Problems with 2007 Toyota RAV4 STEERING

Received a recall notice for tie rod/suspension back in september 2013. today i called local toyota dealer and asked about the fix. they told me that there was no fix yet available....obviously very disappointed and worried about how long i have been driving with potentially dangerous part/defect that could cause loss of control and wreck. i think nhtsa should force the issue with toyota now it has been too long!. local dealer advised me what sound, loud rattling in back of vehicle to listen for....really unbelievable the delay. *tr

Reference toyota recall: tis designation c2j found at: https://techinfo.toyota.com/techinfoportal/staticcontent/en/techinfo/html/prelogin/docs/cp/c2jtofaq.pdf reference question q1a and answer a1a: "....alignment will be set and the arms will be sealed with epoxy." reference question qua and answer a1c: "if the rear wheel alignment shifts out of specification, rear suspension arms or other components may need to be replaced." reference my phone conversation with toyota @ 888-270-9371 on 11 february 2014 @ 0800 and their assigned case # 1402110228: my question to toyota to the answer a1c above: who pays for the required replacement of suspension arms or other components? their answer was: the owner. my complaint deals with fairness. due to a toyota design defect, rear control arms must be encased in epoxy thus rendering rear wheel alignments impossible. if an owner hits a pothole, and rear wheel(s) are knocked out of alignment, the control arm and/or associates components might need to be replace - at considerable expense to the owner. this could generate large profits to toyota due to a remedy for one of their design defects. without the (epoxy encapsulation), a mere rear wheel alignment might rectify the misalignment. a possible $50 versus $500 repair. additionally, if the control arms must be replaced to align the back wheel(s), toyota is the only entity that has the know how and parts to re-encapsulate the new control arm(s): more profits for toyota. owners need to be made aware of the consequences this remedy will have on their vehicle so they can decide if they want a vehicle in which the rear wheels cannot be aligned without considerable expense. my question to nhsta: why should the owner pay for repairs to one of their remedies? is this fair?

Drove a short distance and parked car. started car 10 minutes later and had no power steering. ps warning light on dash was now on. with a great deal of effort, the car could be driven about a mile back home. when reading thru the owners manual, it became evident there were different possible failure conditions, each represented by different warning light states. a flashing light that went off after a few seconds, a flashing light that stayed on, a flashing light that stays on in conjunction with all dash warning lights being on at the same time, and last but not least, the steady light and complete failure of assist system. i believe it was simply the luck of the draw that our failure occurred in a parked condition. i was raised on a farm driving monstrous old trucks with no power steering. they were tough steering, but this small suv took an extreme amount of effort to turn. failure in traffic or hazardous conditions could be catastrophic. i do not believe my 82 year old mother could safely control the car, if the failure unexpectedly occurred in many of the driving conditions she experiences in her daily driving. lane changes, merging traffic, 90 degree turns, pulling out to pass, icy roads, and hydroplane conditions could all quickly become life threatening with this particular failure. *tr

2007 toyota rav 4. consumer writes in regards to vehicle water pump failure. *smd the #6 ignition coil was replaced, as it was shorting out and the steering wheel made an unusual noise, when it was turned.*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. the failure occurred on multiple occasions. the vehicle was taken to dealer where the steering wheel shaft was replaced but the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to a dealer a second time where it was diagnosed that the electric steering column failed but the repairs were not performed. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

The steering mechanism makes a clunk when turned. the dealer says the intermediate steering shaft needs replaced. there are numerous accounts of this same defect on the internet. toyota issued a bulletin in 2008 telling dealers to replace the shaft on cars still on warranty but will not replace ours because it is more than 3 years old. a mechanical failure at such low mileage such as this should be repaired by the company at their cost since it is not cause by use but by poor engineering or assembly. *tr

When turning the steering wheel there is an audible click accompanied by feedback through the steering column. this is caused by defective hardware used in the assembly of the steering column. these weakened components, when completely compromised, may lead to a catastrophic loss of the ability to steer the vehicle. when asked, the toyota dealership acknowledged this is a common problem but refused to repair it free of charge in the absence of a safety recall. *tr

Clunk noise from l\r steering and excess play in steering diagnosed again..and (cost me $59..at dealer).. as problem with steering shaft\intermediate steering shaft ..was quoted $428 to correct..the same problem occurred in 2009 @ 27,477 miles at which dealer replaced steering shaft and intermediate shaft @ nocharge as was under warranty..under tsb 0318-08 and tsb327.. using part nos..45221 & 45260.. i believe toyota has another problem with replacing defective parts with defective parts( or bad tsbs) ..never had this kinda problem with any other toyota or vehicle..this should be under a recall as i refused to pay again for a same issue. *tr

