NHTSA Complaint #10442466 — 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY

NO INCIDENT, PROGRAM KEEP ASKING FOR DATE: ITS A DUMMY DATE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF TOYOTA CAMRY LXI 2004. AROUND 35,260 MILES AND BEFORE 3 YEARS (UNDER WARRANTY) STEERING STARTED CAUSING TROUBLE, STARTED TO FEEL AND HEAR CLLCKING IN THE STEERING WHEN EVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED OR DURING DRIVING IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM SOME TIMES STEERING GETS REALLY HARD DURING DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CHICAGO AND IT WAS TESTED BY A MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. AFTER 16 MONTHS AND AT 43,752 MILES THE PROBLEM GOT WORST AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CHICAGO, AND AFTER CHECKING IT I WAS TOLD THAT YES THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND IT WILL COST ME $520 + LABOR TO FIX IT. I REFUSED TO PAY AND TOLD THEM THAT I WILL FILE A COMPLAIN WITH TOYOTA CORP THAT WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR FOR THE SAME REASON UNDER WARRANTY IT WAS NOT FIXED AND NOW YOU WANT TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM CHARGING THE CUSTOMER. FINALLY THE MANAGER GOT THE OK FROM TOYOTA CORP AND FIXED THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE. NOW AFTER 3 YEARS AT 63,632 MILES SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING RETURNED AND A AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CALIFORNIA WANTS TO CHARGE ME $715 + LABOR. I FILED A ONLINE COMPLAIN WITH TOYOTA CORP (MAIN OFFICE IN TORRANCE, CA) AND AFTER INVESTIGATION THEY TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CHICAGO FIXED THE PROBLEM, HE FIXED IT AS A GOODWILL ! WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS FIXED FOR NO CHARGE. I DON'T THINK I LIKE TO PAY ANY MONEY FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND TOYOTA CORP SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMER. *TR