2004 Toyota Camry Steering Problems
110 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (110)
While driving at normal speed in dry weather, your wheel suddenly locked up, causing you to lose control of the vehicle. The car spun out, hit a curb, became airborne, and flipped over, resulting in severe damage. This could involve inspection of the brake system, wheel bearings, or steering components to determine what caused the wheel to lock.
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Your power steering system freezes up when driving through puddles or standing water on the road, making it extremely hard to turn the steering wheel. This has created several dangerous driving situations, especially in wet weather conditions. The issue may require inspection and repair of the power steering system components that are being affected by water.
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CAR SITTING AT IDLE POSITION SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD. VEHICLE WAS GOING 2-3 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD AND SMASHED INTO A WALL AT A TOP DONUT DRIVE THRU.
ON MARCH 6, 2016, MOVING WEST ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT ABOUT 20 MPH 10:45 P.M., LESS THAN 500' FROM HOME. CRYSTAL CLEAR NIGHT. CAR FREEZES, STEERING & BRAKES LOCK, CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND KEEPS MUCH HIGHER SPEED. WITH BOTH ARMS, I PULLED CAR FROM HEAD-ON WITH UTILITY POLE TO VERY HIGH PALM TREE. HEAD-ON ITH TREE, AIRBAG RELEASES, WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. I TURNED CAR OFF, TOOK KEYS, CAR ENGINE CONTINUES AS DID HORN BLOWING & WHITE SMOKE. IT TOOK THREE AAA TRUCKS TO REMOVE CAR FROM TREE TRUNK, WITH STEERING AND BRAKES STILL LOCKED. CAR WAS ALONE ON A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD MOVING WEST, DRIVER ALONE, VERY RESIDENTIAL WITH PEOPLE WALKING DOGS, PILOTS AND STEWS RUNNING, JOGGERS AND PUPS AND CATS PROWLING. NO ONE WAS AROUND. A GUARD FROM A GATED COMMUNITY ON THE STREET'S NORTH SIDE WAS THE 1ST TO APPEAR. EVENTUALLY 4 POLOCE OFFICERS WERE THERE, ONE TALKED TO ME OFTEN.
WAS INFORMED THAT MY POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS LEAKING AND THE STEERING DEVICES COULD LOSE ITS RESTRAINTS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS COULD LEAD TO CAR LOSING COMPLETE STEERING CAUSING A SEVERE CRASH AND POTENTIALLY DEATH TO ITS OCCUPANTS. WITH THE RECENT RECALL FOR NISSAN VEHICLES REGARDING POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS, THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE LEAKS MAY CAUSE FIRE TO MY VEHICLE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIAN, HE STATED THAT OVER TIME THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MAY "RUST" AND NEED REPAIRS. I ASKED ABOUT HOW OFTEN DOES THIS OR HAS THIS ISSUED OCCURRED FOR TOYOTA BRAND CARS OR TRUCKS? NO DATA WAS PROVIDED. I WENT ON TO PRESS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DID NOT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. SINCE GETTING THE NEWS ABOUT MY CAR, I HAVE NOTICED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS MY CAR QUICKLY SHIFTS STEERING TOWARD THE RIGHT AT VAROUS SPEEDS INTO THE NEXT LANE. I TRY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL BY STAYING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHER CARS.
WHILE DRIVING YESTERDAY - AUGUST 18, 2016, POWER STEERING WENT ON AND OFF WHEN TURNING. SEEMED TO BE THE POWER STEERING - MADE IT HARD TO TURN THE WHEELS. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY STRAIGHT AHEAD WAS FINE. ON CITY STREETS AND PARKING THE ISSUE WAS VERY NOTICEABLE AND FRIGHTENING SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW IF I COULD CONTROL MY MOVING VEHICLE. . IN CHECKING TO SEE WHERE TO GET REPAIR DONE, I NOTICED THERE IS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING ON THE 2004 CAMRY. CALLED LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VIN NUMBER HAS NO RECALLS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CASHED INTO A PALM TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,100.
THE CAR HAS 70100 MILES. NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES LOW CLICKS WHEN TURNING AND THERE IS A SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY SAID NO RECALLS WERE ON THIS VEHICLE. ASKED TOYOTA VIA EMAIL ON 2/19 IF THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN RE-DESIGNED AND REQUESTED THE CORRECT PART NUMBER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. CAR IS SITTING AWAITING AN UPDATE FROM TOYOTA AND REPAIR.
WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT ABOUT 25MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY BUT THEY CAR STILL IMPACTED, THEN CONTINUED OVER THE CURB. THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED FOR A WHILE AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND THEN FINALLY RELEASED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ONLY WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND PARKED, ALTHOUGH IT REMAINED LOCKED STUBBORNLY EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT IN DRIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR LOCKED UP WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND INTO THE WATER. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND CRASH CAUSED BY THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CONTROL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR FROM PARKING LOT TO GO HOME, I HEARD LOUD NOISE FROM FRONT OF MY CAR AND FELT STIFFNESS OF CONTROL OF MY CAR. I TRIED TO DRIVE BACK TO PARKING TO TAKE A LOOK, BUT THE CAR LOST OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND OUT THE POWER STEERING PULLEY HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF. I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPENED IN PARKING LOT, OR I MAY GET TO A CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED TO TOYOTA, BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT IN RECALL OF FAILED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT IN THE RANGE OF RECALL. BUT MY CAR HAS EXACTLY SAME ISSUE THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000 HAS. THE CAR IS 2004 CAMRY. *TR
I STARTED UP MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WHILE PARKED AT CURB. WHEN I PUT CAR IN "DRIVE," THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP (FROZE IN PLACE). I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. RESTARTED CAR AND STEERING WAS NORMAL. *TR
I HAVE STEERING NOISE ISSUE FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2004. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SO MANY TIMES TO REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER AND GET IT FIXED BUT DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE. AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE IS OVER WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPORTED THIS AGAIN DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE PARTS WITH THE COST OF 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE BEFORE OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE SUBMITTED MY COMPLAINT EARLIER BUT STILL WANT TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA TO RECORD THIS FOR FUTURE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OUT APPARENTLY ALL THE 2003-2004 TOYOTAS HAS THIS SAME ISSUE BUT THE COMPANY AND THE DEALERS TRIES TO DENY THAT. *TR
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10, 5 MILES WEST OF CRESTVIEW FLORIDA. SHE WAS IN LEFT LANE, IN WET CONDITIONS. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE CAR TO FLIP AND OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE CAR TO CREATE A HAZARD AND RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS. PASSANGERS HAD TO CRAW OUT TO AVOID FURTHER INJURY. TOTAL LOSS OF CAR AND INJURED TWO PEOPLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS ISSUED A NHTSA WARNING- ID- 11V539000. NEVER RECEIVED THIS WARNING. *JS
I SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED EFFORT TO MAKE A TURN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING, TOOK A CORNER AND MY CAR TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING OR SIGNAL, AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED TO TURN MY CAR BACK ON, DRIVE TEN FEET AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. I WENT TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP AND THEY STATED IT WAS A CODE 2112 THROTTLE ISSUE. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AND AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE AS MY CAR HAS. TOYOTA IS NOT RECALLING OR PROVIDING FREE SERVICE ON THE PARTS AND I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF OVER 1300.00 TO FIX. SEEING THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR - I DIDNT DO A THING TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN, AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE REPLACING AND OR RECALLING THESE VEHICLES. *TR