In october i noticed a clunk in the steering column. this is most noticeable at slow speeds when turning left or right. after researching the internet, it seems to be a common problem with toyota vehicles in the steering shaft. i recently had to have the steering shaft replaced on my 2008 tacoma, vin. no.: [xxx], with only 37000 miles, and reported this to toyota customer rep., they said they would give me a $350 credit at a toyota dealership for future work, however, the replacement was considerably higher. i fear now that my rav 4 is going the same route. i feel toyota should be required to have a recall on this problem because it could be a safety issue. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

There is a loud "thud" sound coming from my steering column when making turns (left or right). the sound has been noticeable for about a year, but has become far worse very quickly since september 2013. i can tell the steering wheel is hitting something inside the steering column (the sound plus a tug at the wheel when i turn the car). i am concerned this is a safety issue, and want to be sure there is nothing mechanically wrong with the steering column. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav 4. the contact stated while driving she heard a loud noise in the steering wheel. the vehicle was taken to the dealership and the technician stated the intermediate steering column needed to be replaced. the contact paid for the repairs, at her expense. the manufacturer was contacted about the failure. the mileage at the time of the failure was 52,730 and the current mileage was 54,134. updated 5/27/14*cn updated 08/04/14

Obvious clunking noise in steering, especially in turns. i found out through routine maint. at a toyota dealer that there is a problem with steering linkage. i went out online and see they have a service bulletin on how to fix this, but also i read numerous other owners have the same problem. i feel this is a safety issue and should be addressed as a recall. owners should not be saddled with the costs, when it is a definite design flaw. please address, thank you. *js

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

The rack and pinion steering makes a loud clonking sound when turning vehicle to the left or right. defective part in all 06-08 rav4's. *tr

I brought the rav 4 in for a recall notice. the dealer told me they discovered this issue by turning the wheel. we had not noticed the issue previous to this. they stated the intermediate shaft needed replacement and that the cost was > $500. i declined the service. this vehicle has been taken care of since new. after doing some research, it appears that this issue has occurred to thousands of rav 4 drivers. it is unacceptable that toyota is not recognizing and fixing this issue. please help. thanks. *tr

My 2007 toyota rav4 was being driven by my wife and she noticed indicator lights suddenly coming on the dashboard and the vehicle sputtering and starting to stall. prior to the vehicle stalling, she noticed the power steering inoperable and she was having difficulty steering to bring the vehicle to the shoulder lane and to a stop. she called me and i called for emergency roadside assistance. the vehicle was restarted. at this time, as the engine ran, the power steering was still inoperable and the vehicle was undrivable. it was then towed home. my mechanic checked and found the battery to be undercharged due to a defective alternator not properly charging the battery. the battery and the alternator was replaced and the power steering and all other functions resumed back to normal. my safety concern is that the power steering unit should not have stopped functioning as long as the engine was in operation. if the braking system continued to operate normally as the engine ran, the power steering unit should also continue to operate so that the driver can stay in complete control of the vehicle. if my wife was traveling at a higher rate of speed and on a busy interstate freeway, the outcome could have been disastrous. please look into getting toyota to recall and correcting this safety issue on mine and other 2007 rav4s. thank you for your assistance. a reply would be greatly appreciated. *tr

There is a loud clunking noise accompanied by a tug at the steering wheel when making turns either left or right. most notable at slower speeds. this noise started this summer at around 32000 miles and is becoming progressively worse. i am concerned about the safety of the steering. car currently has 36000 miles. from reading comments on line this appears to be a very common problem with the 2007 rav 4. is toyota going to recall for this problem? they most certainly should! *tr

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.

At 44,000 miles my 2007 toyota rav4 developed a clunking sound in the steering system when turning. as time went on the frequency and severity of the situation only got worse. i found a tsb which appeared to deal with the identical symptoms that i was experiencing, t-sb-0318-08. i also discovered since my vehicle was out of warranty that i would have to pay for repairs myself. my vehicle, identified by vin, was manufactured at the tahara plant and was affected by the tsb. in my research i also discovered that there was a previous tsb and a different part that was being used to replace the defective one. this is clearly a serious safety issue that toyota must confront and address with a safety recall notice. obviously the part installed originally was defective. toyota subsequently a replacement part that in due course was also deemed to be defective so they developed a third part. the part in question is the intermediate steering shaft. as a responsible grandparent there is no way in the world that i was going to let this serious problem contribute to an accident possibly injuring my grandchild. the quote from the local toyota dealership was $1100 to do the repair and alignment (which the tsb says is unnecessary if the repair was done correctly). i had a certified toyota mechanic complete the repair for under $700. now i am waiting for toyota to do the right thing and identify this very serious issue as a safety recall so that all of the thousands of responsible rav4 owners who experience this problem can have it corrected. *tr

Getting the clunk/thunk when turning the steering wheel left or right. cant believe toyota has not stepped up with a acknowledgement of mfg defect of material or pg design and assisted customers with this problem. i am now very concerned with my son driving this car and will have to have it repaired even without toyota's help. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the wheel began to squeak. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the steering wheel needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the approximate failure mileage was 18,000. *tr

Upon taking ownership of this pre-owned vehicle i noticed a clunking sound coming from the drivers side front of the vehicle, particularly while turning. i took the vehicle to my local dealership who ran a diagnostic and informed me that this problem was due to issues in the steering intermediate shaft and that it needed to be replaced. they indicated the "splines" were starting to wear and that delay in repair could see worsening of sound and potential issues with steering. yet they also informed me there was no danger. while perhaps that was the case i felt that a steering failure was an immediate danger and had the vehicle repaired immediately. price was approx. $420 for labor and parts. after researching this a bit i find that toyota has recalled a similar part on some of it's other vehicles, such as the prius. it concerns me that this part is not recalled on the rav 4 or any other toyota vehicle with the same problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the steering wheel failed without warning and the contact crashed into a guard rail. there were no injuries and the contact was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic for diagnosis, where it was stated that the intermediate steering shaft needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified of the incident. the approximate failure mileage was 22,000. *tr

On march 21st the abs, vsc, traction and brake warning lights came on while driving at 35 mph in dry weather condition. when the lights were on, the abs system was triggered making difficult to brake to stop. since then the warning lights have been on and off and so i've been having difficulties when slowing down at a higher speed rate 60 mph, slow speed 20 mph, and even stopping. on tuesday, april 8 i brought the rav4 to the dealer and they said that there is nothing wrong with the car and that the breaks were ok. dealer said: it is just the a rear sensor that needs to be reset. so dealer technician reset the sensor the same day. on wednesday, april 9, 2014 around 6:00 pm when turning left at a corner i heard a ticking noise then four warning lights appeared again and the breaks started to malfunction again. i'll bring the rav4 to the dealer on april 12, 2014 and see what they have to say. the codes the dealer have initially were c0210 and c1223. my spouse and i don't want to drive the rav4 without knowing that the sensor that the dealer talks about is either fixed or replaced. i don't want to be exposed nor expose my family to any possible accident due to the sensor/braking system failure. *tr

In a parked position or while turning ,sometimes, there is a vibrating/clunking sound made by the steering/steering shaft...toyota suggests replacing for $520.00 plus tax.... for the year and mileage on vehicle i think it's a manufacturers defect and should be corrected by toyota. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that there was an abnormal noise that came from the front driver and passenger side wheels whenever the contact moved the steering wheel or when the vehicle was not in motion. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 48,200. the current mileage was 48,684. updated 10/24/13*lj

A r e call now on the clock spring stop acting stupid's. *tr

The steering shaft has a clunk noise and a clunk or shift can be felt in the steering wheel. internet research reveals that this is an ongoing problem in 2006 and subsequent rav4 autos. it was originally felt at about 40,000 miles and internet research reveals that this may even occur at less mileage. internet research reveals that this is an ongoing common problem in rav4s that has not been corrected by toyota. if this is a problem, why has toyota not been required to fix the problem for free and why are they permitted to continue to sell cars with the problem?? my dealer accepted responsibility for 50% of the charge. total bill for my 50% was $173.72 i read on internet that as much as $800 was charged for the repair. *tr

While getting recall work done on my 2007 toyota rav4, the dealership called to say that they detected a 'clunking' in my steering column that was caused by the steering shaft and it was a 'known issue' with the model but not big enough for a recall. *tr

I've been hearing clicking noise when i turn the steering wheel to either sides. not always present but it is a safety concern for me. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that when turning the steering wheel, there was an abnormal noise. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that something had become loose inside the steering column and that the steering wheel needed to be replaced. the failure was not reported to the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 18,000. the current mileage was 18,400.

