2004 Toyota Highlander Steering

NOTICED FREE PLAY AND A CLUNKING IN STEERING WHEEL @15,000 MILES. MORE PRONOUNCED ON TURNS WITH BUMPS. COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT CONDITION AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN SHAFT JOINT. HAD TO WAIT OVER 1 MONTH FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY PART#45220-48150 WAS REPLACED. *JB

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6. AT 45,000 MILES, I NOTICED A CLUNKING SENSATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL. LONG STORY SHORT, TOYOTA SAID IT WAS A FAILED U-JOINT AND HAD TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY (PART # 45220-48150) AT A COST OF $490 TO ME. NOT COVERED BY 5 YR/ 60000 MI DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY OR 3 YR/36000 MI EITHER. I LEARNED IN AN EDMUNDS.COM HIGHLANDER OWNERS' CHAT ROOM THAT I AM NOT ALONE. SEVERAL PEOPLE COMMENTED THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS WITH CAMRYS (WHICH HAS THE SAME CHASSIS). THE OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN OF A LONG PART BACKORDER WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THIS MAY BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. DOES THIS QUALIFY FOR A RECALL AND COULD I GET MY $490 REFUNDED IF SO? THANK YOU. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE SLIP LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT STEERING NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED, AND ALIGNED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK......STEERING SENSOR IS ON BACK ORDER FOR 1 MONTH. THIS SENSOR IS ON BOTH THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND SIENNA. *AK