NHTSA Complaint #10555485 — 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

THREE TIMES REPORTED FEELING A RATTLE IN THE STEERING ON RIGHT TURN LN ROUGH ROAD TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT. THREE TIMES THEY DENY SAYING 3 PEOPLE (INCLUDING THE SERVICE MANAGER) DROVE IT AND DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING. I TOLD THEM THAT WHEN THERE'S MORE WEIGHT ON THE FRONT END, LIKE BRAKING DOWNHILL AND TURNING RIGHT CAN FEEL IT MORE. BUT THE TESTED ON FLAT GROUND IN THE AREA OF MOTOR IMPORTS DOWNTOWN HONOLULU. I EVEN REPORTED IN EARLIER SERVICING THAT THE CAR DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE FREEWAY. AS IF THE STEERING IS LOOSE. AND THEY TEST DROVE AND SAID IT WAS FINE. THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF MY WARRANTY AND I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM TO FIND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN A DIAGRAM OF THE FIX ON: HTTP://WWW.UNDERHOODSERVICE.COM/ARTICLE/110175/TECH_TIPS_TOYOTA_TACOMA_MAKES_RATTLING_NOISES_ON_ROUGH_ROADS.ASPX . THIS SHOWS THAT IN 2012 THEY FIXED IT ON SOME TOYOTA'S: A NEWLY DESIGNED STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (P/N 45220-04020) HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION, BUT THAT'S 2012. MY CAR IS A 2010 BEFORE THE FIX. THE SOLUTION IS TO INSTALL A STEERING WHEEL HOLDER. OTHER REPORTS AT HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/TOYOTA/VENZA/2009/CONSUMER-REVIEWS/2009-VENZA-STEERING-COLUMN-RATTLE.HTML?STYLE=101109188&SUB=&REVIEWID=4641729. SHOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS ABOUT $1500 TO FIX AND SOMEBODY EVEN HAD A STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. *TR