NHTSA Complaint #10415864 — 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT HAD BEEN BRIEFLY CATCHING OR GRABBING ON SOMETHING, SO WE TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE CAR DOES NOT TURN AS EXPECTED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE STEERING COUPLER WAS RUSTED, CAUSING IT TO BIND UP WITH THE JOINT WHEN TURNING. HE SAID THE PART IS COMPLETELY EXPOSED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, AND IT ROTS WITH THE ROAD WATER SALT, ETC. THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE PARTS PLACE SAID THEY HAVE SOLD SO MANY OF THEM RECENTLY THAT IT WAS ON BACKORDER. THE PART HAS NOW COME IN AND WE WILL BE REPAIRING IT TOMORROW. WE REPLACED THE SAME PART FOR THE SAME REASON ON OUR 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA SIX MONTHS AGO. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE FOR TOYOTA. I HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON BOTH OF MY TOYOTA VEHICLES, AND HAS COST ME MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT APPEARS TO BE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TO LAST. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SPARE TIRE CABLE THAT IS ROTTING FROM EXPOSURE, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THERE CAN BE NO RECALL RELATED TO SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE AS EXPECTED. THANK YOU.