NHTSA Complaint #10488778 — 2011 TOYOTA TUNDRA

I HAVE A 2011 TUNDRA SR5 WITH A LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE SHIFT LEVER. WHILE IN PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PRESSED IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO GEAR. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOUD CLICK CAN BE HEARD FROM THE COLUMN SHIFTER. THIS IS THE COLUMN SHIFT LOCKOUT SOLENOID AND IS NORMAL. HOWEVER, RECENTLY I CAN HEAR THE SOLENOID CLICKING ANYTIME I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE I'M IN GEAR. SOMETIMES IT IS A CLICK, TWO CLICKS AND SOMETIMES IT IS SERIES OF RAPID CLICKS. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THE CLICKING WAS NORMAL WHILE IN PARK AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT WHILE IN GEAR. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY "BLEW OUT THE EXCESS GREASE" FROM THE SHIFT LOCK. THEIR BEST EXPLANATION IS THAT THE COLUMN SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID COMES FROM THE FACTORY AS A SEALED UNIT AND IS PACKED WITH GREASE. THE 'EXCESS' GREASE CAN KEEP THE LOCKING ARM FROM FULLY RETRACKING OR ENGAGING AND THE SOLENOID WILL CHATTER BECAUSE IT IS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO POSITION. *TR