2013 Toyota Camry Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, there was a knocking sound coming from the steering column. The contact stated that while driving downhill on several occasions, the steering column and dashboard vibrated abnormally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11734093

Incident

Nov 15, 2025

Mileage

150,000 mi

This complaint has to do with Toyota's electrical steering. I will begin this complaint by explaining what I've learned about the new Toyota vehicles. I've been having electrical problems with my car for the past year. It started with the radio going in and out about eight months ago, and now it has been out completely for two months. The tire pressure sensor warning light cycled intermittently when the radio went out. When the radio finally quit working, the tire pressure warning light stays on constantly. When I researched replacing the radio with a non-Toyota radio, I had to replace all of the wiring harnesses (steering control and radio, and there is another harness that I can't remember -- this is from BestBuy). If you don't replace all of the wiring harnesses, you lose the functions of the electrical and warning system, for example, the tire pressure warning lights. In my research (on the internet), I found that the electrical steering can go out if the system receives a signal that the tires are out of alignment and tire pressure warnings. I check my tire pressure every week because the warning light is on. I do not have a tire pressure reset button on my car. The computer or the computer board on the radio periodically pings the sensors. I began hearing a humming noise from the front right side of my car. I originally thought it was a tension pully on the belt because of the cold weather and no warning light. I drove my car about ten miles with the humming noise. Then, the power steering came on, and the steering became almost impossible. (I learned to drive in vehicles without power steering.) Within minutes of the power steering light coming on, I had a catastrophic failure of all systems in my car. Every warning light on the dashboard was on. After about two minutes, the lights cycled off. About one minute later, they came back on. The difficulty driving without the power steering would have been a bad accident if I had been on the Interstate.

NHTSA ID

11566757

Incident

Jan 20, 2024

AIRBAG LIGHTS COMES AND GO WHILE DRIVING AT ONE POINT IT STAY ON FOR A LOG PERIOD , IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL NOW WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11323055

Incident

Jan 5, 2020

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY CAR GOT 3 LIGHTS ON ( EMERGENCY BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT ON) THEN AFTER THAT THE POWER FOR THE STEERING WHEEL STOP AND BECOMES VERY HEAVY AND NOT DRIVABLE.

NHTSA ID

11271387

Incident

Sep 2, 2019

Mileage

823,500 mi

MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY SE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN OUT OF WITHOUT WARNING THE ABS, BRAKE AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON; THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED AND HE COULD BARELY GET THE CAR TO TURN ONTO THE ON RAMP TO GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT. WE ALSO REALIZED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING IS NO LONGER WORKING AS WELL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSIDERING WE WERE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THE POWER STEERING BASICALLY BECAME INOPERABLE, IT WAS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE 2013 VEHICLES FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THAT PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED FOR THAT RECALL IN 2014, WHICH WAS PRIOR TO ME OWNING THE CAR. AFTER, THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIR UNDER A RECALL, THERE'S A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON THAT REPAIR. SO WE'RE BASICALLY OUT OF LUCK AND HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OURSELVES.

NHTSA ID

11218440

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

Mileage

111,000 mi

FOR THE LAST WEEK MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN RANDOMLY STALLING OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, CODES OR OTHER ISSUES. ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 9TH 2018 MY VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL. IT BARELY STOPPED CAUSING ME TO GO OVER A CURB DAMAGING BUMPER AND BRAKE CALIPER. I AM NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT CANNOT BE LOOKED AT UNTIL JUNE 13

NHTSA ID

11100664

Incident

Jun 9, 2018

Mileage

77,071 mi

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTACTED TOYOTA REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE ALREADY FIXED THE ISSUE AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO IT IS MY PROBLEM NOW. I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN SKIRT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THEY WERE THE LAST ONES DEALING WITH THE AIRBAGS AND MAYBE WHAT THEY DID WAS NOT A COMPLETE FIX. EVERYTHING ON MY STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT WORK; HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, PHONE, RADIO VOLUME. I DO BELIEVE MY HORN IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THESE MATTERS.

NHTSA ID

11097894

Incident

May 1, 2017

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD TO MOVE AND APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, YET CAR CONTINUES GOING. BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS, STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO MOVE AND RADIO, A.C. GOES OFF WHILE EVERYTHING ELSE IS ON MOTION AND MAINLY WHILE TURNING, IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST TIMES ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, BUT NEVER AGAIN, THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN THIS LAST 2 WEEKS. HOWEVER, YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED MORE THAN 10 TIMES IN 1 HOUR, VERY SCARY. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT YO THE DEALER LAS WEEK AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL YET, ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND HUNDREDS OF CARS CAMRY REPORTED WITH SAME PROBLEM. IS SCARY.

