NHTSA Complaint #10850602 — 2006 TOYOTA RAV4

MY WIFE'S 2006 RAV4 HAS A "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE STEERING THAT IS WORRISOME TO US. IT HAS BEEN PRESENT AND GETTING WORSE FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS, NOW. I NOTICED THE NOISE AS BEING FAINT BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL MY STEPSON ASKED ME ONE DAY WHAT THE NOISE WAS. IT OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE WE HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED THEY BASICALLY BLEW US OFF AND IMPLIED THAT IT WAS OUR FAULTY DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER RAV 4 OWNERS BUT TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE FIX WILL COST FROM 5 TO 7 HUNDRED DOLLARS. WE WERE ASKED IF WE WNTED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND WE SAID NO, THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DOCUMENTED THAT WE HAD TURNED DOWN REPAIRS TO THE STEERING COLUMN. ANOTHER COSMETIC PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED WAS THE FINISH ON THE WHEELS CORRODING AND FLAKING OFF SO THAT NOW THE WHEELS LOOK TERRIBLE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA TOLD US THAT WE MUST HAVE USED A "SOLVENT" TO CLEAN THE WHEELS THEREFORE CREATING THE PROBLEM OURSELVES. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS ALSO ON THE INTERNET AMONG RAV 4 OWNERS. TOYOTA DOESN'T WANT TO FIX ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS.