2011 Toyota Highlander Steering

Clicking in steering column light comes on dash for power steering then hard to make turn then well go back off then able to make turns with ease again

In the last 30 days, the steering has begun to feel "loose", as if I am driving on ice. At first it was barely perceptable. There has been more "play" in the steering. During the last 2 days, the car is now making a thud when I am steering right. I have an appointment for a mechanic to look at it. The car is a 2011 Highlander, AWD, with 89,000 miles on it. I feel the steering issue could be very dangerous at some point.

The power steering is clunky, locks in position when backing out of a parking spot, is clunky and unreliable at slow speeds. I can feel the steering column get far tighter feeling when turning at slow speed (3-10 mph)

WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THE TURN IS COMPLETED...THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT GO BACK INTO POSITION. THIS OCCURS WHEN YOU ARE IN MOTION.

CLUNKING AND CLICKING WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. TSB FROM TOYOTA CALLS FOR INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT, BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY PART. HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE.

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THERE'S A THUMP WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, NO MATTER WHAT ROAD/STREET. WE HAVE LESS THAN 43,000 MILES ON IT & DO NOT DRIVE ON RUFF TERRAIN. WE PURCHASED THE 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEW, TAKE IT TO THE DEALER EVERY 6 MOS FOR MAINT. & NOW TOLD IT NEEDS A STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT & 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. ($657.33 TOTAL!) THIS IS INCONCEIVABLE TO PASS ON TO CUSTOMERS. AND A ROAD HAZARD TO ALL ON THE ROADS.

STEERING SHAFT U JOINT MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. DEALER ADVISED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.

I STARTED EXPERIENCING A CLUNK IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT FOR PARKING . IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES SO I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. AFTER TEST DRIVING THE CAR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I FELT I HAD NO CHOICE SO HAD THEM DO THE WORK AND IT COST $782.30 FOR PARTS / LABOR PLUS $134.95 FOR ALIGNMENT. TOTAL OF $917.25. I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0034-13 ON FEBRUARY 21,2013 SENT TO ALL TOYOTA REPAIR SHOPS ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. THEY TOLD THE MECHANICS HOW TO REPLACE THIS EQUIPMENT AND THAT "A NEW INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION". TO ME THAT MEANS THAT IN 2013 THEY KNEW IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY DESIGNING A NEW SHAFT. IF THEY HAD NOTIFIED THE 2008-2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CUSTOMERS THEN THAT THIS WOULD BE AN ISSUE, MANY WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. BUT INSTEAD THEY WAITED UNTIL PEOPLE HAD THE PROBLEM, BROUGHT THEIR CARS IN FOR REPAIR AND THEN CHARGED THEM WHATEVER THE GOING RATE IS. IN THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IS CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER A BASIC WARRANTY FOR TOYOTA. I SPOKE TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR AND HE REFERRED ME TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. I CALLED THERE AND SPOKE TO TWO "SENIOR CUSTOMER ADVISORS" AND BASICALLY WAS TOLD I WAS OUT OF LUCK...NO RECALL, NO CAMPAIGN AND NO CUSTOMER REMUNERATION. WHEN I LOOK ONLINE IT'S CLEAR THAT MY HIGHLANDER IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AND SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO OWN UP TO !!

AT A STOP OR AT LOW SPEED STARTS, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTS IN A CLUNKING OR CREAKING NOISE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE NOISE HAPPENS WHETHER TURNING IT LEFT OR RIGHT. USUALLY HEAR IT COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT OR MOVING FROM A STOP. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW YEARS.

POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS.

THE STEERING IN MY HIGHLANDER HAS STARTED MAKING A POPPING AND KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE VECHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT WITH THIS VECHICLE BY TOYOTA AND THEY SHOULD ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. THE NOISE IS MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS WHEN PARKING BUT IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

WHEN TURNING OR OVER BUMPS THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. HAS BECOME LOUDER WITH TIME

AT AROUND 90,000 MILES I NOTICED A DISTINCT CLUNK IN THE STEERING AS THE WHEEL UNWOUND FROM SHARP TURNS AT SLOW SPEED. THE CLUNK ALSO SHOWED UP WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON ROUGH ROADS AND UNDER FIRM BRAKING. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2013/SB-10075792-2280.PDF. I HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED WITH THE UPDATED VERSION, AND THE STEERING IS NOW GOOD AGAIN, BUT I EXPECTED SOMETHING LIKE TO BE COVERED IN A SAFETY RECALL.

I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. WHEN I THEN BEGAN THE RIGHT TURN I LOST POWER STEERING AND COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL, RESULTING IN ME RUNNING UP ONTO THE CURB. I IMMEDIATELY LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL- LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I THEN GAVE THE CAR GAS AGAIN WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT, AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN.

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS CLUNK NOISE. FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING.

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON AN ACCESS ROAD ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND DASH LIGHTS AND RADIO CUT IN AND OUT.

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ISSUES. HAD ONE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY A YEAR OR TWO AFTER PURCHASE. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ISSUES RETURNED IN THE LAST YEAR. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS $500 TO REPLACE A SHAFT THEY KNOW HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE FOR YEARS LEADING UP TO THIS MODEL. THIS IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THERE SAFETY WITH THIS MATTER. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. THIS ISSUE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME TO THE POINT OF SOMEONE GETTING INJURED OR DYING TO HAVE THIS MATTER ADDRESSED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN THE CONTACT MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT MADE A LOUD ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. THE NOISE GREW LOUDER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

RUIDOS O GOLPES EN LA CAA DEL GUIA DE DIRECCION CUANDO GIRO A LA IZQUIERDA O DERECHA. MI VEHICULO COMENZO CON ESTOS RUIDOS A UN POCO MAS DE LAS 3600 MILLAS DE GARANTIA Y TOYOTA NO TOMO NINGUNA ACCION. VIVO EN PUERTO RICO Y MI DIRECCION ES P. O. BOX 1909, BARCELONETA PUERTO RICO 00617, MUCHAS GRACIAS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING AND POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (FIVE STAR TOYOTA OF MILLEDGEVILLE, 2816 N COLUMBIA ST, MILLEDGEVILLE, GA 31061, (478) 387-2112) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE18005 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

CLUNKING OR TAPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DIAGNOSED BY TOYOTA AS "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING." THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2008-2013 HIGHLANDER. ADVISED BY TOYOTA MECHANIC THAT IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE FIXED UNLESS I PREFER IT NOT TO KNOCK OR CLUNK WHEN TURNING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE LANDERS TOYOTA (10825 COLONEL GLENN RD, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72204, (501) 568-5800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,396.

EVERY TIME I TURN MY WHEEL I HAVE A THUMPING SOUND (WORSE WHEN I AM TURNING RIGHT)

I HAD A CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS. I CHECKED ON LINE AND FOUND THIS SITE WHICH NOTED FAULT TO BE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, AS THE ISSUE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THIS WAS THE ISSUE AND BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COST WHICH WAS $684. IT STARTED WHEN I HAD 80,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AT 94,000 MILES WHEN NOICE BECAME LOUDER.. DISAPPOINTED TOYOTA DID NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIR COST.

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING SYSTEM HAS A SIGNIFICANT "BUMP" OF "THUMP". THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A PART OF THE STEERING SECTOR SHAFT THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DESIGN. TOYOTA WILL ONLY CORRECT PROBLEM IF CUSTOMER IS WILLING TO PAY COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1200. NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF CORRECTION IS NOT MADE, BUT I BELIEVE IT COULD LEAD TO FAILURE OF THE STEERING SYSTEM TO FUNCTION APPROPRIATELY.