NHTSA ID

11093665

Incident

May 13, 2018

Mileage

90,080 mi

CAR STEERING WENT OUT-STARTED GOING TO THE LEFT-I COULD NOT TURN IT BACK-CAR CROSSED THE LEFT LANE-HIT THE DITCH EMBANKMENT-TURNED DOWN THE DITCH-HIT A CULPRIT-CAR FLEW INTO THE AIR-ALMOST HIT A TREE TRUNK-FLEW THROUGH TREE BRANCHES-CAME DOWN AND HIT THE NEXT CULPRIT,-THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY ROAD ABOUT 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10918544

Incident

Sep 15, 2016

Mileage

98,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEGS, BACK, AND LEFT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/04/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10874838

Incident

Apr 10, 2016

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EITHER ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY OR TURNING THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. NOTHING WORKS, CAR WONT START , KEY WILL NOT MOVE, GEAR IS STUCK. THIS HAS HAPPEN THREE TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. THE DEALER HAS CHECK IT OUT BUT HAS NO ANSWER TO WHY IT HAPPENS. MY AIR-CONDITION FOGS UP THE WINDOW, AS SO DOES THE HEATER MAKING THE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG ODOR OF GAS WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN. ALL MY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BUT NOTHING DONE. MY FEAR IS A MAJOR ACCIDENT WILL BE CAUSE BECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA ID

10850471

Incident

Mar 7, 2016

Mileage

23,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,912. MA 9/22

NHTSA ID

10735577

Incident

Mar 20, 2015

Mileage

41,912 mi

WHILE PARKED THE POWER STEERING ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FAILED, RENDERING THE STEERING INEFFECTIVE. AT SPEED THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AM NOW VERY FEARFUL OF MY WIFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH A SYSTEM AS CRITICAL AS THE STEERING UNIT THAT FAILS PREMATURELY WHEN ONLY 2YRS. OLD.

NHTSA ID

10733493

Incident

Jul 9, 2015

Mileage

69,042 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT MY CAR REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING. IT WILL NOT CONTINUE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IT WILL ALWAYS DRIFT IN THE APPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE LAST CORRECTION. TO DATE I HAVE 11,400 MILES ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10644043

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

VEHICLE WANDERS IN LANE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629753

Incident

Jul 24, 2013

Mileage

100 mi

VEHICLE WANDERS SIDE TO SIDE. ALMOST UNDETECTABLE. OCCURS IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE REGARDLESS OF DRIVING CONDITION- SPEED, CONDITION OF HIGHWAY, WEATHER ETC. NOT IMMINENTLY DANGEROUS, BUT COULD BE AS WHEN PASSING TRAILER TRUCK AT SPEED ON HIGHWAY. RETURNED TO DEALER AND AFTER TEST DRIVE BY TECHNICIAN CLAIMED CONDITION UNDETECTABLE, OR JUST A PECULIARITY OF VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN INFLATED FRONT TIRES TO 37PSI AND STATED THAT \THIS CURED PROBLEM. IT DID NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628029

Incident

Dec 5, 2013

Mileage

750 mi

VEHICLE WANDERS REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTION. DEALER SAID COULD NOT FEEL ANY WANDERING TENDENCIES. EVERYONE WHO HAS DRIVEN VEHICLE CONFIRMS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618899

