2007 TOYOTA RAV4 Steering Problems

UNKNOWN

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 222,822.

while driving down the big bear mountain, the vehicle lost power steering i could not turn the wheel and hit the railing, thank god i didn't hit another car. The battery light was flashing steering locked up other dash lights came on. The mechanic could not give me any answers, Toyota says there is no recall on this and after reading other complaints about the 2007 Toyota RAV 4 i am shocked that the dealership has nothing to say and can not fix the problem, this is so dangerous and i am at a loss on how to fix the problem. who has to die for them to take this problem seriously!!!

AT 65270 MILES RAV4 FAILED STEERING INSPECTION WHICH IS MANDATED BY NC. PARTS REPLACED PASSED INSPECTION BUT SQUEALING CONTINUES GETS WORSE AFTER ABUT 15 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING - METAL TO METAL CONTACT? 265 COMPLAINTS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE OVERALL STEERING SYSTEM SQUEALING OCCURS AT IDLE WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED, RELEASE BRAKE TURN LEFT OR RIGHT SQUEALING STARTS UNTIL ENGINE SHUTDOWN. NO VIBRATIONS FELT STEERING WHEEL. SUNDAY IN CITY DRIVING - 15 MINUTES AFTER START UP.

OIL BURNING. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL BURNING. A QUART EVERY 200 500 MILES ON AVERAGE.

KNOCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING AND HAVE PAID OVER $2,500.00 WITH THE PROBLEM NEVER GETTING FIXED BECAUSE EVERYONE THINKS IT IS SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY ARE ALWAYS WRONG.

FOR ENGINE, IT HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I NEED TO ADD 1 QTR OF OIL AFTER 1.5K MILES DRIVE. FOR STEERING, IT MAKES CRACKING SOUNDS WHEN HAVING TURN THE STEERING IN A SLOW MOTION DRIVE BACKING UP FROM GARAGE.

TOYOTA 2007 RAV4 STEERING MAKES A KLUNKING / POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, WHEN TURNING EITHER DIRECTION, WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVING. NO SOUNDS ON FREEWAY. ISSUES SEEMS TO BE STEERING COLUMN.

DEFECTIVE STEERING ASSEMBLY, MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING SLOWLY. I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RESULTED WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ARROW HWY IN THE RAIN WHEN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. I LOST POWER FROM BOTH MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS COASTING DOWN TO AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION WHEN I MADE THE DESCISION TO TURN RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. THE STEERING WAS SO HARD THAT I NEARING HIT THE CENTER DIVIDE. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BARELY WORKING AND MANY OF MY DASH ICONS WERE COMING ON RANDOMLY. THROUGH IT ALL, MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND I MADE TO THE NEXT STREET THAT TURNED INTO CONDOS THAT HAD PARKING SPACES. I SHUT MY ENGINE OFF AND TRIED A RESTART. THE ENGINE,OF COURSE,DID NOT START. AFTER BEING HAULED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN ALTERNATOR THAT SHORTED THE BATTERY. HAVING A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN THIS ELECTRICAL AREA, I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN BUT WITH PROPER DESIGN IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED....

MY 2007 RAV4 IS EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE STEERING FEELS SUSPECT AT TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. A ONLINE SEARCH, REVEALED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. TOYOTA DIAGNOSES THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN.IS THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS IT A SAFETY CONCERN?

STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE LOSE AND THERE IS A THUNDER NOISE COMING FROM RACK AND PINION ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVES IN THE CITY OR OVER A HUMP.NO MATTER HOW SMALL IS, ALSO WHEN DRIVING AND MAKE RIGHT TURN

WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING, THERE ARE VIBRATIONS. TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT SHOUD BE REPLACED AND THE INTERMEDIATE LINKAGE RACK LEAKS. THE SOUND SYSTEM MAKES NOISE WHEN STOP OR DRIVING DOWNHILL OR UPHILL.

ONGOING AND VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED AT LOW SPEEDS, AT TIMES THE NOISE CAN ALSO BE HEARD WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS RAV4 MODEL AND IT SEEMS TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO REMEDY THIS. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, THE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE STEERING MECHANISM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT ALL TIMES.

