NHTSA Complaint #10860758 — 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA

I EXPERIENCED ROUGH (STIFF, BINDING) STEERING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND WITHIN TWO WEEKS IT WAS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. I THOUGHT I HAD A STEERING FLUID ISSUE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND CONFIRMED IT BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A RUSTED U-JOINT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT (P/N 4520304020). IN ADDITION TO THE STIFF STEERING GOING INTO A TURN, THE STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN TO STRAIGHT AND I UNEXPECTEDLY NEARLY WENT INTO THE CURB. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION AND MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL 2005 TACOMA OWNERS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ADVISED OF ANY NEED TO PERFORM ANY SPECIAL SERVICING OF THIS PART AT ANY MILEAGE INTERVAL. IT APPEARS TO BE A BAD DESIGN THAT ALLOWS SALTY WATER FROM WINTER ROADS TO GET INTO THE U-JOINT WHICH THEN RUSTS.