2005 Toyota Camry Steering

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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