NHTSA Complaint #10378264 — 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY

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