2005 Toyota Tacoma Steering

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SUDDENLY GOT HARD. THEN IT WAS NORMAL AGAIN FOR A BIT. I NOTICED THAT AFTER MAKING LEFT TURN IT WAS HARD TO STEER RIGHT AND VICE VERSA WHEN TURNING RIGHT. CHECKED POWER STEERING AND WAS GOOD. RESEARCH ON FORUMS SUGGESTED A EXPOSED KNUCKLE ON A PART 45203A CALLED SHAFT, STEERING INTERMEDIATE, NO.2. AFTER LUBRICATION TO THE KNUCKLE AREA THE STEERING HAS IMPROVED THOUGH NOT 100%. PART SHOULD INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM GREASE FITTINGS FOR LUBRICATION, PREFERABLY A TYPE OF PROTECTION FROM EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS SUCH AS A RUBBER BOOT. THIS LOSS OF STEERING MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE TURNING INTO A MILD CORNER,STEERING STARTED BINDING UP,HAD TO REALLY PULL ON THE WHEEL, AS IF POWER STEERING WENT AWAY. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN,HAD TO PULL IT BACK TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. I KNOW MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL IT TO GET THROUGH CORNER. *JS

HI, I HAVE AN OPEN FILE WITH THE TOYOTA CORPORATION AT 1-800-331-4331, MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I LIVE IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. CASE # [XXX]. IN SEPT. OF 2012 MY TRUCK WAS AT 61,000 MILES AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND THEY CHECKED A RECALL ON THE SPIRAL CABLE AND TOLD ME THAT MY TRUCK DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SERIAL NUMBER ON THE PART. I DIDN'T MIND I WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, AT 65,000 MILES IT IS NOW NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO FIX IT. I'VE TRIED TO REASON WITH THEM AND POINT OUT THAT ITS OBVIOUS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WHEN A TRUCK WITH 65,000 MILE, GARAGED YEAR AROUND AND NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT WOULD BE HAVING PROBLEMS. I HONESTLY THOUGHT SAFETY SYSTEMS HAD LIFE TIME WARRANTIES. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO FIX THE PART AND HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST THE TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THE KENDALL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND HOW MANY OTHER SPIRAL CABLES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOT WITHIN THE RECALL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME WITH ANY NEEDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013: WHILE MANEUVERING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND THROUGH THE 90 DEGREE TURNS OUT OF A SUBURB IN WASHINGTON STATE ON THE WAY TO I-5 NORTHBOUND, THE STEERING OF MY WELL-MAINTAINED 6 SPEED MANUAL 2005 ACCESS CAB TOYOTA TACOMA TRD 4WD FELT ALTERNATELY STIFF AND LOOSE, AS THOUGH THE WHEEL WAS RATCHETING. THE WHEEL FAILED TO RETURN TO CENTER, REQUIRING CONSTANT EFFORT THROUGH ALL POINTS OF STEERING, WITH SPECIAL CARE REQUIRED TO OVERCOME THE HIGH AND LOW PEAKS IN RESISTANCE. NEGOTIATING TURNS HAS BECOME AN IMPRECISE, PHYSICALLY DEMANDING AND THEREFORE UNSAFE EXERCISE. WHILE I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AT MY OWN EXPENSE, THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THE WWW.ARFC.ORG WEBSITE, AND IS LIKELY ASSOCIATED WITH A FAULTY UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE FAULTY PART HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT," PART# 45203-04020. THE REDESIGNED PART MEANT TO ADDRESS THE DEFECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS PART# 45220-04020. THE REDESIGNED PART IS SAID TO INCLUDE A PROTECTIVE BOOT MEANT TO PROTECT "UNIVERSAL JOINT #2". THIS PROBLEM SOUNDS TO ME EVERY BIT AS SERIOUS AS THE GAS PEDAL/FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE RECALL FOR WHICH I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN RECENT YEARS. THIS IS A LOSS-OF-CONTROL HAZARD THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA DIRECTLY AS A SAFETY RECALL. LOYAL CUSTOMERS LIKE MYSELF SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY MATERIALS, POOR ENGINEERING, DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP OR THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS THAT RESULT FROM ANY OF THESE OVERSIGHTS. IGNORING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, (WHICH IS COMMONLY BEING MISDIAGNOSED AS POWER STEERING OR RACK AND PINION PROBLEMS ON MANY TOYOTA TACOMA FORUMS), COULD RESULT IN FATALITIES OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY TWO LANE ROAD. AS I APPROACHED A SLIGHT CURVE, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO FAIL AND THE TRUCK RAN OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED THE VEHICLE, AND WITH LOTS OF MUSCLE I STEERED THE VEHICLE BACK ONTO THE ROAD. I JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE SUCH AS A LEAKING STEERING HOSE OR BROKEN SERPENTINE BELT. NOT SEEING ANY IMMEDIATE DAMAGE, I SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF TO MY HOME. AFTER A THROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE STEERING SYSTEM, I DISCOVERED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT THAT ATTACHES THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE RACK & PINION, HAD A FROZEN/BINDING UNIVERSAL JOINT. THIS UNIVERSAL JOINT IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND DOES NOT HAVE A LUBRICATION FITTING. THIS ITEM IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE MANUAL UNDER PERIODIC MAINTENANCE. UNDER A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE, SUCH AS MY WIFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THIS INCIDENT MY HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS AROUND THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAME SURPRISINGLY HARD TO TURN AS IF THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRING PROBLEM IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE ONSET OF THIS PROBLEM IS INCREDIBLY FAST WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS CRASHES AND INJURIES!!! THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY PART DESIGN (PART IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND SEIZES) AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED ASAP. THE FAULTY PART # 45203 - 04020, INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK WHEN ROUNDING A CURVE. THEN IT WOULD BE OK . AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ABOUT 200 MORE MILES THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT MOVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT MOVING THE TIRES. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD NO BEARINGS LEFT IN IT. SCARY.. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WERE RUSTED COMPONENTS WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE TOYOTA TACOMA BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING. TO NEGOTIATE THE VEHICLE THROUGH A BEND IN THE ROAD I HAD TO EXERT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND HAD TO MANUALLY FORCE THE WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. THIS MOMENTARILY INHIBITED ME FROM KEEPING THE VEHICLE CENTERED IN THE LANE. THIS PROBLEM HAS SINCE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. ON INSPECTION I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE IMPAIRED STEERING CONTROL TO BE CORROSION OF THE UNIVERSAL JOINT #2 STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PART # 45203-04020. ON SEARCHING FOR A REMEDY I LEARNED THIS PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, AND THE REPLACEMENT PART IS 45220-04020. APPLICATION OF PENETRATING OIL TO THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT HAS REDUCED THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM BUT NOT PERMANENTLY RESOLVED IT. IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE A YOUNGER, OLDER OR OTHERWISE PHYSICALLY WEAKER OPERATOR WAS DRIVING THEY MAY HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN ITS LANE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND COMPLETING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SLOWLY RETURNED TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL *THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN . HE HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE STEERING WHEEL BACK IN POSITION WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST BUT NOW IT WAS MORE FREQUENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

