NHTSA Complaint #10926227 — 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

THE STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING A THUNKING-TYPE OF NOISE WHEN TURNING, USUALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, AROUND CORNERS (NOT SLIGHT TURNS, SUCH AS WHEN THE ROAD CHANGES ON THE FREEWAY). IT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED IN MY RECORDS AT LEAST SINCE 30,000 MILES, JUST OUT OF TOYOTA'S WARRANTY PERIOD. THE CAR DEALER REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AT THE 30,000 SERVICE, AS DOCUMENTED. IT WASN'T HAPPENING AS FREQUENTLY THEN, BUT NOW AT 60,000 MILES, IT'S CONSTANT. IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE STEERING SHAFT/INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION/RESEARCH PRESENTED. SINCE I AM AWARE OF WHAT PART IS FAILING, I WANT TO GET IT FIXED, AS I'VE READ THAT THIS PART, IF IT FAILS, COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO FAIL, BUT DON'T WANT TO PAY MONEY FOR A PART THAT IS CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE.