NHTSA Complaint #10161293 — 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY

AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES, A KNOCKING SOUND BEGAN TO BE AUDIBLE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY PRECIPITATING INCIDENT; NO COLLISIONS OR HARD CONTACT WITH CURBING, POT HOLES, ETC.. THE KNOCK COULD ALSO BE FELT AS A SLIGHT JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS (AND STILL IS) NO NOTICEABLE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR. THE NOISE AND SLIGHT JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL GRADUALLY WORSENED WITH TIME, AND THE CAR WAS JUST BEYOND THE GENERAL WARRANTY PERIOD WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. DIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER WAS "BAD STEERING COLUMN; NEEDS TO BE REPLACED". AS IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENT, THERE WAS NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT $1000 AT THE TIME. NO REPAIR HAS YET BEEN DONE. *NM