NHTSA Complaint #10207002 — 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA

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