TOOK CAR FOR TEST DRIVE ON ROAD DESCRIBED TO ME BY A DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE AS AN UNCROWNED ROAD.LET GO OF STEERING WHEEL A FEW TIMES AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR TOOK OFF TO THE LEFT REPEATEDLY. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, SAID WOULD BUY CAR, BUT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE STEERING PULLING CURED.WENT BACK NEXT DAY OR TWO, TIRES ROTATED. ON DRIVE HOME PULLING WAS BACK.WENT BACK FOR REALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS "MINIMALIZED".GOT IN THE CAR, LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, STARTED THE PULLING IN THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT. TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDENT TO CHECK THE FRONT END.HE SAID COULD ONLY FIND MOST MINOR ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS,NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE PULLING. HE CHECKED OUT UNDERSIDE FOR ANY DAMAGE, FOUND NOTTHING. BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF RACK & PINION & TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT. JOB FINISHED, LEFT AND MADE RIGHT ONTO HIGHWAY.GOT A RIGHT HAND PULL. CAR NEVER PREVIOUSLY PULLED RIGHT EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN BRAKING.MADE LEFT TO GO HOME AND HAD ONLY LEFT PULLING ON ALL ROADS TRAVELED.ON OPEN SIX LANE HIGHWAY I LET GO OF THE WHEEL, BY THE COUNT OF THREE ENTIRE CAR IS IN THE LANE TO THE LEFT. I READ ON THIS SITE INCIDENTS WITH PULLING THAT HAVE RESULTED IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS. *TR
I WAS APPROACHING A FREEWAY IN ATLANTA, GA. AS THE CONNECTOR CURVED, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AND GENTLY BRAKE ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THE FREEWAY. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED, THROWING MY HEAD BACK AGAINST THE HEADREST; I BRAKE HARDER BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE CAR; THE CAR SEEMED TO PIVOT ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND THE REAR END FLEW TO MY LEFT ABOUT 240 DEGREES OR SO AND STRUCK THE GUARD RAIL WITH THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL AND BUMPER. THE CAR THEN, CONTINUING AT HIGH SPEED, RICOCHETED OFF THE GUARD RAIL AND THE REAR END PIVOTED TOWARD THE ROAD, MAKING THE FRONT BUMPER STRIKE THE SAME GUARD RAIL. THE SECOND COLLISION SCRAPED THE PAINT OFF THE CENTER OF THE BUMPER BUT THE IMPACT SEEMED STRONGER THAN THE DAMAGE WOULD INDICATE. THE SECOND IMPACT DID STOP THE CAR. I MAKE THIS REPORT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE RECALLED BY TOYOTA FOR THIS PROBLEM; BUT, BELIEVE ME, IT HAPPENED. *TR
NO INCIDENT, PROGRAM KEEP ASKING FOR DATE: ITS A DUMMY DATE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF TOYOTA CAMRY LXI 2004. AROUND 35,260 MILES AND BEFORE 3 YEARS (UNDER WARRANTY) STEERING STARTED CAUSING TROUBLE, STARTED TO FEEL AND HEAR CLLCKING IN THE STEERING WHEN EVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED OR DURING DRIVING IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM SOME TIMES STEERING GETS REALLY HARD DURING DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CHICAGO AND IT WAS TESTED BY A MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. AFTER 16 MONTHS AND AT 43,752 MILES THE PROBLEM GOT WORST AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CHICAGO, AND AFTER CHECKING IT I WAS TOLD THAT YES THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND IT WILL COST ME $520 + LABOR TO FIX IT. I REFUSED TO PAY AND TOLD THEM THAT I WILL FILE A COMPLAIN WITH TOYOTA CORP THAT WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR FOR THE SAME REASON UNDER WARRANTY IT WAS NOT FIXED AND NOW YOU WANT TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM CHARGING THE CUSTOMER. FINALLY THE MANAGER GOT THE OK FROM TOYOTA CORP AND FIXED THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE. NOW AFTER 3 YEARS AT 63,632 MILES SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING RETURNED AND A AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CALIFORNIA WANTS TO CHARGE ME $715 + LABOR. I FILED A ONLINE COMPLAIN WITH TOYOTA CORP (MAIN OFFICE IN TORRANCE, CA) AND AFTER INVESTIGATION THEY TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CHICAGO FIXED THE PROBLEM, HE FIXED IT AS A GOODWILL ! WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS FIXED FOR NO CHARGE. I DON'T THINK I LIKE TO PAY ANY MONEY FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND TOYOTA CORP SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMER. *TR
THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ( NEW TIRE, I PUNCHED 4 NEW MICHELIN TIRES 7/11) ON MY CAR POPPED. I AM NOT SURE IF THE CAR PEDAL GOT STUCK FIRST, EVERYTHING HAPPENED FAST. STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE AND THE CAR WHEN SIDE TO SIDE AS I ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE CAR. THE STEWING WHEEL WOULD TURN, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. THE MAJOR THING IS THAT I COULDN'T OPERATE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE PEDAL GETTING STUCK AND THE STEERING WAS IMPOSSIBLE AFTER THAT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO CARRIAGE CAGE AUTO REPAIR BY AAA, WHO RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT THERE, SINCE THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I THEN WENT TO THE ER ROOM FOR CARE. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE WAS NOTIFIED, THEY GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF OVER FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE CAR. TOYOTA IN LAKE CITY, WA -BRUCE IN AUTO CARE WAS NOTIFIED REGARDING THE PEDAL BECOMING STUCK. I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR THERE ONCE IT IS REPAIRED. I WONDER HOW SAFE IS THE CAR AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. *TR
I BOUGHT THE USED 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY IN OCTOBER AND FOUND THAT THE CAR WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT AND FOUND THAT I HAD TO FIRMLY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WENT TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS. TOYOTA DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL ISSUED. IN JANUARY 2011 I EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS I WAS ENTERING A MAJOR HIGHWAY THAT SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME. I DROVE IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE AND DROPPED MY SPEED UNTIL THE VIBRATION STOPPED. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE STEERING MECHANISM AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENTS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS. I AM HAVING TROUBLE STEERING WHEN I MAKE LEFT- OR RIGHT-HAND TURNS IN ADDITION TO HOLDING ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL (WHICH BECOMES STRESSFUL DURING LONG DRIVING TRIPS). MY NECK MUSCLES BECOME VERY CRAMPED BECAUSE I NEED TO FOCUS ON STEERING THE CAR. I'VE REGISTERED MY CAR WITH TOYOTA AND I'M WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED THAT I DO NOT ENJOY DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT INVOLUNTARILY. THE FAILURE OCCURED CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DECELERATED TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER AS THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS AS STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE DUE TO THE STEERING PUMP BEING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 25,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AT AROUND 48,000 MILES, I STARTED TO FEEL AND HEAR A CLICKING IN THE STEERING. IT OCCURS ANY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED,(PARKED OR DRIVING). I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SLIDE SHAFT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. AS I SEARCHED THROUGH YOUR COMPLAINT LIST, I SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS MODEL AND YEAR. IT SEEMS TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE OTHER MANUFACTURERS THAT HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS AND HAVE MADE REPAIRS TO THEIR VEHICLES. ALSO THERE ARE THIRD PARTY REPLACEMENT PARTS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM (AT THE OWNERS' EXPENSE). HOW MANY FAILURES, CRASHES OR POSSIBLY DEATHS WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE TOYOTA ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS? TOYOTA CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, YET THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF LETTERS STATING THAT THEIR SAFETY WAS AT RISK. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO HEAR AND FEEL THAT NOISE EVERY TIME MY WIFE OR I ARE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REMAIN STRAIGHT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN, WHICH WAS A CONSTANT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR PARTIAL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,027.
I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. IT HAS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WHICH HAS LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED AND COST $1000 TO FIX FROM THE DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A FEW OF MY FRIENDS HAVE HAD TO PAY TWICE TO GET THIS FIXED. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THERE A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE STEERING LINKAGE THAT POPS WHEN YOU TURN. THIS EVENTUALLY LEADS TO SLOP IN THE STEERING AND IT CAUSE MY TO GO IN THE DITCH. THIS ACCIDENT HAS GIVEN ME A CHRONIC BACK CONDITION AND PREVENTED ME FROM COMMISSIONING IN THE MILITARY. THIS ISSUE IS ALSO KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMRYS BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
STEERING SHAFT BOLT SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. STEERING SHAFT WAS DISASSEMBLED, AND NEW SHAFT BOLT REPLACED FOR OLD RUSTED OUT SHAFT BOLT. TWO HOURS LABOR. *TR
2004 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS A CLICKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT FAILED BECAUSE OF THE BEARINGS AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO FEEL EXTREMELY TIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING COLUMN, STEERING ASSEMBLY AND THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 26,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10*JB
NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN AND TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING. REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. MAJOR ISSUE AVERTED SINCE MY MECHANIC PICKED UP ON THE ISSUE. SIGNIFICANT AUTOMOBILE PART, SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT NOT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
FAX ON BEHALF OF RE HER DEFECTIVE 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY: DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACE BUT NOISE HAS RETURNED; REPLY ATTN: CAPE CORAL DISTRICT OFFICE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A DISTINCTIVE NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED SIX MONTHS LATER.
THE FRONT LEFT OF THE CAR WAS MAKING NOISE. WHEN I DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. AS THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK, I TRIED TO STOPPED THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BRAKES, BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE CAR. THE FRONT OF MY CAR HIT INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER ON THE FREEWAY AND THEN THE BACK OF MY CAR ALSO HIT THE DIVIDER. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED I WAS BLOCKING 3 LANES ON A 5 LANE FREEWAY FACING TRAFFIC. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. THE FRONT BUMPER COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR. I SUFFERED WHIPLASH INCLUDING NECK AND SHOULDER PAINS. I JUST HAD MY CAR MAINTAINED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE MORE DETAILS OF WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. UPDATED 4/26/10 *CN UPDATED 04/30/10. *JB
I PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A 2004 NEW CAMRY AT A CAR DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA. AT 17,000 MILES I NOTICED A THUMPING SOUND AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS YEAR CAR WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FIXED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY. JUST RECENTLY AT 49, 000 MILES, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COULD HAVE GONE OUT ANY TIME AND I WOULD HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL. I WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT THE 2004 CAMRY'S HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY OVER $600 AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE WRITTEN TO TOYOTA COMPANY ASKING THEM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, SINCE IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED AGAIN. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR
STEERING HARD TO TURN,STEERING WHEEL VERY STIFF. *TR
WELL ITS ABOUT TIME NHTSA IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT TOYOTA. I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT UNSAFE STEERING PULL ON MY 2004 CAMERY SOLARA SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND SO HAVE LOTS OF OTHER FOLKS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO DO A THING ABOUT IT. *TR
THE INNER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT BECAME DETATCHED ON MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 DR LE SEDAN. IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND THE COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $950.00. TOYOTA WOULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CAR HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO THE REAR STRUTS WORE OUT AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. *JB
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY (ABOUT 83,000 MILES ON IT), THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THE CAR REQUIRED GREAT FORCE TO STEER, AND "STEAM" WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I SLOWLY PULLED TO THE CURB TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER MILE (WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY) TO A NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER. THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS INFORMED THAT AN ALTERNATOR BOLT HAD "BACKED OUT." THIS CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO LOOSEN WHICH RELEASED THE SERPENTINE BELT. AS A RESULT THE WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR WERE DAMAGED AND COOLANT SPRAYED OVER THE ENGINE. TOYOTA WANTED ABOUT $1100 TO REPAIR ALL OF THE DAMAGE. I COMPLAINED AND THE COST WAS REDUCED BY THE PRICE OF A RECONDITIONED ALTERNATOR, I.E., $400. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY RECENTLY HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. MY CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR SERVICE TO THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER JUST 3 WEEKS EARLIER. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY (INSTEAD OF A LOCAL STREET WHERE I SLOWLY PULLED TO THE CURB), MY TOYOTA COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, SINCE I COULD HARDLY STEER THE CAR. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT/PROBLEM WHICH I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE.*CW
STEERING COLUMN MAKES BAD NOISES WHEN IT IS TURNED. THE NOISES CONTINUE AND STEERING IS ROUGH. *TR
ACCELERATION ON MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE WILDLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. CAR WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, THEN DECELERATE ALMOST NON-STOP. I SHUT ENGINE OFF, CALLED TOYOTA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED IN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER A FEDERALLY MANDATED WARRANTY - CAR HAD 76,000 MILES, AND WARRANTY WAS GOOD TO 80,000 MILES. HOWEVER THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAD SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED. THAT WOULD COST ME $681. TOYOTA'S OWN TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE ECM FAILURE CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO FAIL. TOYOTA CORPORATE, HOWEVER, TOLD ME THAT THE TWO INCIDENTS WERE UNRELATED. AFTER READING ABOUT THE "ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING" PROBLEM IN THE NEWS LATELY, I WONDER IF MY PROBLEM IS NOT PART OF A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM INVOLVING THE ECM ON TOYOTAS CARS. IF I WAS NOT WISE ENOUGH TO SHUT OFF MY ENGINE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD EASILY HAVE OCCURRED. PLEASE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE ECM PROBLEM, AS I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA IS NOT FORTHCOMING WITH THE FULL STORY HERE. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WEAS AN ENGINE KNOCK COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPALCED THE TENSIONER, AND BELT. THE WATER PUMP WAS WEARING PREMATURELY, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ECM AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE REPLACED. UPDATED IVOQ 04/15/11
DURING ROUTINE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TOYOTA MECHANIC REPORTED LOOSE STEERING COLUMN. LOTS OF PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING - VERY POOR RESPONSIVENESS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER - NEW INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED AT MY COST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A THUMPING NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILED; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT ON HIS PARTICULAR MODEL THE ENTIRE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 60,000. THE CURRENT WAS 66,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
STEERING LOOSE WHEN MOVING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH SLOWLY. HARDLY NOTICED AT FIRST. I DROVE THE CAR TODAY. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. STEERING WAS MORE LOOSE AND THE WHEELS ALSO VIBRATED ALONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AT ABOUT 60MPH. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND LOTS OF INFORMATION, SEE LINK: YES, SEARCH THIS FORUM FOR "STEERING NOISE" AND YOU'LL FIND A FEW THREADS. THIS IS WHERE THEY NAILED IT: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/SH...=155639&PAGE=2. *TR
THE STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED ON MY 2004 CAMRY. A LITTLE BROWSING OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAMRY MODEL. MY DEALER IN COVINGTON, LA HAS SAID THAT ABOUT 1 IN 8 CAMRY'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT OFFER TO HELD REPAIR MY VEHICLE SINCE ONLY THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY REMAINS. A CALL TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE YIELDED THE SAME RESULTS. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND THE DEALER (NORTHSHORE TOYOTA IN COVINGTON, LA) HAS TOLD ME MY STEERING BEARINGS ARE "SHOT." THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST REPORTED TO MY DEALER AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FOLLOWED BY A SHAKING SENSATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,944 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SOUND COMES WHEN THE STEERING TURNS RIGHT OR LEFT. IT STARTED AT AROUND 30K MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A STEERING WELL/UNDER THE HOOD POPING NOISE SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT KNOWS WHERE IT IS COMING FROM, THE STEERING WHEEL AND POSSIBLY TENSION BELT, BUT HAS TOLD ME TO HOLD OFF UNTIL A RECALL. MY MOTHER IN ANOTHER STATE, AS WELL AS MY COUSIN HAS THE SAME ISSUE. IF TOYOTA HAS A LEAD ON THE MARKET, WHY CAN'T THEY HONESTLY HONOR THEIR REPAIRS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY AROUND, IT SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION AS WELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN AVAILABLE, BUT NO RECALL. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,828 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND IN STEERING COLUMN OF MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WHILE TURNING JUST BEFORE MOVING OFF. CAR HAS 27,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? *TR
IM A SOLARA 2004 OWNER. I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THOUSANDS OF SOLARA'S OWNERS ARE HAVING. THE ISSUE OF PULL TO THE LEFT AND WHAT TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA ARE DOING TO RESOLVE THIS....NOTHING. TOYOTA SKIPS TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND THE NHTSA DOESN'T CARE OR JUST THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE TOYOTA TO SOLVE THIS BIG PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE CONTACT WAS STILL ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,520.
MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR COST IS $500+. A REVIEW OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. THE REPLACEMENT SHAFT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED, INDICATING THIS PART HAD A DESIGN FLAW. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN STEERING LOSS. A SAFETY RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED IN OTHER COUNTRIES (JAPAN AND CANDA, FOR EXAMPLE) FOR THE PRIUS, ALTHOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN MOST TOYOTA MODELS. A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED IN THE U.S. FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP. THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED AND APPEARED TO BE FINE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 7,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.
2004 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING COLUMN AND MAKE NOISE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS JUST A NOISE BUT WOULD REPLACE LOWER COLUMN AT A COST OF $463.65. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER IS AWARE. THIS IN MY HUMBLE OPINION SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM PAID FOR BY TOYOTA. THIS IS MY FOURTH TOYOTA AND I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES LIKE THIS BEGINNING AT 39,000. NOISE WAS SMALLER AND ONLY NOTICED ON LEFT TURNS AT FIRST NOW MUCH LOUDER AND OCCURS ON LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. *JB
SHORTLY AFTER WE PURCHASED A NEW 2004 CAMRY SEDAN, WE BEGAN NOTICING LOOSENESS, RATTLING, KNOCKING SOUNDS AND "PLAY" IN THE STEERING CHARACTERISTICS. IN ADDITION, IN SLOW, TIGHT-RADIUS TURNS (AS IN PARKING LOTS), IT ALMOST FELT AS IF THE FRONT TIRES WOULD SLIDE LATERALLY OVER SLICK SURFACES -- SNOW, ICE, LOOSE GRAVEL, WET PAVEMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS SUBTLE AT FIRST BUT BECAME GRADUALLY MORE NOTICEABLE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE WAS A BARELY-PERCEPTIBLE OSCILLATION OR VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AT ABOUT 28K MILES WE NOTICED A PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WE ASKED FOR AN ALIGNMENT TO BE DONE AND THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE KNOCKING, RATTLING, LOOSENESS, PLAY, LATERAL SKIDDING IN TIGHT-RADIUS TURNS BECAME WORSE OVER TIME AND AT ABOUT 50K MILES WE ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK AGAIN. DEALERS SERVICE ORDER STATED, "TSB ST001-06 APPLIES TO THIS CONCERN. AN UPDATED STEERING SHAFT ORDERED." THE COST TO REPAIR WAS OVER $400. WE BELIEVE THIS DEFECT EXISTED FROM THE TIME THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED, AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM SOUNDS SIMILAR TO RECALLS OR DEFECTS I HAVE RESEARCHED THAT AFFECT THE PRIUS, AVALON, AND OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES. WE BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH ONLY 19,993 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. REFER TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-06. I HEARD CLANKING AND POPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. THE STEERING FELT LOOSE AND SLOPPY. AFTER READING THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN I BELIEVED TOYOTA DISCOVERED THE FAULTY PART IN PRODUCTION AND EVENTUALLY CHANGED TO A NEW PART. I WAS DISAPPOINTED TOYOTA CHARGED ME FOR LABOR TO FIX A PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE PART AND REPLACED IT FOR FREE.*AK
2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS**CC *JB
WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A JERKING MOTION AND A KNOCKING NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER AND SAID IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE ON OCCASSION. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER AND REPLACED A LOWER STEERING SHAFT TO A NEWER VERSION. COMMENT WAS THAT THIS CAR WAS A NEW DESIGN AND THIS PARTICULAR PART NEEDED REPLACEMENT. MY PROBLEM IS THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE OLD PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ME TO TAKE IT. *NM
ON GOING PROBLEM WITH 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SINCE 53K MILES. COUPLING BETWEEN STEERING COLUMN AND RACK AND PINION POPS AS IF THEIR IS A BEARING FAILURE IN UNION. WAS ADVISED THEY WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM WITH A TSB, BUT NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY SINCE NONE HAD "FAILED" YET. FAILURE OF PART WOULD DIRECTLY AFFECT CONTROL OF STEERING OF VEHICLE. AFTER CONTACT CORPORATE TOYOTA THEY SAID IN EMAIL I WOULD HAVE TO WORK IT OUT WITH THE DEALER WHO SAID THE PART WAS NOT COVERED AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM AND POPPING IN COLUMN IS GETTING WORSE. *NM
TL* - THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. .THIS HAPPENED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR STANDING STILL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT ADJUST, AND THE WHEEL LEANED A LITTLE TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER , AND THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT GAVE HIM AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR THE STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAS BEEN HEARING THE CLANKING NOISE EVERY SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK IN DECEMBER 2004, BUT THE NOISE WAS GETTING WORSE. *AK UPDATED 01/30/07. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS REGULAR SERVICE, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY CORROSION WHEN OPERATED IN SALT BELT STATES CREATING SPECIFIC STEERING FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ALSO INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL BUT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HONOR THE COST OF THE PARTS BUT NOT THE LABOR INVOLVED FOR THE REPAIR. UPDATED 2/22/2007 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED.
I LEASED A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SEPT OF 2003. I AM SO UPSET WITH THIS CAR, IT DRIFTS TO THE LEFT, I'VE TAKEN IT BACK SO MANY TIMES, THERE IS BULLETIN ON THIS, AND THEY SAID IT WAS IN THE SPRINGS, SO THEY TOOK THE TO REPAIR IT. IT STILL DRIFT'S, I'VE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED, A COUPLE OF WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, WHICH I HAD TO PAY. AT FIRST THEY DID NOT WANT TO ALIGN IT SAYING THAT NEW CARS DON'T NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. SO I WENT THROUGH THE LEMON LAW. WITH NO SATISFACTION. IT'S A LEASE, TAKE THE CAR BACK. THIS WAS TO BE MY RETIREMENT CAR AND NOW I WILL NOT HAVE ONE. WILL NOT BUY THIS CAR. AFTER PAYING FOR THE CAR IN FULL WHEN THE LEASE IS UP. I AM IN TEARS, THIS IS JUST NOT FAIR. TOYOTA WAS TO BE SUCH A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED COMPANY AND ALL THEY'RE DOING IS RIPPING US OFF. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *NM
2004 TOYOTA SOLARA THIS CAR IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT 100%. I HAVE REPLACED 2 SETS OF BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPERS BOTH RIGHT SIDE. ALSO BOTH INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND RIGHT CV SHAFT, WHEEL BEARINGS. A NEW BATTERY THE INTERIOR IS FALLING APART AND THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPLACE MOST OF THE PARTS AS THEY SAY NOT COVERED UNDER THE NEW WARRANTY. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES STEERING LOCKS UP, AND WILL NEED AN IGNITION CYLINDER FOR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL DEALERS CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL.
