NHTSA Complaint #10969424 — 2011 TOYOTA TACOMA

I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY STEERING BINDING IN MY 2011 TACOMA. I NOTICE THAT WHEN DRIVING IN STRAIGHT LINE I HAVE TO USE MORE THAN NORMAL FORCE TO ADJUST THE WHEEL TO STAY IN LANE. I ALSO NOTICE IT WHEN TURNING CORNERS, IT WILL BE MOVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN BIND UP AND IT TAKES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE TURN. THIS SEEMS LIKE A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND HAD THEM CHECK THE STEERING FLUID. THEY ENDED UP PERFORMING A STEERING FLUSH. I STILL HAD THE ISSUE AND I FOUND THAT THE LOWER U-JOINT IN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS RUSTY AND BINDING UP. I SPRAYED IT WITH PENETRATING LUBE AND IT HAS FREED UP (FOR NOW). I WILL BE ORDERING A NEW ONE ASAP. I DO FEEL THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA BUT AT THIS TIME THEY SAY THAT IT IS NOT.