2012 Toyota Camry Steering

I own a 2012 Camry LE with about 70,000 miles which is in excellent condition and well-maintained. Recently I began to hear a rattle, tapping or knocking sound apparently from somewhere in the left engine or cabin area. I feel confident its sources is possibly a steering column issue. You sort of feel it whenever you have some rough road surface; and if it’s a bump you hear the metal knock. While it doesn’t appear to cause a steering malfunction. The issue or noise does seem to come from the steering column. Independent research on the web has indicated that countless queries have been reported about this same year vehicle and issue. Described as a small $10 plastic part that degrades thereby allowing the vibration or knocking noise to appear. Cost to repair again is $10 for part and 7-8 hour labor roughly $950 from the actual dealer to repair. Damper Electric Power Steering Motor Shaft, 48254‑28040 Steering Motor Coupling Gear Replacement for Camery 2012-2014 is the questioned part that is inferior or of poor design that breaks down and causing the noise

The steering column u joint is loose and needs to be replaced. This is going to require the entire steering shaft to be replaced and taken apart.

Drivers side steering wheel has a clicking clunking sound and appears this is a well-known issue with this year car that Toyota has never addressed some type of silicone, bearing or washer war wears out, but the whole column must be removed to replace it from what I see it’s like $1000 I have Toyota do it for a $20-30 part

Clicking noise in steering (damper for caused by a small plastic part which is defectively designed, and disintegrates). This is a very common defect in 2011-2017 Toyota Camrys. The part is only about $5, but labor is $750 because the whole steering assembly has to be taken apart. My Camry started making the rattling noise when it had 40,000 miles. The noise is getting progressively worse and may cause steering issues eventually. I have not had it fixed yet. See part # below, and see youtube videos on the issue, which is very common. Steering. Damper. Column. Part Number: 4525428040 A component that isolates the Steering Column from another component or it's mounting surface. JAPAN BUILT. MANUAL TILT. Part cannot be reused/reinstalled. Part included in column assembly. POWER TILT. US BUILT. Bushing. ELECTRIC POWER. Insulator. Computer. Motor. Fits CAMRY (2012 - 2014) https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/p/TOYOTA__CAMRY/Steering-Damper-Column/10795112/4525428040.html?partner=googlebase_adwords&kwd=&origin=pla&partnerDevice=c&userLocation=9028071&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIr6-QjMbZ8QIVOCitBh1CAgRiEAQYAiABEgLwhfD_BwE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QztjolCILs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I73elBQ8UXA

STEERING MOTOR RATTLES AND ONLY GOT WORSE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THERE WAS A RECALL I MISSED AND WOULD LIKE THIS REPAIRED

THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRIC PROBLEMS

THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES REALLY BAD WHEN YOU GO OVER 60MPH . I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND IT SAYS ITS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT.

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GOES OUT DURING DRIVING, CAUSES LOSS OF POWER AND INABILITY TO STEER.

HAVE NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE.STEERING IS HARD AND DANGEROUS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 15-18 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE CRASH SITE BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

I WAS DRIVING 2012 CAMRY LE AT 55 MPH AND SUDDENLY HEARD A POP AND FOUND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND STAYED FOR MORE THAN 10 SECONDS. DURING THAT TIME THE STEERING WAS HARD TO ROTATE AND ALSO THE RADIO LOST POWER. WHEN THE EPS LIGHT GONE THE STEERING WAS EASY AND RADIO STARTED WORKING. SINCE IT WAS NIGHT, AROUND 11.30 PM, NOT MAY CARS WERE THERE, LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS SCARY THAT IF IT WOULD HAPPEN DURING RUSH HOUR. I AM SCARE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I HAVE TO TAKE THIS CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK THIS OUT.

THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 2012 CAMRY SE WILL NOT STAY IN POSITION. THE LEVER THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LOCK THE COLUMN INTO POSITION KEEPS FALLING OPEN, FROM GRAVITY, ALLOWING THE COLUMN TO TELESCOPE OUT, BE PUSHED IN, PULL UP, OR DOWN, WITH THE VERY LITTLE PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO REPAIR THIS, THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COLUMN FOR $1,400 SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (OVER 36,000 MILES). THE COLUMN BEING SO PLIANT, FALLING OUT OF POSITION MAKES DRIVING, ESPECIALLY TIGHT TURNING OR SUDDEN STOPS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION AFTER THE INTERIOR LIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,560. UPDATED 03/10/16*LJ *CN

