2013 Toyota Highlander: clunking or noise when steering

Filed Dec 10, 2021 · Steering · FL

When I turn the steering faster than a certain speed, it will lock up for a moment, either turning right or left. Sometimes a light indicating a steering fault lights up on the dash cluster, sometimes not. When the turning of the wheel stops and locks up I cannot turn any more in that direction. I can turn the other way. This has been a problem for sometime and is becoming now worse. Aside from the locking up, justing turning slowly, there is a bit of a whine or low level grind sound in the sound of the steering column. This is a mechanical noise, not the typical whine of the steering pump.

Filed Jul 3, 2021 · Steering · WA

- The car was purchased in 2015 used and the steering wheel has made a clunking sound when turning a hard sharp left or right since the day of purchase -While on a road trip of approximately 3,000 miles round trip in June 2021 the steering wheel was adjusted to accommodate my husband's height. It became very loose, with it finally dropping into my husband's lap on the last day of our trip-it was difficult to steer the car -We brought the car in to our dealership the following day where they confirmed we needed a new steering column-the car has not been involved in any accidents nor have the air bags employed -Other than the "clunking" sound there has never been any previous warning that the steering wheel would disengage while driving.

Filed Jan 15, 2020 · Steering · 60,000 miles · GA

Intermediate steering shaft - noise began around 60k miles and has continued to get worse, now at 104k. If toyota knowingly made a design change and issued a new replacement part, recall should be issued.

Filed Dec 3, 2019 · Steering · 54,000 miles · CA

'thunk'/popping noise when turning the steering wheel left or right. Was told to replace the intermediate steering shaft, and learned that a new one was developed to fix this problem in 2013 but no recall or safety notice was sent to owners.

Filed Sep 11, 2019 · Steering · 88,000 miles · WA

When I turn my steering wheel going very slow or stationary my steering wheel makes a popping sounds and my mechanic says it's the intermediate shaft. Its getting worse as I'm putting miles on it. Since it's a steering component, it's a very serious issue since if it fails I will loose complete control of my car.

Filed Aug 3, 2019 · Steering · 33,000 miles · FL

My steering makes a clunking sound, which you can actually feel in the steering wheel when it occurs, when turning either left or right. It is increasing in occurrence and intensity. It occurs at any speed. This has been going on for several months. I took it to the dealership and they lubricated something, saying there was no danger. Should it become worse bring it back. It's going back!

Filed Mar 28, 2019 · Steering · 35 miles · CA

My intermediate steering shaft makes clunk nosies turning left at low speeds and now progress when turning right at times. I have 50k miles and started this issue at 38k miles. It gets louder seems like. Concerned it will effect the safety of the vehicle.

Filed Feb 20, 2019 · Steering · 60,000 miles · CT

My steering wheel on VIN#(xxxx) feels clunky when I turn corners. It scares me, like it feels like a ghost is jacking it abruptly into the turn it does not happen all the time. I went to this site to check up on problems, and recalls. Put my VIN # in and lo and behold, people have experienced this same thing and found that the whole steering column became loose and had to be changed out! This ought to be a recall. I'm scared. To check up on the site I used go here: https://driving-tests.org/VIN-decoder/ put my VIN in and you'll see 1/3 way down the page "most recent complaints" there you will read what is happening to my SUV. I bought the car used from a toyota dealership and the warranty is not going to be used on this because they don't know of any recall. Do I wait until my steering column becomes loosened? This has been happening intermittently from summer til present time. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 10, 2019 · Steering · CO

I started feeling a clicking/clunking feeling in the steering column a month ago, especially when I made turns. I was also able to feel that the steering wheel has started to get looser. On 2/8/19 toyota recommended that the intermediate steering shaft be replaced. I had this part replaced for $428. There's 58,254 miles on the vehicle. This is my 3rd toyota vehicle in 30 years and I have never had any major problems in the past. I understand the new shaft may have an improved design I hope so it does not occur again. I am very disappointed that there has not been a recall to replace this part. Does there need to be a serious accident or even someone getting killed in a car accident because of this faulty intermediate steering shaft??

Filed Nov 29, 2018 · Steering · 90,000 miles · VA

My complaint is about steering column noises, play, looseness and feedback through the steering wheel. It is described in a service bulletin: tsb-0034-13 I have 97,000 miles on the vehicle and the play is becoming more noticeable as mileage increases. It is very disappointing that toyota knew about this issue and issued the tsb before I purchased it new. How are owners supposed to be notified about these things while under warranty?

Filed Nov 15, 2018 · Steering · 72,000 miles · SC

Steering makes a popping/clicking sound when making turns. Seems to be getting worse as it started with just turning left and now does it right as well

Filed Nov 8, 2018 · Steering · 57,665 miles · NY

I started hearing a popping noise in the steering column under the steering wheel. The noise became louder as time went on especially when I made turns. On 11/07/18 toyota recently diagnosed the problem as an intermediate steering shaft and I made an appointment to get it fixed at the dealer for $584.92. There's 57,665 miles on the vehicle. I can visibly see there's slack in the steering shaft where it connects to the rack and pinion. Ii am a 65 year old woman who bought the vehicle new and drove it very gently. I understand the new shaft may have an improved design I hope so it does not occur again. It's very concerning if I lost control while driving. I would think there should be a recall before someone get's hurt.