2005 Toyota Avalon Steering Problems

TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL COLASPSES WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11152394

Incident

Nov 14, 2018

Mileage

83,147 mi

LEVER THAT CONTROLS TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS WAS NEVER A RECALL BUT WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY EXTENSION. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA THEY SENT OUT LETTERS BEGINNING IN APRIL 2014 ADVISING OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM. WE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. TOYOTA FURTHER ADVISES US THAT THE WINDOW FOR FREE REPAIR OF THE DEFECT CLOSED ON MAY 31,2015 AND THEY WILL NOT PAY TO FIX IT. WHY WAS THIS NOT MADE AN OFFICIAL RECALL? I HAVE INJURED MY KNEE SEVERAL TIMES ENTERING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10899816

Incident

Aug 30, 2016

Mileage

146,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH UP I-81 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER. I TURNED ON FLASHERS, PUT CAR IN PARK, TURNED KEY OFF, AND TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE. IT IMMEDIATELY CRANKED RIGHT UP AND I PROCEEDED UP THE INTERSTATE. FIVE MINUTES LATER, AT 70 MPH, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO STEER OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I CONTINUED ON HOME FOR ANOTHER 2 HOURS WITH NO PROBLEMS. ON 5/18, I WENT TO CHURCH AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SINCE I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY, IT WAS HARD TO STEER (NO POWER STEERING). AT NO TIME HAS A LIGHT COME ON SHOWING IT NEEDED SERVICE OR SOME PROBLEM. I ASSUME SINCE I WAS DRIVING SO FAST ON THE INTERSTATE, I DIDN'T NOTICE THE POWER STEERING LOSS WHEN I LOST ALL POWER. I AM AFRAID THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN AND I MIGHT GET KILLED FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO PULL ONTO A SHOULDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10592649

Incident

May 17, 2014

Mileage

63,459 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK AND POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,245.

NHTSA ID

10574344

Incident

Mar 21, 2014

Mileage

141,245 mi

I NOTICED THE TELESCOPING LEVER HAD FALLEN A FEW TIMES WHILE ENTERING VEHICLE BUT PAID IT NO MIND AND JUST PUSHED IT UP. I WAS DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY AND I PUT THE BRAKES ON AND MAKING A TURN AND THE WHEEL JUST COLLAPSED TO THE ALL THE WAY DOWN POSITION AND IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND I ALMOST CRASHED! I TRY TO BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF THE FALLEN LEVER BUT IF NEGLECT TO PUSH IT UP THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL WILL FALL AT LEAST ONCE A DAY WHILE DRIVING USUALLY WHEN BRAKING SINCE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING THERE IS MORE DOWNWARD FORCE ON THE COLUMN. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA CORPORATE ARE TELLING ME THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE ISSUE AND ITS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND I NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A LIE SINCE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND EVEN A TSB TOYOTA ISSUED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOW AND WHY SHOULD I BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A SAFETY CONCERN THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FIX. I HATE THAT IT MIGHT CAUSE A CRASH AND MAYBE THEN AFTER THE CRASH THEY MIGHT DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. ONE MORE THING THE TELESCOPING OPTION IS ALMOST NEVER USED SO ITS CERTAINLY NOT FROM BEING USED TOO MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10569159

Incident

Jan 2, 2014

Mileage

111,000 mi

THE STEERING LEVER MOVED DOWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL DROPPED IN 2-3 INCHES WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563454

Incident

Feb 12, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE EXPERIENCED AN EXCESSIVE PULSATION IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN JUNE OF 2010. THE FAILURE RECURRED RECENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THERE WAS ALSO A DEFAULT WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ...UPDATED 05/22/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REBUILT. UPDATED 06/14/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID

10504375

Incident

Oct 29, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL FRICTION LEVER SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION (NORMAL SPEED). PLUS, THERE IS A POPPING, CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL THAT YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487268

Incident

Apr 14, 2011

Mileage

96,000 mi

THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEGUN MAKING A RATHER NOTICEABLE "CLACKING" NOISE WHEN TURNING. IT CAN BE BOTH HEARD AND FELT IN THE WHEEL. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, AND TOYOTA HAS PUT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN (#00206, NHTSA # 10019669)FOR REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WANTS $930 TO REPAIR IT IF OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY'RE CLAIMING IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT A STEERING WHEEL THAT MAKES NOISES YOU CAN HEAR (AND FEEL) DOESN'T SEEM ALL THAT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451458

Incident

Jan 17, 2012

Mileage

71,000 mi

STEERING PROBLEMS PER RECALL 05V227000 FOR 2005 TOYOTA AVALON THAT MANUF REFUSES TO ADDRESS. STEERING POPS WHEN TURNING & SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GETTING WORSE. REFUSE TO PAY DEALER $450.00 TO REPLACE RECALL SO I WILL TAKE IT TO ANOTHER CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT I TRUST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448939

Incident

Jan 12, 2005

FIRST CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A., INC. IN TORRANCE, CA. AND ADVISED THEM OF MY CAR TROUBLES PRIOR TO GOING TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I MADE THEM AWARE THAT I DO NOT TRUST DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY ASSIGNED ME A CASE NUMBER AND DOCUMENTED MY ISSUES WITH ENGINE/POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION THAT STILL EXIST TODAY AND BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA MOTOR SALES HAVE NOT ADDRESSED PROBLEM. ALSO, I STATED TO DEALER THAT THERE WAS LEAKAGE SURROUNDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. DEALER WAS QUICK TO RESOLVE PROBLEM BY TRYING TO INDUCE ME TO HAVE PUMP CHANGED WITHOUT PERFORMING TRUE DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES TO INCLUDE; FAILURE TO REMOVE FRONT R/H TIRE TO LOOK AT POWER STEERING PUMP FROM THE FRONT SIDE, FAILURE TO CLEAN POWER STEERING PUMP AND SURROUNDING AREAS TO INVESTIGATE TRUE AREA OF LEAKAGE. INSTEAD, DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE CONCLUSION THAT THE PUMP MUST BE LEAKING FROM PUMP SHAFT BEARING. COST TO REPLACE; $750.00 WHICH I DECLINED TO HAVE REPLACED. WITH THE VEHICLE UP ON JACK STANDS AND WITH TRUE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, I REMOVED FRONT R/H TIRE, THOROUGHLY CLEANED POWER STEERING PUMP AND SURROUNDING AREA AND STEERED LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT MANY TIMES AND CAN NOT LOCATE LEAK AT THIS TIME. COULD BE EVEN ENGINE OIL THAT DRIPPED DOWN OR PUMP HIGH PRESSURE LINE THAT GOES TO STEERING CYLINDER GEARBOX/YOKE AREA. AS FAR AS THE POWER TRAIN/ENGINE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME, THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE ALWAYS OUT OF SYNCHRONIZATION. TO BRIEFLY STATE, THE ENGINE WONDERS (HI AND LOW RPMS) AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE IN WRONG GEAR. FURTHERMORE, THROTTLE RESPONSE IS MANY TIMES NON-EXISTENT. I DEPRESS PEDAL AND NO ENGINE RESPONSE IS FOUND. NEED TO FURTHER DEPRESS PEDAL FOR ENGINE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FACTOR AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. HAVE OTHER ISSUES NOT ABLE TO STATE BECAUSE OF YOUR LIMITED WORDS ALLOWED.

NHTSA ID

10401756

Incident

Nov 19, 2010

Mileage

48,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL FRICTION LEVER SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. UPDATED 05/12/11 *BF

NHTSA ID

10400410

Incident

Apr 4, 2011

Mileage

47,900 mi

STEERING COLUMN LOCKING LEVER SUDDENLY DISENGAGES AND STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSES FROM SET POSITION WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES IN LAST 1000 MILES. LOOSING STEERING WHEEL STABILITY HAS CAUSED UNSAFE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382760