I hear a clunk. pop or knock-type noise when turning the steering wheel left or right. according to toyota service bulletin t-sb-0318-08, a new intermediate shaft has been developed to address this condition, that is to remove and replace both steering and intermediate shafts (no. 1 and no. 2.). the tsb expressly states that the repair is covered only under the 3 year/ 36k milestoyota comprehensive warranty. many owners of the rav of this era have experienced this problem, and it often occurs when the vehicle is out of warranty. many owners have had to pay several hundred dollars to have it fixed. also, many owners have reported the sound getting worse over time if not fixed. ( this information is frequently stated in forums and blogs about this era rav 4). i believe this is a safety issue that will, at some point, result in negative steering effects, if not loss of steering. as such, toyota should be forced to initiate a recall campaign to fix this tsb problem under extended warranty. *tr

My car began to make a clunking noise at the steering wheel every time i would turn it in any direction at any speed. i was worried about the safety of the car so i called toyota and scheduled for my car to be inspected. i was told i had 3 recalls on my car. after all the repairs where made the dealership told me that the only concern they still had was the clunking noise in the steering wheel. they told me that i needed to replace the accessory shaft. i was also told that i would have to pay out of pocket. i had no choice but to decline the repair due to the cost. i decided to do research of my own and have found many other toyota rav 4 owners that have experienced the same issue with their vehicles. all have the same complaints and feel the same frustrations as i do. this problem should be looked at. this could possibly be a defect in their design at the expensive of the car owner. *tr

Notice a popping sound in the steering column. found toyota bulletin t-sb-0318-08 which superseded tsb st001-08. the bulletins gave new parts and repair for the steering column. if toyota knows there is a design problem, the fix should be covered by toyota. the parts person says he knew the part number by heart since so many were being replaced. *tr

There is a clunking in my steering when i turn the car left or right at any speed. the steering feel as their is looseness causing non accurate turning and wobblesness. *tr

Vehicle parked started turned steering wheel exit from garage loud noise at full lock left and right. contacted dealer . informed problem in middle section steering shaft inherent to v6 repair cost 325 dealer said inability steer not a safety issue. *tr

noise in steering column - toyota service inspected same - suggested steering shaft needed to be replaced mileage on car 59200. *tr

2007 toyota rav 4. consumer writes in regards to problems with recall notices for rear suspension and power window switch. *smd the consumer stated did not believe the recall was performed, as he is still experiencing problems with the power window switch. also, the water pump was replaced. the consumer stated there were still problems with the suspension, after the dealer it was fixed. due to the ongoing suspension problems, it was affecting the steering shaft, rack and pinion and tie rod. updated 03/12/13

I started experiencing a clunking noise whenever i turn the steering wheel to the left or to the right at low speeds. it has progressively gotten worse. right now, it's really bad. i took it in to the toyota dealership at 62k miles and they said i need to replace the intermediate shaft at a cost of $6,400 out of owner's pocket. they said it had been out of warranty for a few months before i took it in hence, cost to owner. i reported it to toyota head quarters and they offered to reimburse $1k after i send them receipt of repairs, since they said my warranty expired not long before. i thought it was a kind gesture but i didn't have $5,400 to spend on those repairs, so i didn't take them up on that offer. i asked about their knowledge of this being a common problem with the stated model, and they said i may have seen this reported frequently in forums online, but until enough people report the problem to toyota's head quarters they won't have grounds to issue a recall. the problem persists and continues to get louder an is now accompanied by vibrations in the steering wheel. i hope toyota sees the need to issue a recall soon. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated the steering intermediate shaft failed causing a loud clunking noise when making a right or left turn. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated there was no recall and they would have to take the vehicle apart to find the cause of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified which offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 25,000.

Dealer informed me yesterday that intermediate steering shaft needs to be replaced for the third time since manufacture.shaft was replaced a couple of years ago at a cost of $880, of which i had to pay $500 as vehicle was out of warranty. dealer downplayed whether this is a safety issue but insisted that i should pay $715 to replace the shaft which is making knocking noises when driven. this has to be a design and/or manufacturing defect and i've heard that other models in the line have also suffered similar steering issues. can only hope it doesn't lead to steering failure. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds and making a right or left turn, there was a loud strange noise coming from the steering wheel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included on any recalls. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 36,000 and the current mileage was 46,000. updated 02/28/13 *bf updated 03/11/13.*jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that when turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a popping noise coming from the intermediate shaft of the steering wheel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the intermediate shaft was faulty and needed to be replaced. the dealer replaced the intermediate shaft. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the current and failure mileage was 71,633.

