2009 Toyota Highlander Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING CEASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ADDED EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. TOYOTA OF ASHLAND (3503 WINCHESTER AVE, ASHLAND, KY 41101 606-744-2727) WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. *BF*TP

WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE POWER ASSIST STEERING NO LONGER WORKED. THE CAR COULD STILL DRIVE AND STEER, BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME BACK ON, AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE CAR SAFELY. IN THIS CONDITION, IF THERE WERE A NEED TO TUNER THE CAR SUDDENLY, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

STEERING WHEEL IS CLICKING VERY BAD WHEN MAKING TURNS. CAR SHOP CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT AND DECIDED IT WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. CAR WAS IN A PRIOR CAR ACCIDENT IN 2012 WITH NO REPORTED FRAME DAMAGE. TAKING CAR TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AS RECOMMENDED FROM REGULAR CAR SHOP.

A CLUNKING OR THUMPING NOISE COMES FROM THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN AS YOU MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN. THE THUMPING NOISE HAS BEEN STEADILY INCREASING OVER THE PAST WEEKS.

AUGUST 4,2018 BACKING ON OF GARAGE AND POWER STEERING COMPLEXLY QUIT WORKING. YOU CAN STILL STEER BUT WITH GREAT EFFORT , MILEAGE 134,521. IN MARCH 1, 2015 POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 25MPH MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN .IT HAD 88644 MILES. THE TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN PART # 45250-48181 & COMPUTER PART # 89650-48060. TWO STEERING FAILURES IN 134,000 SEEMS RATHER HIGH IN A SYSTEM THAT IMPORTANT.. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING AND HAD THEY OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A WINDING RROAD ONE COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE.08

THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. I WAS ADJUSTING THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE FROM THE CAR AND A LOUD RAPID BEEPING NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. I CROSSED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL BACK ONTO THE CAR ENOUGH TO STEER BACK INTO MY LANE. I DROVE THE CAR 6 BLOCKS HOME AND IT HAS NOT BEEN STARTED OR DRIVEN SINCE.

WHEN YOU DRIVE BACK AND TURN, THE TIRES MAKE A STRANGE MOVEMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL BE DETACHED FROM THE AXLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V168000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ABOUT EIGHTY MILES/TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, AN INTERMITTENT WHINE/HUMMING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE VICINITY OF THE DRIVER SIDE DASH AREA WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL AS THE POWER STEERING IS ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED AND THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS LIKELY MAKING THE NOISE. TWO DAYS AFTER THE FIRST SOUNDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED UPON ENGINE START. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN NOW. *JB