2008 Toyota Highlander: clunking or noise when steering

Filed Oct 7, 2019 · Steering · 95,000 miles · NY

The steering shaft makes a clunking noise during low speed turns. There have been a number of complaints about this over the years, but no recall. Meanwhile, toyota is charging around $800 to make the repair.

Filed Mar 21, 2019 · Steering · 100,000 miles · OH

The steering makes a loud knock when turned to left or right.

Filed Sep 24, 2018 · Steering · NC

Steering wheel is making clunky noises when turning the wheel right or left

Filed May 1, 2017 · Steering · 106,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. Every time a turn was made, the steering shaft made a noise. The failure has occurred ever since the vehicle was purchased in july of 2016. The dealer diagnosed that the shaft assembly failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle exceeded the mileage to be repaired under technical service bulletin: 0034-13. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

Filed Jan 10, 2016 · Steering · CA

The intermediate shaft in the steering column is making a knocking noise when ever I turn it to the right. I complained to the dealership and they said they could not find anything wrong with it. Now they have a tsb for it for repairing the intermediate shaft. While I'm spending $500, for the repair, they should recall this part because toyota knows about it since 2 years ago. While driving it and making a turn , it will just make a knocking noise and feels like the steering wheel is loose.

Filed Dec 28, 2015 · Steering · 110,000 miles · LA

In motion on city streets steering column makes clunk noise when turning left or right, also on highway steering column rattles. It started 6-15-2014 until present day 12-28-2015.

Filed Feb 17, 2015 · Steering · 70,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. While turning the steering wheel in either direction, a popping noise emitted from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the intermediate steering shaft was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Feb 13, 2015 · Steering · 64,441 miles · GA

Noise occurs while turning in the steering column. The "clunking" and vibrations are felt within the steering wheel. The part from toyota was remanufactured in 2011 to replace the current part given it was a default part not lasting long. It is a safety issue given it is the mechanism that connects the steering wheel to the front shaft assembly. Should that have issue, break etc. While driving or turning it can be accidental or fatal. The dealership mentioned that while it may not be a safety issue, its not fully determined that it is not. For the part to be re-manufactured differently, there must have been knowledge of a faulty part. This needs to be remedied by toyota. Part is intermediate steering shaft.