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

2,000 mi

I PURCHASED BRAND NEW CAR FROM DARCARS LOCATED AT 12210 CHERRY HILL RD, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904 ON MAY 27TH, 2013. FIRST INCIDENT TOOK PLACE APPROXIMATELY LESS THAN 4,780 MILEAGES; I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY STEERING. DURING THIS INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING ON I95-N NEAR EXIT 43 OF MARYLAND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION SUDDENLY THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND THE STEERING WARNING SIGN WITH THE BEEP NOISE FOR A SECOND CAME ON. I PANICKED I COULDN'T NOT TURN THE STEERING AT ALL. LUCKILY, I TRIED VERY HARD AND WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE STEERING TO TURN A FRACTION OF A DEGREE ANGLE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER WITHOUT HURTING ANYONE. AT THAT POINT I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS UNLOCKED. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON 07/15/2013 BUT, TO DATE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ATTACHED ARE COPIES OF THE REPAIR ORDERS THAT DOCUMENT THE DEALERSHIP'S ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR MY CAR. WHILE I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON GUILDFORD ROA SECOND INCIDENT TOOK PLACE APPROXIMATELY 15000 MILES, WHEN MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE TO GEORGIA. AT APPROXIMATELY 12 A.M AT NIGHT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE HE WAS HEADING BACK ON THE I95-S. THE SAME INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. AT THAT POINT ONLY THING I SUGGESTED HIM TO RESTART THE CAR AND MOVE ON. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT I DID RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA MANUFACTURE ABOUT THE RECALL ON HVAC ASSEMBLY CAUSING A LEAK WHICH CAN RUIN THE SENSOR CAUSING STEERING ISSUES, AIR BAG ISSUES AND ETC. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER 'ANTWERPEN' LOCATED AT 12420 AUTO DRIVE, CLARKSVILLE, MD 21029 WHERE THE RECALL FIX WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THIRD INCIDENT TOOK PLACE APPROXIMATELY AT 31,500 MILES ON 06/14/2014 AT 1:45 PM ON THE GUILFORD ROAD, JESSUP, MD GOING TOWARD THE INTERSECTION OF RT-1 (AKA WASHINGTON BL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605871

Incident

Jul 13, 2013

Mileage

4,780 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CAR WANDERS LEFT OR RIGHT. KEEPING THE CAR STRAIGHT TAKES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT WITHOUT CONSTANTLY MAKE CORRECTION TO THE STEERING WHEELS. REPORTED TO DEALER, BUT DEALER SAID CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573998

Incident

Mar 15, 2014

Mileage

5,995 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ROUGH WHEN DRIVING OR WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE INFLATED TO THE CORRECT PRESSURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS AT AS TOP SIGN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE OF THE CONTACT?S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK AND HEAD INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V44200 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000. UPDATED 05/12/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT LEFT WHEEL AND DRAGGED HIS VEHICLE SIDEWAYS TOWARD A TELEPHONE POLE. HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE HIT THE WINDOW DURING IMPACT AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. UPDATED 05/14/14

NHTSA ID

10573136

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

Mileage

3,000 mi

VEHICLE DOES NOT TRAC STRAIGHT ON IT'S OWN. I FIND MYSELF CONSTANTLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT TO RIGHT, RIGHT TO LEFT IN ORDER TO GO STRAIGHT. IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION. FINDING THE EXACT STEERING WHEEL POSITION TO GO STRAIGHT AND KEEPING IT STRAIGHT IS A CHORE AND TIRING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564129

Incident

Jul 9, 2013

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMARY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AS SHE MADE A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO HER HEAD, AND SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICS GARAGE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 12,500.

NHTSA ID

10557954

Incident

Dec 28, 2013

Mileage

12,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA VIA AN ONLINE SURVEY. UPDATED 1/17/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10551428

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

5,000 mi

WE LEASED A 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE ON FRIDAY MARCH 29TH, 2013 AT 9:00 PM. FROM MANHATTAN BEACH TOYOTA IN MANHATTAN BEACH CALIFORNIA. THE VERY NEXT DAY, SATURDAY MARCH 30TH, 2013 WHILE DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 99 NEAR BAKERSFIELD AT 65 MILES PER HOUR TO LINDSAY CALIFORNIA FROM INGLEWOOD CALIFORNIA, I HEARD A "DING" SOUND AND I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFEN UP. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY HOLD ON TIGHTLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO TRY AND KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. I THEN NOTICED ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAD TURNED ON. I ALSO NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. MY WIFE AND I WERE VERY TERRIFIED AS WE IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF THAT POOR FAMILY THAT LOST THEIR LIVES DURING A TOYOTA MALFUNCTION. AS I TRIED TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR, LOOKING FOR AN EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY, I REALIZED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TAKE THE CAR TO BILL WRIGHT TOYOTA NEARBY. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE CAR THAT DAY AND I HAD TO LEAVE IT THERE. THE CAR WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR 6 DAYS AS I WAS TOLD THAT A TOYOTA ENGINEER NEEDED TO GO TO BAKERSFIELD AND FIX THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513971

Incident

Mar 30, 2013

Mileage

115 mi

VEHICLE IS OK AT APPROXIMATELY <50MPH BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT REQUIRES 100% CONCENTRATION TO NOT VEER OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE. IT WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD ON ITS OWN. IT BEHAVES LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING IN A SEVERE CROSS WIND THOUGH THERE IS NO WIND PRESENT. MANY SUCH COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND I HAVE FORBIDDEN MY FAMILY FROM DRIVING IT AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513767

Incident

May 21, 2013

Mileage

250 mi