IN SPITE OF NEW BRAKES, 2 ALIGNMENTS AND 2 DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES THE CAR, PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED TOYOTA IN DEC 2015, CONTINUES TO WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD/TRACK POORLY AND WILL PULL QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT WHEN I BRAKE ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD TWO CLOSE CALLS OF NEAR HITTING THE CAR IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE PULL. THIS CAR WAS IN TENDED FOR MY TEENAGER BUT IN ALL GOOD CONSCIOUS THE ISSUE IS OF SUCH CONCERN I DO NOT FEEL IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR HER TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE TOYTOTA DEALER I PURCHASED FROM THAT MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO TRADE IT IN AND ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER STATING THAT IT IS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND TURNING, THE STEERING SUDDENLY "FROZE" (POWER ASSIST FAILED) AND A STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THEN TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION. AFTER INVESTIGATING, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PIG VOLTAGE WAS LOW (11 VOLTS) AND FLUCTUATED WHILE TURNING. UPON REMOVAL OF LOWER DASH AND STEERING COLUMN, FOUND NO BOLT IN GROUND WIRE FROM EMPS ECU. INSTALLED A BOLT AND RESECURED GROUND WIRE TO INSTRUMENT PANEL SAFETY BAR, AND THEN VOLTAGE WAS NORMAL AND STEERING WAS NORMAL DURING ROAD TEST. COULD NOT LOCATE ORIGINAL GROUND BOLT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURERS RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ; 4/27/18*JB *TR

STEERING IS STIFF CAUSING OVER/CORRECTING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT CAUSES ARM TO GET TIRED DRIVING EVEN AFTER ONLY A FEW MILES. IT IS FRUSTRATING AND TIRING TO DRIVE I PREVIOUSLY HAD A 2007 CAMRY XLE AND THERE IS NOW COMPARISON AS TO HOW EASY THE 2007 STEERED. NEED HELP.

WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE I NOTICED THE STEERING GOT HARD TO HANDLE AND HARD TO TURN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

THE STEERING WHEEL JUST GOT HARD DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR REPORT

I HAVE A 2012 CAMRY XLE HYBRID WITH 33000 MILES. IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH ON CENTER FEEL STEERING, IT NEEDS CONSTANT WHEEL MOVEMENTS TO STAY IN LANE. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS MANY TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN MAY 2012. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT SINCE OWNING THE CAR DUE TO THIS STEERING PROBLEM. THE SECOND YOU TURN YOUR HEAD, THEN RETURNING YOUR ATTENTION STRAIGHT AHEAD, MY CAR IS STARTING TO VEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. ALMOST ANY DISTRACTION CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY. I KNOW THROUGH A TOYOTA OWNER ONLINE FORUM AND THRU FRIENDS THAT I'M NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE NO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS BEING REPORTED BY THIS HAPPENING. TOYOTA DEALERS DO NOT SEEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS AS COMMON AS IT SEEMS TO BE. NO ANSWERS ARE TO BE HAD FROM ANYONE AT THE DEALERSHIPS THAT I AM AWARE OF. SOMEONE NEED TO START FIGURING OUT WHY THIS KIND OF PROBLEM IS HAPPENING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH WHEN I HERD A POP AND THE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THE POWER STEERING QUIT I WAS IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC WITH ONLY ARM STRONG STEERING. I GOT OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS I COULD AND CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE CAREFULLY TO GET THERE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT I WOULD BEEN GOING 65 OR 70 AND HAD THIS HAPPEN...UPDATED 11/12/15 *BF THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/18/15.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON A PARKWAY AT 55 MPH THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO WORK RESULTING IN EXTREME DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING/STEERING THE CAR. AFTER GETTING THE CAR OFF THE ROAD I RESTARTED IT AND THE EPS WAS WORKING. I CONTINUED TRAVELING AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THEM (THE EPS WAS WORKING AT THIS POINT). THE DEALER CONTACTED TOYOTA TECH AND THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED AND IS BEING REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL CASES OF EPS FAILURE AT SLOW SPEEDS, NONE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR

VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE. REQUIRES STEERING CORRECTION EVERY 1-2 SECONDS TO KEEP FROM VEERING OUT OF LANE. DEALER HAS CHECKED TWICE. INDICATES NOTHING WRONG, SIMPLY CHARACTERISTIC OF ELECTRONIC STEERING. VEHICLE REQUIRES UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION TO DRIVE SAFELY. *TR

2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT IN AND OUT OF LANE HE WAS TRYING TO STAY IN. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN, AND IT WOULD TAKE ITS OWN COURSE DOWN THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AT 60 MPH, AND THE CURVES WERE EVEN WORSE, AS THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO CORRECT THE STEERING A LOT MORE. WHEN HE TURNED ONTO A CURVE, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WOULD OVER REACT AND CONTINUED TURNING THE VEHICLE AFTER HE STOPPED TURNING THE WHEEL, AT THAT POINT HE HAD TO TURN THE WHEEL THE OTHER WAY TO CORRECT THE OVER STEERING. *JB