I NOTICED OCCASIONAL STIFF STEERING FOR A FEW MONTHS WHICH GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE WITH TIME. EVENTUALLY SEEMED LIKE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING. I FOUND THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WHICH CONTAINS A UNIVERSAL JOINT THAT HAD BECOME SEIZED. I HAD THIS INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PART REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF $885.00. THE NEW PART ORDERED FROM TOYOTA WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL IN THAT THE NEW PART HAD A BOOT PROTECTING THE UNIVERSAL FROM DIRT DUST AND DEBRIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HEARS METAL GRINDING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY HAZARD. TOYOTA STATED THAT THIS IS A FAILURE DEALING WITH THE TRANS-ACTUAL AND TRANSFER CASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

STEERING WHEEL WILL MOVE BACK AND FORTH AS IF A SURGE OF PRESSURE. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE WITH OUT CORRECTION THEY SAY THAT IT IS FINE. *NM

STEERING WHEEL SHACKS FROM APPROXIMATELY 62 TO 75 MILES PER HOUR. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE SHACKING IS NOT A SAFETY CONSERN. THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS. VEHICLE HAS 1700 MILES.

ON MY BRAND NEW 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA QUAD CAB LONG BED PICKUP TRUCK THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE MAKING A TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC, MAKING STEERING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT AND NEARLY CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TOYOTA IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM INCLUDING ALL OF ITS COMPONENT PARTS.*JB

PURCHASED NEW 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP, 4 CYLINDER, AUTOMATIC, 4X2. ON FIRST DRIVE OF NEW TRUCK A SHAKE OR SHIMMY WAS NOTICED AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 20 MPH, BUT MOST NOTABLE IN THE 45 TO 70 MPH RANGE. RETURNED TRUCK TO DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A DEFECT KNOWN TO TOYOTA, BUT THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OR PROVIDE A FIX. BOBBY RAHAL TOYOTA IN MECHANICSBURG REFUSES TO REFUND MONEY, CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO WORK ON THIS DEFECT CITING NO CURE. CONCERN IS THAT A CONSTANT FRONT END VIBRATION OF THIS SORT WILL LEAD TO SUSPENSION AND / OR STEERING FAILURE RESULTING IS A CRASH.*JB