2004 TOYOTA CAMRY Steering Problems

The power steering freezes up upon the slightest amount of street water ponding making it almost impossible to turn the steering wheel. I have experienced a number of scary situations that make driving this car in wet elements very very difficult. As a result I generally refrain from driving altogether under these conditions. This dangerous problem must be fixed soon! I HAVE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST TO MY LOCAL DEALER (TOYOTA OF DALLAS)

WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY AT A NON-SPEEDING LEVEL,DRY WEATHER, WHEEL LOCKED UP PREVENTING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, LEADDING TO VEHICLE HITTING A CURB THEN AIRBORNE AND TURNOVER RESULTING TO SALVAGE DAMAGES.

CAR SITTING AT IDLE POSITION SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD. VEHICLE WAS GOING 2-3 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD AND SMASHED INTO A WALL AT A TOP DONUT DRIVE THRU.

WAS INFORMED THAT MY POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS LEAKING AND THE STEERING DEVICES COULD LOSE ITS RESTRAINTS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS COULD LEAD TO CAR LOSING COMPLETE STEERING CAUSING A SEVERE CRASH AND POTENTIALLY DEATH TO ITS OCCUPANTS. WITH THE RECENT RECALL FOR NISSAN VEHICLES REGARDING POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS, THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE LEAKS MAY CAUSE FIRE TO MY VEHICLE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIAN, HE STATED THAT OVER TIME THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MAY "RUST" AND NEED REPAIRS. I ASKED ABOUT HOW OFTEN DOES THIS OR HAS THIS ISSUED OCCURRED FOR TOYOTA BRAND CARS OR TRUCKS? NO DATA WAS PROVIDED. I WENT ON TO PRESS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DID NOT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. SINCE GETTING THE NEWS ABOUT MY CAR, I HAVE NOTICED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...

WHILE DRIVING YESTERDAY - AUGUST 18, 2016, POWER STEERING WENT ON AND OFF WHEN TURNING. SEEMED TO BE THE POWER STEERING - MADE IT HARD TO TURN THE WHEELS. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY STRAIGHT AHEAD WAS FINE. ON CITY STREETS AND PARKING THE ISSUE WAS VERY NOTICEABLE AND FRIGHTENING SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW IF I COULD CONTROL MY MOVING VEHICLE. . IN CHECKING TO SEE WHERE TO GET REPAIR DONE, I NOTICED THERE IS A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING ON THE 2004 CAMRY. CALLED LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VIN NUMBER HAS NO RECALLS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CONTROL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR FROM PARKING LOT TO GO HOME, I HEARD LOUD NOISE FROM FRONT OF MY CAR AND FELT STIFFNESS OF CONTROL OF MY CAR. I TRIED TO DRIVE BACK TO PARKING TO TAKE A LOOK, BUT THE CAR LOST OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND OUT THE POWER STEERING PULLEY HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF. I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPENED IN PARKING LOT, OR I MAY GET TO A CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED TO TOYOTA, BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT IN RECALL OF FAILED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT IN THE RANGE OF RECALL. BUT MY CAR HAS EXACTLY SAME ISSUE THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000 HAS. THE CAR IS 2004 CAMRY. *TR

I STARTED UP MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WHILE PARKED AT CURB. WHEN I PUT CAR IN "DRIVE," THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP (FROZE IN PLACE). I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. RESTARTED CAR AND STEERING WAS NORMAL. *TR

I HAVE STEERING NOISE ISSUE FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2004. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SO MANY TIMES TO REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER AND GET IT FIXED BUT DEALER HAS NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE. AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE IS OVER WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPORTED THIS AGAIN DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE PARTS WITH THE COST OF 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE BEFORE OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE SUBMITTED MY COMPLAINT EARLIER BUT STILL WANT TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA TO RECORD THIS FOR FUTURE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OUT APPARENTLY ALL THE 2003-2004 TOYOTAS HAS THIS SAME ISSUE BUT THE COMPANY AND THE DEALERS TRIES TO DENY THAT. *TR

I SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED EFFORT TO MAKE A TURN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING, TOOK A CORNER AND MY CAR TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING OR SIGNAL, AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED TO TURN MY CAR BACK ON, DRIVE TEN FEET AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. I WENT TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP AND THEY STATED IT WAS A CODE 2112 THROTTLE ISSUE. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR AND AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE AS MY CAR HAS. TOYOTA IS NOT RECALLING OR PROVIDING FREE SERVICE ON THE PARTS AND I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF OVER 1300.00 TO FIX. SEEING THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR - I DIDNT DO A THING TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN, AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE REPLACING AND OR RECALLING THESE VEHICLES. *TR

TOOK CAR FOR TEST DRIVE ON ROAD DESCRIBED TO ME BY A DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE AS AN UNCROWNED ROAD.LET GO OF STEERING WHEEL A FEW TIMES AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR TOOK OFF TO THE LEFT REPEATEDLY. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, SAID WOULD BUY CAR, BUT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE STEERING PULLING CURED.WENT BACK NEXT DAY OR TWO, TIRES ROTATED. ON DRIVE HOME PULLING WAS BACK.WENT BACK FOR REALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS "MINIMALIZED".GOT IN THE CAR, LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, STARTED THE PULLING IN THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT. TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDENT TO CHECK THE FRONT END.HE SAID COULD ONLY FIND MOST MINOR ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS,NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE PULLING. HE CHECKED OUT UNDERSIDE FOR ANY DAMAGE, FOUND NOTTHING. BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF RACK & PINION & TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT. JOB FINISHED, LEFT AND MADE RIGHT ONTO HIGHWAY.GOT A RIGHT...

I WAS APPROACHING A FREEWAY IN ATLANTA, GA. AS THE CONNECTOR CURVED, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AND GENTLY BRAKE ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THE FREEWAY. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED, THROWING MY HEAD BACK AGAINST THE HEADREST; I BRAKE HARDER BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE CAR; THE CAR SEEMED TO PIVOT ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND THE REAR END FLEW TO MY LEFT ABOUT 240 DEGREES OR SO AND STRUCK THE GUARD RAIL WITH THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL AND BUMPER. THE CAR THEN, CONTINUING AT HIGH SPEED, RICOCHETED OFF THE GUARD RAIL AND THE REAR END PIVOTED TOWARD THE ROAD, MAKING THE FRONT BUMPER STRIKE THE SAME GUARD RAIL. THE SECOND COLLISION SCRAPED THE PAINT OFF THE CENTER OF THE BUMPER BUT THE IMPACT SEEMED STRONGER THAN THE DAMAGE WOULD INDICATE. THE SECOND IMPACT DID STOP THE CAR. I MAKE THIS REPORT BECAUSE...

NO INCIDENT, PROGRAM KEEP ASKING FOR DATE: ITS A DUMMY DATE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF TOYOTA CAMRY LXI 2004. AROUND 35,260 MILES AND BEFORE 3 YEARS (UNDER WARRANTY) STEERING STARTED CAUSING TROUBLE, STARTED TO FEEL AND HEAR CLLCKING IN THE STEERING WHEN EVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED OR DURING DRIVING IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROBLEM SOME TIMES STEERING GETS REALLY HARD DURING DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CHICAGO AND IT WAS TESTED BY A MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. AFTER 16 MONTHS AND AT 43,752 MILES THE PROBLEM GOT WORST AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME AUTHORIZED DEALER IN CHICAGO, AND AFTER CHECKING IT I WAS TOLD THAT YES THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND IT WILL COST ME $520 + LABOR TO FIX IT....

THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ( NEW TIRE, I PUNCHED 4 NEW MICHELIN TIRES 7/11) ON MY CAR POPPED. I AM NOT SURE IF THE CAR PEDAL GOT STUCK FIRST, EVERYTHING HAPPENED FAST. STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE AND THE CAR WHEN SIDE TO SIDE AS I ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE CAR. THE STEWING WHEEL WOULD TURN, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. THE MAJOR THING IS THAT I COULDN'T OPERATE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE PEDAL GETTING STUCK AND THE STEERING WAS IMPOSSIBLE AFTER THAT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO CARRIAGE CAGE AUTO REPAIR BY AAA, WHO RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT THERE, SINCE THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I THEN WENT TO THE ER ROOM FOR CARE. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE WAS NOTIFIED, THEY GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF OVER FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE CAR. TOYOTA IN LAKE CITY, WA -BRUCE IN AUTO CARE WAS NOTIFIED REGARDING THE PEDAL BECOMING STUCK. I WILL HAVE...

