NHTSA Complaint #10972155 — 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

VERY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IT WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS DIFFICULTLY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE ON ACCELERATION. LATER IT APPEARED AS IF THERE WAS A HIGH POINT IN THE STEERING. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CHANGED AT 32K MILES AND NOW THERE IS A DISTINCT CLUNK IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING. THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT WHEN THE TIRES WERE CHANGED. I RECEIVED NO REPORT OF SUSPENSION OR TIE ROD PROBLEMS. CLUNK BECAME MORE AUDIBLE. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND A PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT VERY EARLY. CURRENT MILEAGE LESS THAN 33K.