I HEARD AND FELT A NOISE ON MY STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY AN WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED A STEERING SHAFT/INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. I HAPPENED TO CHECK THE WEB AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WAS A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THAT THERE WAS A NEW SHAFT MADE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WHICH IN TURN HAD THE DEALER CONTACT ME. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HE SAID THAT IF IT HAD 39,000 MILES THEY WOULD PROBABLY REPAIR BUT SINCE I HAD 60,000 THEY WOULD NOT. HE DID OFFERED ME A GOODWILL GESTURE OF 15% OFF THE COST. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUED, AND SINCE THIS HAS TO DO WITH A SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS THE STEERING WHY WASN'T SOMETHING DONE BEFORE HAVING COME TO THIS. THE CAR RUNS OUT OF WARRANTY AND PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE I ALSO TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP TO SEE WHAT THEY THOUGHT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SHAFT AND STEERING GEAR BOX. THEY DID REPAIR A VEHICLE OF SOMEONE WHO 'S CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES OVER THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN CONTROL BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED.
LOOSENESS IN STEERING WHEEL WITH BINDING ASSOCIATED WITH POPPING NOISE IN FRONT OF 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 40K. *NM
FAILURE OF INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT CAUSES CLUNKING AND LOOSENESS OF STEERING SYSTEM. TOYOTA REFUSED TO GIVE ITS DEALER A REPLACEMENT PART. INSTEAD, DEALER NOTED THIS INFORMATION ON SERVICE FORM: "TOYOTA WILL BE ISSUING A RECALL REGARDING CONDITION IN NEAR FUTURE. WILL RECEIVE NOTICE BY MAIL." THIS WAS ON DECEMBER 10, 2005. I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. HAS TOYOTA CONTACTED NHTSA ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT? *NM
STEERING KNUCKLE DEFECTIVE ON 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. PROVIDES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO WEEKS. NOW AFTER TAKING IT TO AN OFFICIAL TOYOTA DEALER REPAIR SHOP, PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED. NOW AT LEAST TWO WEEK TO A MONTH WAIT ON PART. WAS TOLD WE WERE NUMBER 536 ON WAITING LIST, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IN SHORT TERM, BUT DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. STEERING IS LOOSE, AND A CATCH OCCURS IN STEERING. PASSENGER CAN EVEN FEEL WHEN THIS OCCURS. DEALER HAS REPORTED THREE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CAMRYS IN THE SAME WEEK. *NM
I PURCHASED A 2004 SOLARA, AND SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT OUT OF THE SHOWROOM, IT HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 6 TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF (ELGIN TOYOTA), AND WHATEVER THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED (IF ANYTHING) TO DO, NOTHING HAS HELPED. THEY WERE GOING TO GET TOYOTA REPS OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT (AT LEAST THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO) WHEN THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS, BUT NO TOYOTA REP EVER LOOKED AT IT, OR DID THEY DO ANYTHING TO TRY AND FIX IT. *NM
WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON MY 2004 SOLARA BEGAN TO FAIL. THIS CAUSED LOOSENESS IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING AROUND CORNERS. PREVIOUSLY, MY CAR ALSO SUFFERED FROM THE LEFT PULL PROBLEM LISTED ON THIS SITE. I BELIEVE THE SOLARA HAS SOME VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *NM
RECENTLY I BROUGHT MY 04 CAMRY TO MY DEALER BECAUSE OF SULFUR SMELL AND RATTLE AT LIGHT ACCELERATION. THE DEALER VERIFIED THE PROBLEMS AND REPLACED THE CONVERTER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ACCORDING TO THE TSBS. THEY SAID THEY ALSO HAD TO RE-PROGRAM THE ECM. THEN AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR, I FOUND EVERYTHING IS HARDER: THE ACCELERATION, STEERING, AND BRAKING. I FOUND IT IS HARD TO MAINTAIN A SPEED WHETHER ON LOCAL OR HIGHWAY. ON MAY 28,2005, WHILE I DROVE THE CAR ON HIGHWAY WITH 4 PERSONS SITTING IN THE CAR (INCLUDING ME), I FOUND THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD AND FELTED LIKE IT WAS LOCKED, AND I FOUND IT IS VERY HARD TO ACCELERATE TO HWY SPEED AND HARD TO MAINTAIN IT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON MAY 31. AFTER HAVING A TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE IT, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SIMILAR TO OTHER CAMRYS (NORMAL) AND WOULDN'T WANT TO SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY NEVER TRIED TO REPRODUCE MY PROBLEM (BY HAVING MORE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE CAR). I THINK THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFTY ISSUE SO I FILE COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. I ALSO FEEL THE CAR DOESN'T SHIFT RIGHT AND ENGINE IS NOISER AFTER THE CONVERT/INTAKE CHANGE AND RE-PROGRAMMING.
VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT OR RIGHT--MOSTLY LEFT. VEHILCE WILL NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT WITHOUT CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE COMPLAINED AND HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE AND/OR TEST DRIVEN A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES. FOUR TIMES HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST MONTH. THE SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN PERFORMED. TWO SERVICE MANAGERS HAVE DRIVEN WITH ME FROM TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. THEY COULD FEEL THE CAR PULLING BUT SAID IT WAS "NORMAL." THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE PULL/DRIFT BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY IMPROVEMENT TO MY VEHICLE. I HEAR RATTLES IN THE DRIVER WINDOW, THE PASSENGER WINDOW/DOOR, AND THE DASH. THE WINDOWS WERE SERVICED ONCE. THE DASH HAS BEEN SERVICED TWICE. SERVICEMEN REPLACED THE SEATBELT PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE NOISE EXISTED THERE. THE NOISE STILL EXISTS. SINCE THEN, THEY DON'T TRY TO REPAIR AND I'VE BEEN TOLD 'A LITTLE PLAY IN THE WINDOWS IS NORMAL.'
TOYOTA CAMRY WAS PURCHASED JUNE 28, 2004. PULLED TO LEFT DURING TEST DRIVE BUT WAS PROMISED THAT IT WOULD BE ALIGNED AND TAKEN CARE OF. REPEATED TRIP'S FOR SERVICE HAVE RESULTED IN THE TIRES BE ROTATED REPEATEDLY BUT NO EFFECT ON THE PULLING ISSUE. ENDED UP IN ARBITRATION. WASTE OF TIME. SHOP FORMAN TYPE PERSON ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A OFT REPEATED COMPLAINT. ARBITRATION DENIED ANY TYPE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. CONSTANTLY REPEATED THE "CROWN OF THE ROAD" STORY, THE "ITS DESIGNED THAT WAY FOR YOUR SAFETY" STORY, ETC. FIRST SET OF TIRES WORE OUT AFTER 18000 MILES. WAS TOLD THAT THEY'RE DESIGNED THAT WAY FOR A BETTER RIDE. TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER. HE CHANGED SPRINGS AND SUCH, APPARENTLY TO EXERCISE THE WARRANTY. AFTER NEARLY A WEEK IN THE SHOP, NO BETTER. AGAIN TOLD THE "CROWN OF THE ROAD STORY" AND THE "ITS DESIGNED THAT WAY" STORY. TO REPEAT WHAT IF HAVE SEEN IN THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THIS IS TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR A NEW CAR THAT CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE LEFT. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT HAVING IT PULL TOWARDS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WOULD NOT BE THE DESIRED RESULT HERE. THE ACT OF HAVING TO CONSTANTLY APPLY RIGHT TENSION IS NOT ONLY TIRING, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. IF YOU GLANCE AWAY FROM THE ROAD, THE ABNORMAL FEEL OF RIGHT TENSION CAUSES SOME TOTALLY UNDESIRABLE MANEUVERS. TOTALLY FRUSTRATING. IT APPEARS THAT MY THIRD TOYOTA WILL BE MY LAST. *NM
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FOR 2 DAYS ON MARCH 31 AND APRIL 1 DURING A DRIVING RAIN STORM CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN FOR 2 DAYS. ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON APRIL 1 AT 3:3 PM OPENED CAR DOOR AND DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR AND CARPETING WAS WET FROM GAS PEDAL UNDER SEAT TO BACK SEAT. TOYOTA SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND I MUST HAVE DRIVEN IN HIGH WATER OR PARKED WHERE MY CAR COULD FLOOD. FIRST OF ALL CAR WASN'T UNDER WATER IN MY DRIVEWAY, IF THAT WAS THE CASE, MY ENTIRE CAR WOULD BE FLOODED, NOT JUST DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD, AND MY HOUSE WOULD BE UNDER WATER. SECOND OF ALL ,IF I HAD DRIVEN IN HIGH WATER BOTH SIDES OF FLOOR BOARD WOULD BE WET. NOT JUST DRIVERS SIDE. ON MARCH 30TH DAY BEFORE THE STORM MY CAR CAME FROM TOYOTA SHOP FROM GETTING A STEERING SHAFT PUT IN THE CAR. MAKES ME WONDER IF THEY DIDN'T SEAL SOMETHING UP AROUND THE FIREWALL, ANYWAY THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR, IS LEAKING ON JUST THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD. ALSO BAD RATTLES IN B PILLARS. *AK
VEHICLE HAS PULLED LEFT EVER SINCE THE TIRES WERE ROTATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. I'VE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, WITH THEM SHOWING ME THAT THE ALIGNMENT FALLS WITHIN SPECS, AND ATTRIBUTING THE PULL TO ROAD CROWN. I JUST HAD MY 30K MILE SERVICE, AND THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY BECAUSE OF ALIGNMENT ISSUES. I PAID TO HAVE IT ALIGNED AGAIN AND REMINDED THEM ABOUT MY PROBLEMS THE LAST TIME (PLEASE NOTE THAT MY TIRES ARE SUPPOSEDLY ROTATED EACH TIME THE DEALER PERFORMS AN OIL CHANGE). I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND IT STILL PULLED TO THE LEFT. I AM GOING BACK THERE TODAY TO HAVE THEM ROAD TEST IT WITH ME AGAIN, ON THE PHONE THE TECH AGAIN ATTRIBUTED IT TO ROAD CROWN WHICH I DENIED, BUT I'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT A DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER WON'T REPAIR KNOWN ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES.*AK
I HAVE EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING OF MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SPORT COUPE WITH THE V6 MOTOR. THIS CAR CONSISTENTLY PULLS TO THE LEFT. FURTHER, THE CAR VEERS HARD TO THE LEFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP JUST PRIOR TO STOPPING. IT IS NOT A BRAKE PROBLEM. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM THE WEEK I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE DEALER, LEITH TOYOTA IN RALEIGH, NC, HAD THE WHEELS ROTATED AND THEN ALIGNED ALL FOUR WHEELS. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AGAIN AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR HAD DEFECTIVE TIRES. THEY DID NOT DEIGN TO REPLACE THE TIRES. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO ANDERSON TOYOTA IN RALEIGH, NC, AND THEY ALIGNED THE VEHICLE, AND ALSO REPLACED A BROKEN STEERING COMPONENT THAT WAS CAUSING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. THEN THEY TOLD ME A TSB HAD "JUST COME OUT" ABOUT THE PULL TO THE LEFT, AND THEY NEEDED TO ORDER NEW SPRINGS. I AM SUPPOSED TO GO PICK UP THE AUTO TODAY, BUT I SERIOUSLY DOUBT WHETHER IT IS FIXED, OR WHETHER TOYOTA IS CONCERNED ABOUT MY WELFARE OR MY INVESTMENT. CURRENTLY, THE CAR HAS 26K MILES, AND HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASIONS FOR THIS ISSUE.*AK
CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHEN TRAVELLING 65-70 MPH, LEADING TO HITTING A BRIDGE WALL AND GOING DOWN HILL AFTER THAT.SUSPENSION AND STEERING HEAVILY DAMAGED, ALSO DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF CAR. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 4 YEARS NOW AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAW A CAR BEHAVE SO STRANGELY. SINCE TOYOTA CAMRY HAS SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS SAYING THAT THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT, I AM THINKING IF THE CAR WAS TAMPERED WITH BEFORE SALE, CAUSING IT TO PULL TO THE RIGHT INSTEAD OF LEFT TO KEEP THE COMPLAINTS AT BAY.. ALSO WHILE DRIVING FOR THE 4 MONTHS THAT I HAD THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WOULD TURN TO THE RIGHT WHEN EVER I BRAKED(I SHOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS AT THAT VERY MOMENT) UNFORTUNATE THAT I AM DOING THIS AFTER BEEN AN HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BRAKES AND/OR STEERING WAS OVER RIDING HIS JUDGMENT. VEHICLE STARTED THE PULL TO THE RIGHT CONSUMER HAD A HARD TIME TRYING TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN LINE. *AK....WHILE DRIVING ON DRY FLAT ROAD ABOUT 70 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER TRIED TO CORRECT BACK STRAIGHT BUT STEERING DID NOT RESPOND. TURNED HARDER AND TO LEFTAND CAR STARTED LEF TOFF THE ROAD. TRIED TO CORRECT BACK RIGHT LIGHTLY AND STEERING DID NOT RESPOND. TURNE DHARDER RIGHT AND CAR WENT HARD RIGHT ALMOST OFF THE ROAD. CONSUME RHIT THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM LEAVING THE ROAD. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS BAD VIBRATION A THIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM TIRES. *AK
WHEN DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT/RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. *JB THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED SIX TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TWO SETS OF TIRES HAD BEEN WORN OUT. THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *SC
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. EVEN WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A BLIND SPOT. CONSUMER HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A RECALL. *AK
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN RECORD - CAR PULLED SEVERELY TO LEFT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. TOYOTA'S FIRST ATTEMPT LESSENED LEFT HAND PULL. TOYOTA'S SECOND REDUCED PULL, BUT NOW STEERING IS SLOPPY. TOYOTA SAYS THEY "FIXED" IT. CAR FEELS "TWITCHY". ON CROWNED ROADS YOU WILL PULL HARD TO WHATEVER SIDE THE ROAD LEANS TO. I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE - TOO SCARY TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER NON-SAFETY RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR - SHARP RATTLE FROM REAR PASSENGER SIDE, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE IS SOFT. *JB
FROM DAY ONE CAR HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO NOT CENTERED AND HAS TOO MUCH "PLAY". I MUST APPLY CONSTENT PRESSURE TO THE RIGHT JUST TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. CAR DOES NOT HAVE A SOLID, STABLE FEEL TO IT WHERE STEERING IS CONCERENED. I HAVE BROGHT THIS BACK TWICE TO LAUREL TOYOTA CARMAX AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED IT. I HAD A LOANER CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND THAT CAR FELT LIKE IT SHOULD. I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AS WELL.*AK
