2004 Toyota Camry: clunking or noise when steering

Filed Oct 23, 2013 · Steering · 206,000 miles · MI

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 federal safety agency 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.

Filed Jan 22, 2011 · Steering · 48,000 miles · PA

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 safety was at risk. It is uncomfortable to hear and feel that noise every time my wife or I are driving this vehicle.

Filed Aug 10, 2010 · Steering · 40,000 miles · VA

2004 toyota camry has a clicking sound in the steering column.

Filed Mar 18, 2010 · Steering · FL

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.

Filed Jan 26, 2010 · Steering · 21,000 miles · CA

Steering column makes bad noises when it is turned. The noises continue and steering is rough.

Filed Oct 9, 2009 · Steering · 60,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota camry. The steering column makes a thumping noise while turning the steering wheel. An independent mechanic concluded that the intermediate steering shaft failed; however, the technician from the dealer stated that on his particular model the entire steering shaft would need to be replaced to remedy the failure. No repairs were made. The failure mileage was under 60,000. The current was 66,000. The vehicle identification number was unavailable.

Filed Aug 6, 2009 · Steering · 102,000 miles · IL

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.

Filed Jan 5, 2009 · Steering · 45,000 miles · LA

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.

Filed Dec 9, 2008 · Steering · 29,944 miles · CA

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.

Filed Mar 21, 2008 · Steering · 2,000 miles · IL

My car has been making a steering well/under the hood poping noise since the day I purchased it. The dealership where I purchased it knows where it is coming from, the steering wheel and possibly tension belt, but has told me to hold off until a recall. My mother in another state, as well as my cousin has the same issue. If toyota has a lead on the market, why can't they honestly honor their repairs.

Filed Apr 23, 2007 · Steering · 39,000 miles · VA

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.

Filed Mar 28, 2007 · Steering · 16,900 miles · OH

I own a 2004 toyota camry with only 19,993 miles on it. The steering intermediate shaft was defective. Refer to technical service bulletin st001-06. I heard clanking and popping sounds coming from the steering shaft. The steering felt loose and sloppy. After reading the technical service bulletin I believed toyota discovered the faulty part in production and eventually changed to a new part. I was disappointed toyota charged me for labor to fix a part that was defective from the beginning. Toyota should have recalled the part and replaced it for free.