Incident

Oct 20, 2010

Mileage

23,000 mi

TOYOTA AVALON LTD. 2005..STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM THAT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL INTO POSITION "UP AND DOWN"..THE LEVER DOES NOT LOCK INTO POSITION AND EASILY OPENS AND THE STEERING WHEEL DROPS DOWN EVEN AS THE CAR IS IN MOTION...ALMOST LOST CONTROL AS I WAS DRIVING AS THE LEVER OPENED DOWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL DROPPED QUICKLY AS I DROVE THE CAR....WHEN I INFORMED TOYOTA OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER, THEY SAID IT WAS NO PROBLEM....I THINK IT IS............. *TR

NHTSA ID

10380164

Incident

Feb 3, 2011

Mileage

43,678 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TELESCOPIC STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LEVER THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL UP RELEASED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING AND IT HAPPENED A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ID

10370767

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

34,000 mi

JUST ADDING MY SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. THE LEVER AT THE LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN DOES NOT HOLD AND DROPS DOWN PERIODICALLY. IT HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS BUT THEY SAID "NO PROBLEM" OR EITHER "YOU HAD THE STEERING WHEEL EXTENDED TOO FAR FOR IT TO CATCH". I JUST REACH DOWN AND FLIP THE LEVER UP WHEN IT HAPPENS AND DRIVE WITH THE WHEEL IN CLOSER TO THE DASH UNTIL I CAN STOP AND SAFELY PULL IT OUT TO A COMFORTABLE POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, PARTICULARLY WHEN I STOP. THE WHEEL JUST GOES TOWARDS THE DASH. I THINK IT IS A DEFECT BUT TOYOTA HAS NEVER SO ACKNOWLEDGED IT OR REPAIRED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336127

Incident

Jun 13, 2010

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN RETRACTING WITHOUT TOUCHING THE LEVER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ONCE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON MONDAY 5/2/4/2010. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT TO SECURE THE STEERING WHEEL AND FASTEN THE LEVER.

NHTSA ID

10332302

Incident

May 24, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL PLACEMENT LOCK UNLOCKED SUDDENLY CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE UP AND DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 400.

NHTSA ID

10328817

Incident

Sep 10, 2005

Mileage

400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IMPROPERLY ALIGNED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND THE RETAINING CLIP THAT HOUSED THE STEERING WHEEL HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,024 AND THE CURRENT WAS 54,381. UPDATED 4/28/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL TELESCOPING FEATURE WOULD NOT LOCK AND MOVE FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/06/10 *JB

NHTSA ID

10318011

Incident

Feb 5, 2010

Mileage

52,024 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT AND HE COULD NOT KEEP IT POSITIONED STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE ABOUT 8 TIMES SINCE HE PURCHASED IT. THERE HAD BEEN NO REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48000.

NHTSA ID

10317737

Incident

Jul 25, 2005

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED TO HIS KNEES HE THEN HAD TO PULL OVER TO CHECK AND FIX IT; HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 10 ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91000.

NHTSA ID

10314226

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10313770

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE HAD RISEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000. UPDATED 3/24/10 *CN THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY FROZEN BEARINGS IN THE IDLER PULLEY. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE. UPDATED 08/11/10

NHTSA ID

10313021

Incident

Apr 25, 2008

Mileage

57,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON WHICH WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN JULY 2005. SHE STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE WAS VERY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY VERIFIED THE FAILURE AS TELESCOPIC STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE AS TO WHAT REPAIRS WOULD NEED TO BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED.

NHTSA ID

10311712

Incident

Nov 22, 2009

ON MY 2005 TOYOTA AVALON I HEARD A NOISE LIKE A LOOSE TIE ROD END WOULD MAKE. MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY INSPECTED IT TO SEE WHAT THE NOISE WAS. THEY TOLD ME THE NOISE WAS FROM THE STEERING COLUMN FROM NOT ENOUGH GREASE BEING PUT IT AT THE FACTORY. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS WAS COMMON FOR THIS CAR. UPON FURTHER CHECKING I FOUND THIS TO BE TRUE. THIS WOULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF LEFT GO. PLEASE SEE WHY THEY DID NOT RECALL THIS CAR FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310525

Incident

Oct 25, 2009

Mileage

55,000 mi