Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words
The steering wheel while taking a right turn locked and wouldn't straighten all lights turned off on the panel all was locked and caused a crash because steering was locked into a turn
WHILE ON THE STREET AS I WAS BACKING MY CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE ADJACENT TO THE STREET CURB THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AT HIGH SPEED, CRASHING OVER THE CURB AND SIDEWALK, REAR END FIRST. MY STEPPING ON THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL; THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO AN IRON FENCE WHICH BORDERED THE YARD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FENCE AND THE CAR. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE SAME CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE OUT OF CONTROL AND I WAS UNABLE TO BRING IT TO A HALT UNTIL IT HIT A PARKED CAR. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED EITHER OF THESE INCIDENTS TO OCCUR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO AN UTILITY POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. DURING THE CRASH THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK, TORSO, AND NECK INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 238,000.
WELL, NOTHING HAPPENED BUT I BELIEVE TOYOTA CAMRY, SE, SEDAN, V6, HAS A PROBLEM WITH STEERING RACK AND PINION DRIVE LEAK AT 90 K. MANY CAMRY VEHICLES HAVE IT, ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE WEB FOR MODELS (2001 THROUGH WHATEVER, SEDANS OR NOT). FIXING IT COSTS A FORTUNE, SORT OF (1200 $ OR SO). THEY ARE SELLING LEMONS, AND RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE ! THE NHTSA SHOULD WAKE UP FOR ONCE AND GET TOYOTA FLAGGED. THEY (THE JAPANESE COMPANIES, INCLUDING TAKATA, - AND GOD KNOWS WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE SO-CALLED ZERO DEFECT JAPANESE MOTTO) ARE RAKING IT IN AND TAKING THE CUSTOMERS FOR A RIDE. IT IS TIME THAT NHTSA GETS INVOLVED AND CALL IT FOR WHAT IT IS - A RECALL - AND HAVE THE COMPANY FIX THE PROBLEM. IF I WANTED THIS PIECE OF JUNK, I WOULD HAVE GONE FOR AN AMERICAN CAR, VIZ, CHEVY OR GM !!!!!!!
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE COPY OF LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE, COMING FROM THE STEERING AT AROUND 18,000 MILES. THE NOISE OCCURRED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THE NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY PRONOUNCED AT 20,755. *JB
I JUST BOUGHT A USED "06 TOYOTA CAMRY FOR MY DAUGHTER TO COMMUTE TO COLLEGE. WE ARE EXPERIENCING STEERING WHEEL "CLUNKING' AND NOISES BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE CAR WHEN WE MAKE TURNS AND JUST DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED AN INSPECTION ON THE CAR. HE SAID THAT THIS MAKE AND YEAR OF THE CAMRY ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. TRUE, I SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE HOMEWORK. I WAS GAUGING MY DECISION ON MY PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP OF A CAMRY I HAD IN THE 90'S. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT CAR. I JUST WENT TO A WEBSITE, CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, AND SEEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES ABOUT THIS STEERING DEFECT, SOME TO THE POINT OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING! OVER AND OVER I SEEN THESE CUSTOMERS TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER OR CONTACTED TOYOTA DIRECTLY AND THEY WERE AFFORDED NO ASSISTANCE. THEY WERE TOLD THEY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK BEFORE 36, 000 MILES, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM THAT THEY COULD FIND, JUST REAL COWARDLY BEHAVIOR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO COULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THIS PERSISTENT SAFETY ISSUE! I AM STILL DISCOVERING ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES WITH THIS STEERING PROBLEM BUT IT SEEMS TO BE NATIONWIDE SO WHY ARE THEY NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECT? DOES IT HAVE TO TURN INTO THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR GAS PEDALS STICKING AND NEARLY KILLING PEOPLE BEFORE THEY TAKE THEIR HEADS OUT OF THE SAND AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POOR CRAFTMANSHIP? THEYHAVE JUST LOST ME AS A FUTURE CUSTOMER BUT THEIR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER IF THEY JUST DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A TWO-MINUTE DELAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, HE NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BOOT WAS LEAKING AND THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,794. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,276.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND WHENEVER THEY COMPLETING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 2/5/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER AND WAS IT WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED OF A SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINING TO THE "CLUNKING" NOISE AND BROUGHT TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST THE CONSUMER WITH REPAIRS, STATING THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTATION OF A COMPLAINT PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. UPDATED 02/25/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE RACK AND PINION BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AND A YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 45 MPH AND ABOVE OR WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER TO REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE AND WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT COVER APPEARED TO BE EXTREMELY FOGGY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLEAN THE HEADLIGHT COVER WITH A SPECIAL CHEMICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN JUST ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL HE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INNER STEERING SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.
2006 TOYOTA CAMRY STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AT 90 DEGREE ANGLES, STEERING COLUMN OFTEN LOCK IN THE POSITION TURNED (LEFT) FOR A FEW SECONDS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWERVING AND SHAKING. THE CONTACT SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO 49 MPH BUT THE SWERVING CONTINUED. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,622. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,299.