I RECEIVE LETTER BY MAIL, ABOUT TAKADA AIR BAGS, AND THANKS BECAUSE DEALERS,NEVER MENTION THAT PART,AND IS UNFAIR, SPECIAL WENT BUY A USED CAR,AND PAY MORE MONEY,,WELL RECEIVE A FEW MONTHS LATER A RECALL FOR COMPSUPTION MOTOR OIL, NEED TO BE DONE, AND TRIED 2 OR 3 TIMES,BUT THE ADVISOR AND TECH,ARE MERO WORRY ABOUT FIXED UNCOVER WARRANTY REPAIRS, BECAUSE TRANSMISSION GOES BAD,TOW 140 TO DEALER,AND MAKE ALL KIND OT TRICKS TO MAKE ME PAID,FINALLY THEY ADMIT TO FIXED BUT CHARGE ME $618.00 FOR ALIGNMENT THE 4 TIRES,REPLACE REAR SEAL, THE INTAKE FUEL SYS AND USE THE WORD, PER CUSTOMER REQUEST,CUSTOMER AUTHORIZED, BUT NEVER COMMENT OH IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE TECH RECOMMENDS,WARRANTY IS GOING TO AVOID,DECLINE THE REPAIR, AND GET SERVICE HISTORY AND FOUND THEY DID ALL THE WORK FOR THE CAR RECALLS TO,AND I'M THE ONLY OWNER,BUT BUY THE CAR IN 2015 WITH 80,000 MILES AND A LOT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MIDDLE SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

AUDIBLE CLUNK SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER CAN ALSO FEEL A KNOCK THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR (E.G., ABOUT 40 COMPLAINTS OF THIS KIND HAVE BEEN FILED FOR 2007 RAV4S ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM). IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT; TOYOTA HAS FOR EXAMPLE ISSUED TSB 0318 08 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, IT IS DUE TO A SHAFT TOLERANCE THAT IS TOO LOOSE; THE CLUNK SOUND WOULD ONLY BE AN ANNOYANCE, BUT NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. GIVEN THAT THE STEERING IS CRITICAL FOR CONTROL AND SAFE OPERATIONS OF THE CAR, I FEEL THAT ANY NOISE IN THE STEERING MIGHT INDICATE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 107874 MILES (FROM...

CONSTANT CLUNKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL

WHEN I BACK UP ON ANY KIND OF AN INCLINE, THE CAR JERKS AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE "HIT" SOMETHING IT JERKS SO BADLY. IF I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL, IT STOPS THE JERKING BUT THE MINUTE I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN, IT JERKS AGAIN AND MAKES A TERRIBLE NOISE. I CAN STILL BACK UP BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR IS FALLING OUT. IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED 2 YEARS AGO. I KEPT THINKING IT WAS ME UNTIL I GOOGLED IT TODAY AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL IT'S UNSAFE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. MY VEHICLE ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE AND WAS REPAIRED EARLIER THIS YEAR. NEEDS TO BE A NATIONAL RECALL AND FIXED PROPERLY.

NHTSA RECALL NO 16V 596. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE RECALL COMPLETED AT WASHINGTON NC PECHELES TOYOTA. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF 10 25 2016. WHAT IS THE HOLD UP? FAILURE OF RLSA WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL- SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

WHENEVER YOU MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS ISSUE FOR OVER 5 YEARS & YET THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BY A REMEDY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED BY TOYOTA. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE & FIX THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS & CITY STREETS.

CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL ON VERY LOW SPEED OR ON CAR THAT IN NOT MOVING. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING STATE INSPECTION [CAR WAS IN GARAGE AND WAS NOT MOVING]. CAR HAS JUST ABOVE 30,000 MILES, MOSTLY CITY DRIVING, REGULARLY, BUT SHORT DISTANCE COMMUTE.

I HEAR A CLUNK, POP OR KNOCK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS (TECH SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08). TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. HOWEVER, TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE STEPS TO ISSUE RECALL TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART.