Around the 12th of october 2012 i started to notice a sound when turning the steering wheel to the left. within a few days i could hear it when turning left or right at slower speeds. i took my car to my mechanic for an oil change and mentioned it. he said that it seemed to be the steering intermediate shaft. i contacted a toyota dealer to enquire about cost of part and repair. i was told that the part was around $400 and that it would take approximately 1.6 hours to repair at $80/hour. i contacted toyota headquarters and was told that even though there was a service bulletin out on this same problem, that there was not a recall and the car is not under warranty now. if i had not asked my mechanic to check the problem i very likely would of had an accident when the splines finally gave out. i have the old shaft now as i had my mechanic order the part from a toyota dealer (the price was just over $100) and it took him 1.7 hours to do the repair, so it cost me about $200 total. toyota said that if there were a recall i might be able to get some of my money back. does someone have to die before they have a recall on this. it would be stupid of them to wait until there is a death!! i've had 2 recalls taken care of and there are 2 more that will need to be done soon. did someone die to get them to recall for those problems. there was a recall announced yesterday on this very same problem with the prius 2004-2009. i have a 2007 toyota rav4...this is a bigger problem than they have acknowledged. *tr

When you turn left or right a strange noise happening and you can feel some sort of bump or catch in the steering. there is a service bulletin out on this intermediate steering shaft. a new shaft is going to run $400.00 plus at least an hour of labor. this mean that it is going to cost each owner of this rav4 model at least $500.00. toyota has put a service bulletin out on this very problem. the bulletin # is tsb-0318-08 rev1. i am afraid that this will become a safety issue and i believe that there is some manufacturing defect or design problem at the basis of this problem. *tr

At any speed, an audible "clunk" is present when steering wheel is turned right or left. furthermore, one can feel a vibration in the steering wheel that exactly matches the "clunk" sound. during low speeds after starting the vehicle the noise and vibration is prominent any time the steering wheel is turned. at higher speeds, the sound is less pronounced, but a vibration and feeling of "looseness" in the steering is prominent. since this vehicle is used as a family car with young children (and a pregnant woman) present, this noise/vibration combination is disturbing as we fear steering failure. i am not sure if this problem is related to toyota's technical service bulletin st001-08 which matches the description of my problem. however, it is apparent that toyota issued this tsb as a result of customer complaints and developed a procedure and replacement parts to cure such a problem. *tr

Defective intermediate steering shaft causing partial loss of steering. car feel very unsafe to drive, especially on vet surface and during braking. *tr

The steering is loose and there is a pulling and/or popping feeling when turning. *tr

I brought the vehicle to an authorized toyota dealer because of annoying rattle noise coming from the front end when turning left and right, and when stepping on brake. the dealer diagnosed that the defective steering rack made noise and it should be replaced (estimated cost of $1,984 including part and labor costs), otherwise the vehicle could break down. i was also told by the dealer that this toyota was aware of this issue (occurring in particular to those rav4 2006-2008 produced in shokki, japan) and toyota offered the replacement of the steering rack if a vehicle is under the 3 year warranty period. toyota has documented this issue--refer to t-sb-0308-08, october 8, 2008. apparently my rav4 is over 6 years old (but only ran 31,400 miles) and not covered by the warranty. i talked to toyota national customer service about the issue and toyota declined to repair the part at their cost. i demand that nhtsa/dot take an action to investigate this particular issue so as to prevent rav4 drivers from facing fatal accidents on the road. *tr

For 2 years prior to taking the car to toyota for repair, i was hearing a clicking noise when i turned the steering wheel back and forth, normally when i began using the car early in the morning. i took the car to the toyota dealer to find the problem, expecting it to be a slight adjustment. i was told that the steering shaft was broken along with a yoke assembly that needed to be replaced. i was alarmed that i had been driving a car with a broken steering shaft for so long. toyota replaced the broken parts and charged me $600. i thought toyota should cover the cost as a warranty item but they refused. it seems to me that a steering defect should be taken care of via a safety recall. had the shaft broken or become more damaged then a high speed accident could have occurred. *tr