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 federal safety agency aware of this problem and is it a safety concern?
2007 Toyota RAV4 steering complaints
Page 2 of 10: complaints 11 to 40 of 271, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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 of false,irregularities, so want to know if this car is for the lemon law case my safety and my family travel to mexico,ensenada, and I'm worry,car is unsafe to drive,my car don't want travel in the car,and is correct,but I'm scare to be involve in accident,car need to be check but by a dealer,a gov tech,oe a serious org. Ok tm.
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 the first owner) on 05/09/2014, and noticed the problem immediately during the first weeks of use. We believe the condition had already existed before we purchased the car, but we have no information at which mileage the previous owner started to notice it.
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.
The federal safety agency 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 federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency for my drivers side air bag in 2014 but can't find anything on this wed site. Please follow up with me on the seal problem and if the airbag needs to be replaced. Toyota told me 'no" but I don't trust them. Thanks, wpziems 02/01/2016.
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 the federal safety agency 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 to fix it.
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).?
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 a safety issue and prior to this there were various replacement recall such as the suspension, gas pedal, air bags, and etc. How come this issue isn't on the recall list?
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.
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