I HEAR A CLUNK, POP, OR KNOCK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. TOYOTA WAS ACUTELY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08) AND HAD TO REDESIGN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE STEPS TO RECALL ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES AND REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I URGE THE NHTSA TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO FORCE TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AS THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WITNESSED IN A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE 06-07 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES.

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS MAKING CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM FEARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND THE STEERING IS DANGEROUS.

R/R SWAY BAR END LINK BROKEN. UPPER AND INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BROKEN.

LEFT FRONT INPUT SEAL HAS LEAKED FLUID TWICE NOW. FIRST TIME WAS 9/25/2012 @ 56,516 MILES. SECOND TIME WAS ON 1/12/2016 @ 101,753 MILES. MY INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SERVICE, CORAM PRECISION AUTO OF CORAM, NY WENT TO TOYOTA TO GET THE SEAL NEEDED TO FIX THE LEAK BOTH TIMES AND ASKED TOYOTA PARTS COUNTER IF THEY KNEW OF A RECALL AND THEY SAID NO. THEN THEY ASKED WHY THEY HAD SO MANY SEALS IN STOCK IF THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALLS. I AM ON THIS WEBSITE AND DON'T SEE ANY RECALLS EITHER BUT I WONDER IF ANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. NOTE: I HAVE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR MY TOYOTA RAV4 FOR GAS PEDAL AND NOW FOR THE 'REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING' WHICH EXTENDS MY WARRANTEE UNTIL 2017 FROM TOYOTA AND FROM NHTSA FOR MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG IN 2014 BUT CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THIS WED SITE. PLEASE FOLLOW UP...

CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, NOTICEABLE AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS NEW BUT WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE LEFT FRONT STRUT. ON OUR LAST SERVICE WE WERE TOLD IT INVOLVED THE STEERING. NOTE: RAV'S FRONT BUMPER HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BEFORE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO US. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS MINOR DAMAGE JUST NEEDED REPAINTING..THIS VEHICLE HAS 64,000 ORIGINAL MILES.

NOTICED CLUNKING IN STEERING WHEN TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. LOOKED UP PROBLEM ON INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO INTERNET THERE OVER 400,000 COMPLAINTS. CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM AND IT REQUIRES REPLACING STEERING SHAFT. I ALSO READ ON THE INTERNET THAT VEHICLES WHO REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT OFTEN HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO ME THAT TOYOTA CAN NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND NOW IT BECOMES THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP ON CHANGING AN INTRICATE PART TO DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES. WHY WITH SO MANY FAILURES HASN'T YOUR AGENCY WARNED THE PUBLIC OR IS NHTSA SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE OR SAFETY CONCERN. PLEASE INFORM ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A PROBLEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AND I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $800.00...

DRIVING 50 MPG AROUND CURVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEERING LOCKED UP HARDLY ABLE TO PULL.OFF SIDE OF ROAD. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY 2 TIMES AND HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES BEFORE IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS.STEERING FROZE HAD TO GET OF TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THEN IT WAS ABLE TO STEER BUT BATTERY.LIGHT FLICKERS. THREE OTHER LIGHTS ON THE LEFT OF THE DASHBOARD STAYED ON AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. WENT TO PEP-BOYS AND I WAS ASKED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND ONE DAY LATER SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 75MPH AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS WHEN A BUNCH OF WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (INCLUDING BATTERY, AIR BAG, AND BRAKE), MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND MY SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET MY CAR SIT FOR A MINUTE, RESTARTED MY CAR AND THREE DIFFERENT LIGHTS CAME ON (VSC, CHECK ENGINE AND SLIP INDICATOR) AND MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T WORK ANYMORE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 110,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE; THIS IS A DEFECT. FROM READING ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS COULD BE A FATAL DEFECT AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007 AND WITHIN 2 YEARS (~30000 MILES) THE SAME ISSUE HAD OCCURRED AND TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE PART UNDER WARRANTY. WITHIN 6 YEARS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I AM FACING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO TOYOTA FOR A FREE REPAIR BUT TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER PRODUCT DEFECT. THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT AND ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AND HENCE TOYOTA SHOULD MAKE A NATIONAL RECALL.

