NHTSA Complaint #10140898 — 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA

NOISE AND EXCESS PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY SURFACES. FOUND UPPER STEERING SHAFT SLIP JOINT IMPROPERLY MACHINED /CRIMPED RESULTING IN ABNORMAL NOISE AND EXCESS PLAY WHEN DRIVING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. DEALER REPLACED UPPER STEERING SHAFT WITH AND IDENTICAL PART. THIS PART HAS NOT BEEN REDESIGNED AND WILL FAIL AGAIN. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AS IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER KEPT THE OLD PART. HAVE FOUND FROM OTHERS THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT THIS PLAY AND NOISE IS VERY COMMON BUT NO ONE KNEW THE CAUSE UNTIL RECENTLY. *NM