BOUGHT BRAND NEW 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHEN YOU MAKE A RIGHT TURN , THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS TO RIGHT EVEN AFTER THE TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T COME TO NORMAL POSITION QUICKLY. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR AND NEVER INFORMED ME, UNTIL I DROVE IT AND FELT LATELY. I WILL CALL THE COMPANY AND INFORM THEM AND SEE IF THERE WERE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REPORTED. *TR
WITH ONLY 63,000 MILES ON MY 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY, 4 CYLINDER, STARTED TO HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THAT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. A POWER STEERING LEAK WAS DETECTED AND HAD TO REPLACE POWER STEERING RACK OR RUN THE RISK OF LOSING ABILITY TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO PAY OVER $1,300 FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY. HE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE TWICE WHILE DRIVING 50 TO 60 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED SOME RESISTANCE. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
2006 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 4. STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PROBLEM PER TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-06. REPAIR REFUSED. SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
2006 CAMRY, BOUGHT NEW, MAY, '07. FEEL SLIGHT CLUNK WITH SOFT SOUND WHEN TURN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS BUSHING/LOWER CONTROL (STEERING) ARM BREAKING DOWN. REPLACED BOTH CONTROL ARMS AT COST OF $1000+ NOT INCLUDING TAXES. CAR HAS APPROX. 70,000 KM (43,000 MI), IS TREATED FOR RUST PREVENTION ANNUALLY (KROWN) AND NOT DRIVEN HARD (99%) WELL PAVED ROADS. NORMAL WEAR (NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE)? *TR
2006 TOYOTA 60,000 MILES. NEEDS TO HAVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED OR I WON'T BE ABLE TO STEER THE CAR SOON. HAPPENED TO MY OLD 1997 TOYOTA ALSO. COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL HAD NO CONTROL. WORRIED THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN TO THIS 2006 CAR. TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT IS WEAR AND TEAR. HE ONLY SEES IT ON SOME TOYOTA NOT ALL. IF IT WAS WEAR THEN WHY NOT ON ALL. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. VERY COSTLY TO REPLACE, $517. THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED THRU TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON A REGULAR BASIS, IT WAS BOUGHT AS A DEMO CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP WITH 12000 MILES. SOMETHING IS WRONG MAYBE ENGINEERING DEFECT? *TR
CLUNKING NOISE. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND DIAGNOSIS. CLUNKING NOISE WAS IDENTIFIED AS STEERING SHAFT JOINT FAILURE. (FRIGHTENING PROSPECT). REPAIR OVER $300. MILEAGE 82,000. THAT ON TOP OF EARLY HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET HAS ME GETTING READY TO GET RID OF THIS CAR. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 CAMRY LE WHICH HAS DEVELOPED A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING SHAFT OR COLUMN SOMEWHERE BELOW THE STEERING WHEEL. TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE NUMBER ON IT, BUT WILL NO DO ANYTHING UNLESS THIS DETECT WAS REPORTED BEFORE 36,000 MILES. THEY REQUIRE YOU TO FIND THEIR DETECT IT EARLY AND IF YOU FIND IT LATER AFTER 36,000 MILES THEY SAY THAT'S TOO BAD YOU ARE TOO LATE. THIS IS JUST WRONG !! THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, YET THEY HOPE YOU PASS 36,000 MILES SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIX THEIR KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
POPPING AND LOOSE STEERING WHILE TURNING, STOPPING , ACCELERATING OR JUST DRIVING. THE FAILURE IS THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT, THE OCCURRENCE IS CONSTANT WHILE DRIVING. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
2006 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 LE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE, COMPANY SENT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-06 DATED 02.16.2006 TO DEALERS FOR REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. OWNER NEVER MADE AWARE OF THIS. I BECAME AWARE OF 'STEERING KNOCKS' TWO MONTHS AGO, WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN WARRANTY (UNDER 36,000 MILES). TOLD BY DEALERS SERVICE 'ADVISER' THAT THIS WAS NORMAL 'PLAY'. NOW PROBLEM WORSE BUT REPLACEMENT REFUSED, BECAUSE VEHICLE HAS 36,700 MILES (ONE MONTH AND 700 MILES OVER). HAVE SAFETY CONCERN IF NOT FIXED. *TR
CAR CONSTANTLY PULLS TO LEFT. CANNOT RELEASE TENSION ON STEERING WHEEL FOR FEAR OF GOING OFF THE ROAD. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. AFRAID TO TAKE ON A LONG TRIP FOR FEAR OF DRIVER FATIGUE. *TR
2006 TOYOTA CAMRY'S STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE LEFT. *KB ***NAR*** THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS WHILE IN CURSES. THE CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL FIRMLY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE VEHICLE PULLS WHILE DRIVING ON BUMPY ROADS AND MORE FREQUENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY. SOMETIMES IT ALSO PULLS WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE SEEM TO ALWAYS BE PARKED AT AN ANGLE, ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER PULLS STRAIGHT INTO PARKING SPACES. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS STIFF AS IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO NOTICED A NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING INTO TIGHT SPOTS. *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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