NHTSA Complaint #11352027 — 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA

THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT STAY CENTERED AND THE POSITION WOULD CHANGE. I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS STOPPED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SOME MOVEMENT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I CHECKED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOWN NUT AND IT WAS TIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A SPLINE BUSHING THAT MATCHES UP WITH A MATCHING SPLINE ON THE SHAFT SO I COULD NOT SEE HOW THIS COULD MOVE. I REMOVED THE LOCKING NUT SO I COULD SEE THE WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL AND SHAFT CONNECT TOGETHER. WITH THE NUT OFF I NOTICED THAT THE SPLINE BUSHING DID NOT MOVE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL DID MOVE ON THE BUSHING. THERE WAS A POTENTIAL DANGER OF THE STEERING WHEEL COMING LOOSE SO THAT I WOULD LOSE CONTROL OR WORSE YET THE STEERING WHEEL COULD COME COMPLETELY OFF THE COLUMN. THIS PROBLEM CAN EASILY BE CHECKED AS I DID WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE LOCKED POSITION. IF YOU HAVE ANY MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE LOCKED POSITION GET IT CHECKED IMMEDIATELY.