIP FEELING IN STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHILE TAKING OUT OF GARAGE OR GETTING IN OR WHILE TAKING TURNS ON BUMPY ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING SHAFT. I HAD MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER IN NUMEROUS OCCASION THE MONTH AFTER MY WARRANTY WORE OUT THEY MENTIONED YES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SEVERAL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM ITS CALLED THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND SOMETIMES BECOMES STUCK. THE DEALER HEADQUARTER TOYOTA (HORRIBLE SERVICER) FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE PART EVEN THOUGH THERE IS RECALLS IN JAPAN FOR THIS SAME SITUATION. I AM NOT ABLE TO COVER THIS EXPENSIVE PART AND SO IM WAITING TO SEE IF THE RECALLS COMES TO THE US BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 3

2007 RAV4 STEERING CLUNKING NOISE. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS LOUD CLUNKING NOISES AND "CATCHES" WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. SUPPOSED TO BE A STEERING ISSUE CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, BUT TOYOTA NOT WILL NOT COVER ANY REPAIRS THAT COST UPWARDS OF $1,000. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RESPOND TO COMPLAINANTS ABOUT IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. IF STEERING FAILS, WILL TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE? *TR

Mileage: 45,000

STEERING COLUMN IN 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. PROBLEM IS S MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT WILL NOT BE CORRECTED IF THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE WHENEVER STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AND HAS A TENDENCY TO "WANDER" TO SIDE OF ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

LARGE STEERING NOISE WHEN CAR IS TURNED AT CERTAIN SPEEDS, WHICH IS WELL CHARACTERIZED BY OTHER SON MY 2007 RAV4. SEE A LINK: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0C40D0 THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SAFE THE CAR IS ENLIGHT OF TOYOTA'S QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES. *TW

Mileage: 5,000

STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM WITH 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A STRANGE NOISE EVERY TIME HE TURNED THE WHEEL. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED A NEW STEERING SHAFT WAS NEEDED. THE SEALS ON THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL SYSTEM HAD DRIED UP AND WAS CAUSING THE JOINT TO MAKE A NOISE. *JB UPDATED 03/08/10.*JB

Mileage: 40,000

I HAVE AN 07 TOYOTA RAV AND RECENTLY HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING. WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING ROD IS FAILING. THE SPLINES ARE HITTING THE BOTTOM ASSEMBLY. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS SAFE TO DRIVE. COST WAS $415.70 FOR PARTS AND 178.00 FOR LABOR. THE ISSUE IS NOT THE COST BUT CONCERN THAT SOMETHING (INTERMEDIATE STEERING ROD) IN MY STEERING IS FAILING (WHEN WILL IT FAIL COMPLETELY) AND ACCORDING TO SERVICE REP...THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. PERHAPS HE SHOULD BE TURNING THE WHEEL, LISTENING TO THE "CLUNKING SOUND OF THE FAILING SPINES" AND THEN THINKING, "THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE!" *TR

Mileage: 65,225

THUMPING/CLUNKING SOUND HEARD/FELT IN STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT. DIAGNOSED AS BAD INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. VEHICLE ONLY 9,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY AND FAILURE OF THIS PART AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE IS ABSURD. HAD IT REPLACED AS POTENTIAL SAFETY THREAT. SELLING DEALER INITIALLY ADVISED THAT REPAIR WOULD COST $839.00 BUT AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION OF TOYOTA TSB'S AND INTERNET INFO THAT THIS PART HAS ALSO BEEN DEFECTIVE IN CAMRYS AND AVALONS TOYOTA AGREED TO PROVIDE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY-SAVING $517. I PAID LABOR OF $321.00. *TR

Mileage: 42,000

POPPING NOISE IN STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS, INDICATING POSSIBLE EVENTUAL FAILURE OF STEERING FUNCTION. TOYOTA HAS BEEN NONRESPONSIVE TO CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, THOUGH THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FAILURE THAT FREQUENTLY SHOWS JUST AS VEHICLE EXCEEDS WARRANTY. GOVERNMENT PRESSURE IS REQUIRED FOR TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE THIS NUISANCE ISSUE BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 36,100

I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT ON MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. MY CAR WAS MAKING POPPING NOISES WHEN STEERING LEFT AND RIGHT. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT. MY CAR WAS ABOVE THE MILEAGE AND OUT OF THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. SINCE THERE WAS A TSB THEY SAID THEY WOULD TEMPORARILY FIX IT BY LUBING IT. THE ACTUAL REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING SHAFT ON MY CAR COST ME OVER $755.08 OUT OF POCKET. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY THIS SINCE I AM NOT SURE IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE TO EVEN CONTINUE DRIVING MY CAR. I KNOW OF ONE COMPLAINT ON THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE AND I THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT WE CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THIS OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 52,388

I HAVE 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE STEERING START MAKING KNOCKING / POPPING SOUND WHENEVER I TURN RIGHT OR LEFT. I FOUND TSB FROM THE WEBSITE WHICH IS T-SB-0318-08. THIS TSB IS TO REPLACE STEERING SHAFT. 2006,2007,2008 RAV 4 IS FALL INTO THIS TSB. THE PROBLEM IS TOYOTA WILL DO THIS TSB REPAIR ONLY THE CAR IS BELOW 36K MILE/36 MONTH WHICH IS UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. IF THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, CONSUMER HAS TO PAY ABOUT $700. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE PART REPLACEMENT. IF I DON'T REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE SAFE FOR KEEP DRIVING OR NOT. TOYOTA MUST RECALL THE RAV 4 TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT INSTEAD OF TSB REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY. STEERING IS DIRECTLY RELATED WITH DRIVER'S SAFETY. *TR

Mileage: 35,600

THE BATTERY ON MY WIFE'S 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, & SO ON THE ADVICE OF THE FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA GARAGE, I JUMP STARTED HER CAR TO GET HER HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I DID THE SAME, SO THAT SHE COULD DRIVE IT TO THE GARAGE TO GET FIXED. WHEN SHE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOWEVER, THE STEERING LOCK WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO TURN THE WHEEL & SHE ENDED UP DRIVING TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SHE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED, & TOLD ME, & SO AS I THOUGHT SHE MEANT THAT THE POWER STEERING SIMPLY WASN'T WORKING, I SAID THAT I WOULD DRIVE IT TO THE GARAGE FOR HER. WHEN I STARTED OFF HOWEVER, THE CAR STEERING LOCK STOPPED ME TURNING THE WHEEL, ALTHOUGH ONLY FOR A SECOND OR TWO, BEFORE THE STEERING BEGAN TO WORK CORRECTLY, & SO I VERY SLOWLY & CAREFULLY DROVE THE CAR TO THE GARAGE. THE GARAGE CHECKED THE CAR & SAID THAT IT WAS JUST A FAULTY BATTERY, BUT WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT IF A FAULTY BATTERY COULD CAUSE THE STEERING LOCK TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING, THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, THEY SAID THAT WHEN THEY ASKED TOYOTA, THEY SIMPLY SAID THAT IT WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED, & SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CONSEQUENTLY, I CALLED TOYOTA, & THEY TOLD ME THAT AS THE CAR HAS AN ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE, THE STEERING LOCK COULD ENGAGE WITH A BAD BATTERY. WHEN I SUGGESTED TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICES REP THAT THEY NEEDED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS A SAFETY HAZARD, SHE WASN'T INTERESTED IN HELPING, & POINT BLANK REFUSED TO GIVE ME CONTACT DETAILS FOR HER BOSS, OR ANYONE AT TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA OR JAPAN, ONLY THE CUSTOMER SERVICES DEPT., I.E., PEOPLE LIKE HERSELF. I FIND IT INSULTING THAT TOYOTA NOT ONLY APPEARS NOT TO CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS, BUT ALSO DOESN'T APPEAR TO WANT TO HEAR FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS, E.G., WHEN I TOOK A SURVEY AFTER MY CALL, & ENTERED SOME VERY LOW NUMBERS FOR SERVICE CARE, THE CALL WAS DELIBERATELY CUT OFF BY TOYOTA. SO MUCH FOR JAPANESE SERVICE! *TR

Mileage: 19,250

PART WORN OUT IN STEERING COLUMN THEY CALL IT THE SHAFT. *TR

Mileage: 19,000

STEERING NOISE-WHETHER TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL A NOISE(CLANKING SOUND). THE FEEL IS ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND WHEEL. THIS VEHICLE HAS 10,000 MI. BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 6,000 MI.. TIRE PRESSURE IS GOOD, I CHECK IT ONCE A WEEK. *TR

Mileage: 7,000

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE,HAD TO DRIVE FROM LORSBURGE N.M.TO EL PASO TX 180 MILES WITH NO ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. TOOK CAR TO DICK POE TOYOTA ON 5/14/08 CAR HAD 2 FAILURE CODES 1-COMPUTER FAILED 2-POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED DEALER WOULD NOT MAKE REPAIRS,CAR IS COVERED BY TOYOTA WITH 100,000 MILES WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 46,799

07 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS HAD "PULL TO LEFT" PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASED 6-07. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR THIS AND STILL CANNOT CORRECT. THEY SAY IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED. THEY FOUND ALIGNMENT. PROBLEM 10-07, BUT JUST X-ROTATED TIRES 3-08 AND SAID WAS CORRECTED. *TR

KNOCKING/POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEN TRUN LEFT OR RIGHT. SOMETIME HAPPENS WHEN MAKE A U-TURN.

Mileage: 12,000

CLUNK IN POWER STEERING (RACK-AND-PINION) WHILE MAKING A TURN AT A SLOW SPEED (CAN BE HEART AND FELT ON STEERING WHEEL). *TR

Mileage: 5,900

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS DIFFERENT ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THEY CORRECTED THE TIRE PRESSURE, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT ALL TOYOTA'S EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS OR ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,100.

Mileage: 15

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE POWER STEERING DID NOT RETURN UNTIL THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,600. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, IT RESET ITSELF, HOWEVER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME, A COMPUTER COMPONENT WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 09/18/07. *JB

Mileage: 1,000