NHTSA Complaint #10960130 — 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

OUR 2013 HIGHLANDER DEVELOPED A LIGHT CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AFTER A ACCIDENT IN OCTOBER OF 2013. WE THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT UNTIL DECEMBER 2017 WHEN THE CLUNKING INCREASED IN LOUDNESS AND FREQUENCY. WE HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT BY GULLO TOYOTA OF CONROE, TEXAS. THEY FOUND THE MID STEERING COLUMN SHAFT THAT WAS FAILING AND CAUSING THE CLUNKING NOISE AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THIS PART FOR SAFETY REASONS. WE CONCURRED AND HAD THE WORK COMPLETED. I DISCUSSED THIS SITUATION WITH THE SERVICE REP AT GULLO TO SEE IF THEY COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS PART FAILURE. THEY COULD NOT SUGGEST ANY CAUSE SO I SUGGESTED THAT THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN IN OCTOBER OF 2013 MIGHT BE THE CULPRIT. GULLO WOULD NOT CONFIRM THE POSSIBILITY BY WOULD WORK WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA. USAA HAS REJECTED THIS THEORY AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE STEERING COLUMN'S MID SHAFT. THIS PART SHOULD NOT BE FAILING.