I BOUGHT THE USED 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY IN OCTOBER AND FOUND THAT THE CAR WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT AND FOUND THAT I HAD TO FIRMLY HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WENT TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS. TOYOTA DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL ISSUED. IN JANUARY 2011 I EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS I WAS ENTERING A MAJOR HIGHWAY THAT SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME. I DROVE IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE AND DROPPED MY SPEED UNTIL THE VIBRATION STOPPED. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE STEERING MECHANISM AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENTS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS. I AM HAVING TROUBLE STEERING WHEN I MAKE LEFT- OR RIGHT-HAND TURNS IN...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT INVOLUNTARILY. THE FAILURE OCCURED CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DECELERATED TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER AS THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS AS STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE DUE TO THE STEERING PUMP BEING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 25,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AT AROUND 48,000 MILES, I STARTED TO FEEL AND HEAR A CLICKING IN THE STEERING. IT OCCURS ANY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED,(PARKED OR DRIVING). I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SLIDE SHAFT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. AS I SEARCHED THROUGH YOUR COMPLAINT LIST, I SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS MODEL AND YEAR. IT SEEMS TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE OTHER MANUFACTURERS THAT HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS AND HAVE MADE REPAIRS TO THEIR VEHICLES. ALSO THERE ARE THIRD PARTY REPLACEMENT PARTS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM (AT THE OWNERS' EXPENSE). HOW MANY FAILURES, CRASHES OR POSSIBLY DEATHS WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE TOYOTA ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS? TOYOTA CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, YET THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF LETTERS STATING THAT THEIR...

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. IT HAS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WHICH HAS LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED AND COST $1000 TO FIX FROM THE DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A FEW OF MY FRIENDS HAVE HAD TO PAY TWICE TO GET THIS FIXED. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THERE A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE STEERING LINKAGE THAT POPS WHEN YOU TURN. THIS EVENTUALLY LEADS TO SLOP IN THE STEERING AND IT CAUSE MY TO GO IN THE DITCH. THIS ACCIDENT HAS GIVEN ME A CHRONIC BACK CONDITION AND PREVENTED ME FROM COMMISSIONING IN THE MILITARY. THIS ISSUE IS ALSO KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMRYS BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

2004 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS A CLICKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT FAILED BECAUSE OF THE BEARINGS AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO FEEL EXTREMELY TIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING COLUMN, STEERING ASSEMBLY AND THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 26,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN AND TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING. REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. MAJOR ISSUE AVERTED SINCE MY MECHANIC PICKED UP ON THE ISSUE. SIGNIFICANT AUTOMOBILE PART, SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT NOT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

FAX ON BEHALF OF RE HER DEFECTIVE 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY: DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACE BUT NOISE HAS RETURNED; REPLY ATTN: CAPE CORAL DISTRICT OFFICE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A DISTINCTIVE NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED SIX MONTHS LATER.

THE FRONT LEFT OF THE CAR WAS MAKING NOISE. WHEN I DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. AS THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK, I TRIED TO STOPPED THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BRAKES, BUT THAT DID NOT STOP THE CAR. THE FRONT OF MY CAR HIT INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER ON THE FREEWAY AND THEN THE BACK OF MY CAR ALSO HIT THE DIVIDER. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED I WAS BLOCKING 3 LANES ON A 5 LANE FREEWAY FACING TRAFFIC. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH. THE FRONT BUMPER COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR. I SUFFERED WHIPLASH INCLUDING NECK AND SHOULDER PAINS. I JUST HAD MY CAR MAINTAINED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE MORE DETAILS OF WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. UPDATED 4/26/10 *CN UPDATED 04/30/10. *JB

I PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A 2004 NEW CAMRY AT A CAR DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA. AT 17,000 MILES I NOTICED A THUMPING SOUND AND VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS YEAR CAR WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FIXED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY. JUST RECENTLY AT 49, 000 MILES, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COULD HAVE GONE OUT ANY TIME AND I WOULD HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL. I WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT THE 2004 CAMRY'S HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY OVER $600 AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE WRITTEN TO TOYOTA COMPANY ASKING THEM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, SINCE IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED AGAIN. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR

STEERING HARD TO TURN,STEERING WHEEL VERY STIFF. *TR

THE INNER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT BECAME DETATCHED ON MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 DR LE SEDAN. IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND THE COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $950.00. TOYOTA WOULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CAR HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO THE REAR STRUTS WORE OUT AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. *JB

STEERING COLUMN MAKES BAD NOISES WHEN IT IS TURNED. THE NOISES CONTINUE AND STEERING IS ROUGH. *TR

ACCELERATION ON MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE WILDLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. CAR WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, THEN DECELERATE ALMOST NON-STOP. I SHUT ENGINE OFF, CALLED TOYOTA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED IN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER A FEDERALLY MANDATED WARRANTY - CAR HAD 76,000 MILES, AND WARRANTY WAS GOOD TO 80,000 MILES. HOWEVER THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAD SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED. THAT WOULD COST ME $681. TOYOTA'S OWN TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE ECM FAILURE CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO FAIL. TOYOTA CORPORATE, HOWEVER, TOLD ME THAT THE TWO INCIDENTS WERE UNRELATED. AFTER READING ABOUT THE "ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING" PROBLEM IN THE NEWS LATELY, I WONDER IF MY PROBLEM IS NOT PART OF A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM INVOLVING THE ECM ON TOYOTAS CARS. IF I WAS NOT WISE ENOUGH...

DURING ROUTINE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TOYOTA MECHANIC REPORTED LOOSE STEERING COLUMN. LOTS OF PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING - VERY POOR RESPONSIVENESS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER - NEW INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED AT MY COST. *TR

STEERING LOOSE WHEN MOVING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH SLOWLY. HARDLY NOTICED AT FIRST. I DROVE THE CAR TODAY. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. STEERING WAS MORE LOOSE AND THE WHEELS ALSO VIBRATED ALONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AT ABOUT 60MPH. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND LOTS OF INFORMATION, SEE LINK: YES, SEARCH THIS FORUM FOR "STEERING NOISE" AND YOU'LL FIND A FEW THREADS. THIS IS WHERE THEY NAILED IT: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/SH...=155639&PAGE=2. *TR

THE STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED ON MY 2004 CAMRY. A LITTLE BROWSING OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAMRY MODEL. MY DEALER IN COVINGTON, LA HAS SAID THAT ABOUT 1 IN 8 CAMRY'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT OFFER TO HELD REPAIR MY VEHICLE SINCE ONLY THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY REMAINS. A CALL TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE YIELDED THE SAME RESULTS. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AT SLOW SPEEDS, AND THE DEALER (NORTHSHORE TOYOTA IN COVINGTON, LA) HAS TOLD ME MY STEERING BEARINGS ARE "SHOT." THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST REPORTED TO MY DEALER AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FOLLOWED BY A SHAKING SENSATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,944 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SOUND COMES WHEN THE STEERING TURNS RIGHT OR LEFT. IT STARTED AT AROUND 30K MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE CONTACT WAS STILL ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,520.

2004 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING COLUMN AND MAKE NOISE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. DEALER STATES THAT IT IS JUST A NOISE BUT WOULD REPLACE LOWER COLUMN AT A COST OF $463.65. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER IS AWARE. THIS IN MY HUMBLE OPINION SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM PAID FOR BY TOYOTA. THIS IS MY FOURTH TOYOTA AND I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES LIKE THIS BEGINNING AT 39,000. NOISE WAS SMALLER AND ONLY NOTICED ON LEFT TURNS AT FIRST NOW MUCH LOUDER AND OCCURS ON LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. *JB

SHORTLY AFTER WE PURCHASED A NEW 2004 CAMRY SEDAN, WE BEGAN NOTICING LOOSENESS, RATTLING, KNOCKING SOUNDS AND "PLAY" IN THE STEERING CHARACTERISTICS. IN ADDITION, IN SLOW, TIGHT-RADIUS TURNS (AS IN PARKING LOTS), IT ALMOST FELT AS IF THE FRONT TIRES WOULD SLIDE LATERALLY OVER SLICK SURFACES -- SNOW, ICE, LOOSE GRAVEL, WET PAVEMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS SUBTLE AT FIRST BUT BECAME GRADUALLY MORE NOTICEABLE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE WAS A BARELY-PERCEPTIBLE OSCILLATION OR VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AT ABOUT 28K MILES WE NOTICED A PULLING TO THE RIGHT. WE ASKED FOR AN ALIGNMENT TO BE DONE AND THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE KNOCKING, RATTLING, LOOSENESS, PLAY, LATERAL SKIDDING IN TIGHT-RADIUS TURNS BECAME WORSE OVER TIME AND AT ABOUT 50K MILES WE ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK AGAIN. DEALERS SERVICE ORDER STATED, "TSB ST001-06 APPLIES TO THIS CONCERN. AN UPDATED STEERING SHAFT ORDERED." THE COST TO REPAIR WAS...

2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS**CC *JB

WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A JERKING MOTION AND A KNOCKING NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER AND SAID IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE ON OCCASSION. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER AND REPLACED A LOWER STEERING SHAFT TO A NEWER VERSION. COMMENT WAS THAT THIS CAR WAS A NEW DESIGN AND THIS PARTICULAR PART NEEDED REPLACEMENT. MY PROBLEM IS THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE OLD PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ME TO TAKE IT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS REGULAR SERVICE, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY CORROSION WHEN OPERATED IN SALT BELT STATES CREATING SPECIFIC STEERING FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ALSO INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL BUT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HONOR THE COST OF THE PARTS BUT NOT THE LABOR INVOLVED FOR THE REPAIR. UPDATED 2/22/2007 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES STEERING LOCKS UP, AND WILL NEED AN IGNITION CYLINDER FOR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL DEALERS CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL.

STEERING KNUCKLE DEFECTIVE ON 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. PROVIDES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO WEEKS. NOW AFTER TAKING IT TO AN OFFICIAL TOYOTA DEALER REPAIR SHOP, PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED. NOW AT LEAST TWO WEEK TO A MONTH WAIT ON PART. WAS TOLD WE WERE NUMBER 536 ON WAITING LIST, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IN SHORT TERM, BUT DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. STEERING IS LOOSE, AND A CATCH OCCURS IN STEERING. PASSENGER CAN EVEN FEEL WHEN THIS OCCURS. DEALER HAS REPORTED THREE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CAMRYS IN THE SAME WEEK. *NM

RECENTLY I BROUGHT MY 04 CAMRY TO MY DEALER BECAUSE OF SULFUR SMELL AND RATTLE AT LIGHT ACCELERATION. THE DEALER VERIFIED THE PROBLEMS AND REPLACED THE CONVERTER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ACCORDING TO THE TSBS. THEY SAID THEY ALSO HAD TO RE-PROGRAM THE ECM. THEN AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR, I FOUND EVERYTHING IS HARDER: THE ACCELERATION, STEERING, AND BRAKING. I FOUND IT IS HARD TO MAINTAIN A SPEED WHETHER ON LOCAL OR HIGHWAY. ON MAY 28,2005, WHILE I DROVE THE CAR ON HIGHWAY WITH 4 PERSONS SITTING IN THE CAR (INCLUDING ME), I FOUND THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD AND FELTED LIKE IT WAS LOCKED, AND I FOUND IT IS VERY HARD TO ACCELERATE TO HWY SPEED AND HARD TO MAINTAIN IT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON MAY 31. AFTER HAVING A TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE IT, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SIMILAR TO OTHER CAMRYS...

VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT OR RIGHT--MOSTLY LEFT. VEHILCE WILL NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT WITHOUT CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE COMPLAINED AND HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE AND/OR TEST DRIVEN A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES. FOUR TIMES HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST MONTH. THE SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN PERFORMED. TWO SERVICE MANAGERS HAVE DRIVEN WITH ME FROM TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. THEY COULD FEEL THE CAR PULLING BUT SAID IT WAS "NORMAL." THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE PULL/DRIFT BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY IMPROVEMENT TO MY VEHICLE. I HEAR RATTLES IN THE DRIVER WINDOW, THE PASSENGER WINDOW/DOOR, AND THE DASH. THE WINDOWS WERE SERVICED ONCE. THE DASH HAS BEEN SERVICED TWICE. SERVICEMEN REPLACED THE SEATBELT PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE NOISE EXISTED THERE. THE NOISE STILL EXISTS. SINCE THEN, THEY DON'T TRY TO...

TOYOTA CAMRY WAS PURCHASED JUNE 28, 2004. PULLED TO LEFT DURING TEST DRIVE BUT WAS PROMISED THAT IT WOULD BE ALIGNED AND TAKEN CARE OF. REPEATED TRIP'S FOR SERVICE HAVE RESULTED IN THE TIRES BE ROTATED REPEATEDLY BUT NO EFFECT ON THE PULLING ISSUE. ENDED UP IN ARBITRATION. WASTE OF TIME. SHOP FORMAN TYPE PERSON ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A OFT REPEATED COMPLAINT. ARBITRATION DENIED ANY TYPE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. CONSTANTLY REPEATED THE "CROWN OF THE ROAD" STORY, THE "ITS DESIGNED THAT WAY FOR YOUR SAFETY" STORY, ETC. FIRST SET OF TIRES WORE OUT AFTER 18000 MILES. WAS TOLD THAT THEY'RE DESIGNED THAT WAY FOR A BETTER RIDE. TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER. HE CHANGED SPRINGS AND SUCH, APPARENTLY TO EXERCISE THE WARRANTY. AFTER NEARLY A WEEK IN THE SHOP, NO BETTER. AGAIN TOLD THE "CROWN OF THE ROAD STORY" AND THE "ITS DESIGNED THAT WAY" STORY. TO REPEAT WHAT...

VEHICLE HAS PULLED LEFT EVER SINCE THE TIRES WERE ROTATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. I'VE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, WITH THEM SHOWING ME THAT THE ALIGNMENT FALLS WITHIN SPECS, AND ATTRIBUTING THE PULL TO ROAD CROWN. I JUST HAD MY 30K MILE SERVICE, AND THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY BECAUSE OF ALIGNMENT ISSUES. I PAID TO HAVE IT ALIGNED AGAIN AND REMINDED THEM ABOUT MY PROBLEMS THE LAST TIME (PLEASE NOTE THAT MY TIRES ARE SUPPOSEDLY ROTATED EACH TIME THE DEALER PERFORMS AN OIL CHANGE). I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND IT STILL PULLED TO THE LEFT. I AM GOING BACK THERE TODAY TO HAVE THEM ROAD TEST IT WITH ME AGAIN, ON THE PHONE THE TECH AGAIN ATTRIBUTED IT TO ROAD CROWN WHICH I DENIED, BUT I'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT A DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER...

WHEN DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT/RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. *JB THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED SIX TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TWO SETS OF TIRES HAD BEEN WORN OUT. THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *SC

FROM DAY ONE CAR HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO NOT CENTERED AND HAS TOO MUCH "PLAY". I MUST APPLY CONSTENT PRESSURE TO THE RIGHT JUST TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. CAR DOES NOT HAVE A SOLID, STABLE FEEL TO IT WHERE STEERING IS CONCERENED. I HAVE BROGHT THIS BACK TWICE TO LAUREL TOYOTA CARMAX AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED IT. I HAD A LOANER CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND THAT CAR FELT LIKE IT SHOULD. I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AS WELL.*AK