AT 51,000 MILES, THERE IS A HEAVY RATTLE IN THE FRONT END WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS. AFTER REPLACING SEVERAL PARTS, LOCAL MECHANICS NOW TELL ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0319-08. I DO NOT FEEL ANYTHING ABNORMAL IN THE STEERING WHEEL, STEERING IS SMOOTH AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICEABLE DRIVING ON SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES. THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH TIME, SO I AM CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING COULD FAIL ALTOGETHER.

I PURCHASED MY RAV4 USED ABOUT 12 MONTHS AGO. WITHIN THE PAST 3 MONTHS I'VE NOTICES PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING. SLOW TURNS MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND WITH LOOSE MOVEMENT AND VIBRATION FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. INITIALLY I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD STRUT, WHICH I REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET A LITTLE WORSE BY THE DAY. IN CHECKING ONLINE I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, SOME RESULTING IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. IT APPEARS THAT THE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE SINCE THE PROBLEM IS SO WIDESPREAD. I HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL ON THIS AND WONDER WHY SINCE STEERING IS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPT. TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE.

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CLUNK, WHEN I TURN STEERING MAKING NOISE. I TALK TO A MECHANIC HE SAYS NEED TO REPLACE STEERING. IT IS SO EXPENSIVE, MY INCOME IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS. PLEASE GIVE ME ADVICE [XXX]@GMAIL.COM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND SENSORS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,800.

THUMPING SOUND IN STERRING PASSEGER SIDE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID RACK AND PINION MUST BE REPLACED AT 52,000 MILES? THUMPING SOUND IS NOT ALWAYS BUT IS GETTING WORSE AS CAR IS IN MOTION. FRANKLY SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT. FEELS VERY UNSAFE, SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS WEAK POINT OF ALL RAV4 FOR YEARS 2007-2008

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS SOME CLUNKY NOISE AROUND 46,000 MILES, BUT RECENTLY IT IS GETTING LOUDER. IT BECOMES A MAJOR CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND ME; THEREFORE, I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP (FIRESTONE) TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE RESULT CAME BACK TO BE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, BUT THEY SAID THAT IF I ONLY HAVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY WILL REPAIR IT WITH FREE OF CHARGE AND THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS UP TO 36,000 MILES. IF NOT, THEY WILL CHARGE ANOTHER 130 SOME DOLLARS TO JUST DIAGNOSED AGAIN, BUT WILL WAIVE IT ONCE I DO THE REPAIR WITH THEM. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT MORE PEOPLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDER PROBLEM FOR THIS TYPE MODEL OF CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS...

DRIVING 55 MPG AROUND CURVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEERING LOCKED UP HARDLY ABLE TO PULL.OFF SIDE OF ROAD. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY JULY 25 2015 GOING 60 DOWN BUSY HEY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND STEERING FROZE HAD TO GET OF TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THEN IT WAS ABLE TO STEER BUT BATTERY.LIGHT FLICKERS HA D BATTERY LREPLACED DAY BEFORE.

I WAS DRIVING AT 25MPH WHEN THE RED BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. I SHUT THE CAR OFF TO GO INTO A STORE TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS GOING TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND WENT BACK TO MY CAR AGAIN TO RESTART. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD I NOT BEEN ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55 I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME TURNING THE WHEEL AT ALL.

WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THERE IS A LOUD CLUNK AND THE STEER WHEEL SHAKES. WHILE MAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEED AND DRIVING OVER POT HOLES THE SAME LOUD CLUNK. THE DEALER SAID ITS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING SHAFT THAT HAS 2 DIFFERENT PARTS. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT BEING COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID NO. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE AND A COUPLE HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOU THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 100000 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA HAS MADE 2 REPLACEMENT PARTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A NATIONAL RECALL ON THIS PART AND HAVE TOYOTA COVER THE REPAIRS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED.

