NHTSA Complaint #10981256 — 2006 TOYOTA RAV4

I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN AUGUST 2006 AT TOYOTA DEALER. THERE WERE CLUNKY SOUNDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN AFTER COUPLE MONTHS OF PURCHASE. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO DEALER TO REQUEST FOR A FIX BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUNKY SOUNDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS NORMAL AS THE WAY THE IT CAME FROM TOYOTA FACTORY. THERE WAS NO FIX TO CORRECT THAT CLUNKY NOISES FROM STEERING WHEEL ON THAT DAY. I HAD TRUSTED TO TOYOTA'S ADVICE ON THAT DAY AND KEPT DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL OTHER MECHANICS AND FRIENDS TOLD ME THAT MY CAR NEEDED TO BE FIXED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE THERE HAD BEEN CLUNKY NOISES WHEN THEY TESTED DRIVE ON MY CAR. THE SOUNDS ALWAYS CAME UP WHEN I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE AROUND 06/2014 ABOUT THE CLUNKY NOISE SINCE THE CONDITION GOT WORSE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THERE IS NOTHING FROM TOYOTA TO HELP FIXING THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THERE WOULD BE RECALL IF THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. I WAS ADVISED TO WAIT FOR A RECALL. FOR SAFETY CONCERN, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER MY CONVERSATION WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 06/2014. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAD QUOTED WITH A FIX FOR $600 FOR THE PART NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR. THE CLUNKY NOISE WAS CAME FROM THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX BECAUSE THE PRICE WAS TOO EXPENSIVE SO I HAD TO KEEP THE CAR CONDITION AS IT WAS. TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME THIS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY ACCIDENT INVOLVED THIS ISSUE OR NOT BUT I AM VERY SURE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER SINCE THIS INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS RELATING TO THE CONTROLLING CAR'S FRONT WHEELS. FOR THE SAFETY CONCERN, PLEASE HELP TO LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT.