NHTSA Complaint #10139465 — 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE STEERING WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS, I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR, THANKFULLY I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE TIME, SO NO PERSONAL INJURY OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND. I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED DO TO DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP. I PROMPTLY CALLED GREENVILLE TOYOTA AND REPORTED IT AND THEY WERE TO COME TOW THE CAR FROM RALEIGH BACK TO GREENVILLE. GREENVILLE TOYOTA SAYS THE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST ME $328 TO REPLACE IT. IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE COME LOOSE. HERE IS PART OF THE LETTER I'VE SENT TO GREENVILLE TOYOTA: ------------------------------------------------------------ I CRANKED MY 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND STARTED TO TURN THE WHEEL TO BACK UP. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL POPPED AND THE WHEEL STARTED TO SPIN FREELY. MY BROTHER TOOK A LOOK AT THE SIENNA. HE CHECKED THE FRONT WHEELS AND IT WAS NOT THE TIE RODS. HE THEN CHECKED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WHEEL SPUN FREELY BECAUSE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD COME LOOSE. THE BOLT THAT GOES FROM THE U JOINT INTO THE STEERING COLUMN NEVER WAS INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE UNIT SHOULD HAVE NEVER, EVER COME APART LIKE THAT. MY BROTHER ATTACHED THE BOLT PROPERLY AND HAD ME ON MY WAY IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. IN HIS MECHANIC'S OPINION THE UNIT WAS NEVER ATTACHED PROPERLY AND WAS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *NM