THE CAR FAILED TO START, THE BATTERY WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND HAD NOT WATER IN IT. CHANGED THE BATTERY, THE CAR STARTED PROPERLY; HOWEVER, ONCE SET TO DRIVE IT HESITATED A BIT, AS IF IT WERE CHOCKING FOR LACK OF GAS BUT IT HAD GAS. DROVE ON AND AT ABOUT SPEED OF 40 MPH STEERING BECAME HARD TO HANDLE, AC AND ENGINE CUT OFF. RESTARTED IT DROVE BACK HOME... JUST MADE THE LAST PAYMENT ON THE CAR, CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE DEALER.

WHEN PULLING OUT FROM STOP SIGNS HEARD CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IN MARCH 2015 NOISE IS THERE AGAIN. THERE IS A LITTLE OVER 80000 MILES ON VEHICLE. BAD ENOUGH IT WENT BAD ONCE.NO IDEA WHAT COST WILL BE TO REPAIR SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

AS SOON AS I BACK UP OUT OF THE GARAGE, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE AS I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL, MORE SO TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT INTO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND HAD 2 EMPLOYEES DRIVE IT. THEY BOTH AGREED IT WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, POSSIBLY A BRACKET. WHEN I TURN IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL DOESN'T WANT TO GO ANY FURTHER, MAKES THIS LOUD CLUNKING SOUND THEN LETS GO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND THE TIGHTNESS IN THE TURN HAS WORSENED.

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS DEVELOPED A LOUD CLUNK AND SLIGHT BINDING WHEN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM TOYOTA APPEARS TO BE A WORN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. IN MY OPINION, THE STEERING SHAFT ON THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT RESEMBLE THOSE ON OTHER CARS IN THAT STARTS CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN RUNS VERTICALLY DOWN THROUGH THE DASH AREA CHANGING DIRECTION ABRUPTLY. OTHER VEHICLES HAVE A GENERALLY STRAIGHT STEERING SHAFT IN LINE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AXIS AND NO ABRUPT CHANGES IN ALIGNMENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSIONS ON TOYOTA RELATED WEBSITES OF SIMILAR RAV4 STEERING SHAFT PROBLEMS. IS TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND PREPARING AN INVESTIGATION OR REMEDY. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 3/18/15*CN UPDATED 8/18/2015*JS UPDATED 10/19/2015 *JS

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A "CLUNKING/POPPING" NOISE COMING FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE STEERING LINKAGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK-AND-PINION ASSEMBLY.IN EARLY 2014, A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN INDIANA RECOMMENDED SERVICING THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY VIA AN ISSUED TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED IN THE SPRING OF 2014 (COST=$1000, CAR MILEAGE ~65K).I HAVE SINCE JOB RELOCATED TO NEW JERSEY AND THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED (CAR MILEAGE ~75K).A DEALERSHIP HERE TOLD ME THAT THE RACK-AND-PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACE (EST. COST= $2000).GENERAL SIGNS OF RACK-AND-PINION FAILURE AS STATED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL RESEARCH ARE NOT OBSERVED IN MY CAR (SIGNS INCLUDING "PLAY/SLOP" IN THE STEERING WHEEL, LOOSE STEERING, STIFF STEERING, ETC.).FURTHER RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE HAS SHOW MULTIPLE HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF RAV4 OWNERS INQUIRING ABOUT THIS ISSUE EITHER VIA RAV4/TOYOTA FORUMS, OR THROUGH THE NHTSA AND OTHER THIRD PARTY AUTO SAFETY AGENCIES.THE DEALERSHIPS SEEM...

THERE ARE MULTIPLE KNOCKS COMING UP THE STEERING SHAFT AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION RECALL AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP I WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THE SHAFT IS CRACKED AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. I NEVER NOTICED ANY STEERING SOUNDS BUT NOW THAT I'M SPECIFICALLY LISTENING FOR IT I DO HEAR IT. I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DEALER STATED THEN THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. MOST OWNERS WILL NOT KNOW THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE SOUND IS NOT THAT NOTICEABLE AND I ASSUME THAT IF LEFT UNCORRECTED LOSS OF STEERING WILL OCCUR. *TR