I'VE HAD A TOYOTA SOLARA SINCE LATE FEBRUARY, AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITHIN DAYS. IT PULLS TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, AND SLIPS INTO OTHER LANES USUALLY FROM THE RIGHT. ON 1 OCASSION WHEN I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MPH, IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE AND I SLID OFF THE ROAD AND SLID INTO A TREE, SLOWLY THANK YOU GOD. IT IS VERY BAD TO DRIVE, AND I WON'T LET MY WIFE OR MY KIDS IN THIS CAR IT WAS BOUGHT FOR HER. MY DEALER CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR AND FEEL SAFE. PLEASE GIVE ME A HAND. *LA
TROUBLE-DIFFICULTY STEERING, CAR KEEPS SLIPPING TO THE RIGHT. LOCAL DEALER COULDN'T FIND TROUBLE. CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE TALKED TO 5-6 OTHER PEOPLE WITH SOLARA, ALL BUT 1 HAD SAME PROBLEMS...PULLING RIGHT/LEFT. MINE FEELS LIKE I'M DRIVING OVER OIL SLICK, AND CAR SLIPS INTO OTHER LANE. PLEASE HELP. *AK
- NEW TOYOTA CAMRY LE PURCHASED JANUARY 2004 - ON FEBRUARY 25TH KEY WOULD NOT TURN (TOOK 10 - 15 MINUTES TO START IT) - LATER WHILE PARKING, THE CAR THE STEERING LOCKED TURNING THE CAR TO THE RIGHT - THE CAR ACCELERATED AND SURGED DESPITE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE (SAME AS ODI PEO4021) - THOUGH THE CAR BROKE A METAL FLAG POLE, DAMAGED A RETAINING WALL, AND FELL SEVEN FEET INTO A MAJOR STREET, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY - CAR IS SEVERELY DAMAGED: WHEELS, TIRES, FRONT END, GAS TANK, FRONT AXLE - DRIVER HAS A SWOLLEN AND SORE KNEE ALONG WITH SIGNIFICANT SOFT TISSUE INJURIES INCLUDING BACK PAIN *SC *JB
PURCHASED 2004 SOLARA IN SEPTEMBER 2003. HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE TWICE FOR PULLING TO THE LEFT. IT WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES WITH NO REASON FOR PROBLEM. CAR PERFORMS OK FOR A FEW DAYS THEN STARTS PULLING LEFT AGAIN. *AK ALSO - HESITATION ON ACCELERATOR. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN GIVING CAR GAS. ALSO ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE TWICE. FEEL THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A PROBLEM CAR AND AM VERY CONCERNED
PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. EVER SINCE THE DAY I PICKED IT UP THE CAR HAS DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. NOW WITH 9000 MILE ON IT ,IT HAS STARTED TO PULL RIGHT ONCE IN A WHILE. THE DEALER HAS RE-ALINED THE FRONT END 5 TIMES AND I HAVE ALSO HAD A PRIVATE SHOP DO IT ONCE . THE DEALER HAS COMPLETED THE WORK WHICH TOYOTA SENT OUT ON A BULLETIN HOWEVER IT STILL DRIFTS. TOYOTA SENT AN ENGINEER UP FROM CHICAGO TO DRIVE MY CAR, HE TOLD ME THAT ALL TOYOTA'S ARE DESIGNED TO DRIFT LEFT DUE TO ROAD CROWN. LOOKING AT ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS ,I FEEL HE WAS JUST SINGING A STORY. TODAY I VISITED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND DROVE TWO NEW SOLARAS. THEY BOTH DRIFTED LEFT. I DRIVE THIS CAR FOR MY JOB--30,000 MILES A YEAR IT IS TOTALLY EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY POSSIBLY DANGEROUS.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JANUARY 2004, AND I STARTED COMPLAINING THE NEXT DAY. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN GOING OVER 60 MPH, LIKE I DROVE OVER SOMETHING SLIPPERY LIKE ICE. IT ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND SOMETIMES TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN MY MIND, BUT I NOW SEE IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT. IS LEMON LAW A POSSIBILITY? I FEEL VERY UNSAFE. *LA
I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 1/1/04. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK A WEEK LATER TO HAVE LEATHER PUT ON THE SEATS, I TOLD THEM IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. SUPPOSEDLY THEY ALIGNED THE FRONT END BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT ANYTHING IN THE COMPUTER ABOUT IT. THEY HAVE ROTATED THE TIRES, SWITCHED THE TIRES, ALIGNED THE FRONT END, PUT A NEW RACK ON IT ETC. ETC. THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I SHOULD READ THE OWNERS MANUAL ON HOW TO OPERATE IT. I HAVE DEALT WITH THIS FOR 3 MONTHS AND NO SATISFACTION. I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM AND TOLD THEM I WANTED ANOTHER CAR. THEY GAVE ME ONE TO SEE IF I LIKED IT AND THEN PULLED MINE IN TO WORK ON IT AGAIN AFTER I HAD TOLD THEM NO MORE. THEY CALLED ME TODAY TO TELL ME IT WAS FIXED. RIGHT!!! I HAVE CALLED MY LAWYER. *JB
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IT'S STEERING AND HOW UNSAFE IT FEELS TO DRIVE. PULLS TO THE LEFT FREQUENTLY, AND THE RIGHT LESS FREQUENTLY. STEERING IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE, AND FEELS UNSAFE. CAR SLIDES INTO OTHER LANES, AS IF ON ICE...ESPECIALLY WHEN PASSED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER REPAIRED A SLIGHT FAULT WITH SOME RINGS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, IT ONLY SLIGHTLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. STEERING IS MORE CONTROLLED, BUT CAR STILL DRIFTS INTO OTHER LANES. CAR ALSO ROCKS WHEN IN A PARKED POSITION, IF EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED, AND WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN STOPPED GOING UPWARD ON HILL...BRAKES DO NOT LOCK INTO A HOLD POSITION. *JB
2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA PULLS TO LEFT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS DESPITE WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON-SPEC. HAS DONE SO SINCE PURCHASED DEC 2003.*AK
CAR PULLED SEVERLY TO LEFT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. TOYOTA'S FIRST ATTEMPT LESSENED LEFT HAND PULL. TOYOTA'S SECOND ATTEMPT ELIMINATED PULL, BUT NOW STEERING IS SLOPPY. TOYOTA WANTS TO TAKE CAR AND "LOOK AT IT AGAIN." SINCE THEY CANNOT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSE AND DEFINITIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION, I HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM A 3RD "CHANCE AT IT." I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND AM NOW ASKING FOR TOYOTA TO BUY BACK. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER NON-SAFETY RELATED PROBLEMS WITH CAR. IT APPEARS THIS RE-DESIGN WAS NOT READY FOR MARKET LAST SEPTEMBER. *AK
LAWYER REPRESENTING CONSUMER STATING THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *LA *JB
A NEW 2004 CAMRY SE WILL NOT ALIGN AND HAS SEVERE STEERING PROBLEMS. TO FOLLOW TOYOTA'S SUGGEST THE ALIGNMENT COMPUTER GENERATED REPORT WILL NOTE: CROSS CAMBER ACTUAL "THIS VALUE IS NOT WITHIN SPECIFICATION. TIRE WEAR, HANDLING AND SAFETY PROBLEMS MAY RESULT." *JB
2004 SOLARA SE SPORT PULLS (DRIFTS) TO THE LEFT. ( DEALERSHIP SPENT 3 DAYS ON CAR, PERFORMED BULLETIN# ST002-04 INCLUDING ADJUSTMENT SPRING SEATS AND ALIGNMENT- STILL PULLS LEFT. ) AGREED TO DRIVE 3,000 MILES UNTIL NEXT SERVICE INTERVAL & AWAIT NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM TOYOTA ) VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUE, I BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACURING OR DESIGN FLAW IN STEERING SYSTEM. I AM A QUALITY ENGINEER IN IMPORT AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY WITH 17 YEARS EXPERIENCE.) *JB
I BOUGHT A 04 CAMRY LE IN NOV.03 BUT FOUND IT KEPT PULLING TO LEFT. SINCE THEN I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR FIX. THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID IT IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND ALIGNED ALL 4 WHEELS. BUT IT STILL PULLED. THE SECOND TIME THEY CROSS ROTATED TWO TIRES AND SLIGHTLY ADJUSTED THE TOE(AS THEY TOLD ME). THIS TIME IT IS SLIGHTLY IMPROVED. HOWEVER, I FOUND THE STEERING IS NOT SYMMETRICAL, I.E. TURNING LEFT AND TURNING RIGHT GIVE ME DIFFERENT FEELING. SO I GUESS THE FIX THEY DID WAS NOT THE RIGHT FIX. THEY JUST TRIED TO COMPENSATE THE LEFT PULL BY PLAYING WITH THE TOE ANGLES. IT STILL PULLS! RECENTLY I NOTICED MANY CAMRY OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED BY A SO-CALLED "ROTATING UPPER SPRING INSULATOR BY 25MM CCW" MEOTHD. AND THE PROBLEM IS BECUASE OF AN ASSEMBLY ISSUE. SO I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO HAVE MY PROBLEM ADDRESSED. THEY SHOULD FIX THEIR ASSEMBLY ISSUE AND NOT LET CUSTOMERS KEEP COMPLAINING WITHOUT RESULTS!!!*AK
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. SINCE DAY ONE THE CAR HAS DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. I HAVE HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNED 4 TIMES, ROTATED THE TIRES AND CHECKED AIR PRESSURE. NOTHING HAS HELPED THIS CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED, BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED.
TWO WEEKS AGO WE PURCHASED A NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE V6. IT HAS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. TODAY 12-29-2004 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (RIGHT TOYOTA OF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY REVERSE MOUNT AND BALANCED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE (PER TSB ST005-01). IT DROVE SOMEWHAT BETTER BUT WHEN I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE AFTER SEVERAL HOURS IN THE GARAGE I FOUND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AT 37+PSI WELL ABOVE THE REQUIRED 32 AND 4.5 HIGHER THEN THE RIGHT FRONT.*AK
CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE LEFT. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO PROBLEM, JUST "MINOR ROAD VARIATIONS".*AK
WE PURCHASED A 2004 SOLARA SE SPORT V6 ,FROM DAY ONE EVEN AT THE TIME OF THE TEST DRIVE IT PULED TO THE LEFT YOU MUST ALWAYS KEEP PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. WE SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AFTER THE TEST DRIVE AND BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND HE SAID TO ME DONT WORRY BRING IT BACK NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL FIX IT, IT MIGHT JUST BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. WE TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT WEEK THEY CHANGED THE TIRES FROM THE LEFT SIDE TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND SAID IT WAS OK. IT STILL PULLED TO THE LEFT, I CALLED AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK AND THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR AND THEY HAD IT TWO DAYS. WE PICKED IT UP AND IT STILL PULLED TO THE LEFT .WE TOOK IT BACK FOR THE 3RD TIME IN LESS THEN 2 WEEKS AND I TOLD THEM TO KEEP IT TILL IT IS FIXED , THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE CORRECT WAY . THIS HAS BEEN 3 ATTEMPS TO FIX IT AND 17 DAYS OUT OF THE FIRST MONTH OF HAVING THE CAR THAT IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP. WHAT ABOUT AT A LATER DATE ABOUT TIRE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.*AK
WE PURCHASED A 2004 SOLARA SE SPORT V6, AFTER THE TEST DRIVE I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER IT PULLED TO THE LEFT HE TOLD US NOT TO WORRY BRING IT BACK NEXT WEEK AND HE WILL GIVE IT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, WE DID THAT AND STILL PULLS . WE TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY SWITCHED THE TIRES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE TO THE LEFT AND IT STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT. THEY HAVE NOW HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT PULLING TO THE LEFT BUT DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THIS IS A BIG SAFTY PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU MUST AT ALL TIME KEPP PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO GO STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. IF YOU LET GO OF THE WHEEL YOU WILL GO INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN BAD WEATHER WITH ICE OR SNOW..... THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIX BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A BAD ACCIDENT CAUSE OF THE CONSTANT PULLING TO THE LEFT... I SUGGEST A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. *AK
2004 TOYOTA SOLARA - PULLS TO THE LEFT AND CANNOT BE ALIGNED. SAFETY HAZARD PROBLEM. MUST HOLD ONTO STEERING WHEEL TIGHT OR VEHICLE GOES LEFT. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT CANNOT FIX IT. HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON ICY/SNOW COVERED ROADS? NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *LA
PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA IN SEPTEMBER 2003. CAR HAS PULLED LEFT FROM DAY ONE. HAVE TAKEN CAR IN 5 TIMES. DEALER TOLD ME TOYOTA IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND ARE WORKING ON FIX. A CASE NUMBER WAS ASSIGNED TO MY CAR AND DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THEY FIXED CAR BY ADDING WASHERS TO THE STRUT BOLTS ON THAT SIDE TO "SHIM" THE CAR. DEALER FAILED TO TELL ME THAT THEY ALSO ADDED 5 EXTRA POUNDS OF PRESSURE TO THE TIRE ON THAT SIDE TO MAKE THE CAR GO STRAIGHT. NOT ACCEPTABLE--THE CAR IS NOT FIXED. I HAVE FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA 2 WEEKS AGO AND AM AWAITING A CALL BACK (THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO FIX) AND HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. *LA
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR IT HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. I TOOK IT IN AND TOYOTA HAD MY CAR FOR THREE DAYS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE TALKED WITH TOYOTA SPECIALIST AT CORPORATE AND IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 SOLARA THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX. AT THIS TIME THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND RECOMMENDED I DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEY FIGURE IT OUT. IF TIRES WEAR WRONG OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM THEY WOULD COVER IT. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION FOR ME. THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP A CAR THAT HAS A DEFECT. THIS WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION IF I WERE TO GET IT INSPECTED TODAY, SO HOW COULD THEY TELL ME IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT PULLS TO THE LEFT? I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AND I AM AWAITING A CALL BACK. I AM ALSO FILING A COMPLAINT THROUGH NHTSA TO FURTHER ASSIST MY SITUATION. *LA
I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE V-6 A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HAVE SOME PROBLEMS. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE FIRST TIME I GOT THE CAR BACK FROM OURISMAN FAIRFAX TOYOTA THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS WORST THAN WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. "ALIGNED TO TOYOTA SPECIFICATIONS" THEY SAID. THE SERVICE MANAGER ROTATED THE TIRES MANY TIMES AND ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT "OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS" TO TRY AND MAKE THE CAR TRACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. HIS ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR HAS FAILED AND I AM CERTAIN THAT THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO PRODUCE ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR BECAUSE OF THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO THE CAR. I FEEL CHEATED BY TOYOTA. THIS IS A 27,000 DOLLAR CAR AND THE 15,000 DOLLAR COROLLA RENTAL THEY GAVE ME FOR THE DAY HAD PERFECT STEERING. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. DRIFTING TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, IF YOU DON'T KEEP CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR WILL GO LEFT AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE AMOUNT OF DRIFT IS SO BAD THAT IF YOU REMOVE YOUR HAND FROM THE WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN LEFT BY ITSELF. THE AMOUNT OF AUTO WHEEL TURN IS BETWEEN 3 TO 12 INCHES. THIS IS VERY UN-SAFE AND I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT CAN BE OF SOME HELP TO OTHERS AND ME. *LA
JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2004 CAMRY XLE FULLY LOADED, HAD 18 MILES ON IT.ONE OF THE BEARINGS ON THE STEERING U-JOINT FELL OUT,CAUSING AT LEAST 2" OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL, LUCK HAS IT THIS WAS JUST BEFORE WE WERE GOING ON A TRIP. WE COULD OF LOST THE STEERING ON THE FREEWAY AND CRASHED. POWER TOYOTA IN IRVINE CA. WILL NOT GIVE ME THE BAD PART THEY SAID THEY HAD TO SEND IT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK