NHTSA Complaint #11231675 — 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA

2015 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE 44,802 MILES. HEAR CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DURING LOW SPEED OR STATIONARY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE BETWEEN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION MATING TEETH CAUSING THE NOISE. THEY RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND QUOTE ME ALMOST $800 FOR IT FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I DECLINED. I AM SURPRISED THIS IS HAPPEN TO TOYOTA, THE REASON I BOUGHT TOYOTA IS BECAUSE ITS RELIABILITY. IF I KNOW THINGS GOING TO BREAK JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY IS OVER, I WON'T BUY TOYOTA. THERE ARE OTHER BRANDS CHEAPER BRAND THAT DO THAT. AFTER I TALK TO MY MECHANIC, HE SAID THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS A LOT, EVEN THE OEM REPLACEMENT PART WON'T LAST LONG 40-50K MILES. FOR ME IT SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN ISSUE OR JUST A CHEAPLY MADE PART.