2014 Toyota Camry Steering Problems

There is a steering damper that is used in the electric steering box on many Toyota models. The damper breaks down and the vehicles develop a clunk from the steering column. I don't find any recall for this problem. Toyota cannot tell me if there is a safety issue when the damper breaks down or if it is merely an annoyance from the clunking noise. There are many YouTube videos showing the replacement of the damper. Since these steering dampers commonly fail, it seems important to know if there is a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11563808

Incident

Dec 26, 2023

The contact owns 2014 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH or above, the vehicle was shuddering with a whining sound coming from the front-end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the ECO light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who had previously updated the ECM software under a Warranty Enhancement Program. The failure persisted. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,069.

NHTSA ID

11508302

Incident

Feb 21, 2015

Mileage

55,069 mi

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and the steering shifted to the driver’s side abruptly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the vehicle experienced steering wheel balancer failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11505999

Incident

Aug 15, 2022

Car has been vibrating anytime it goes above 40-45 mph. Mechanic recommended to change the cv axle which I did and I still have same problem. On highways it shakes so much that sometimes it feels like I may loose control of my steering wheel. There's a knocking sound while going on bumps and speed breakers. Check engine light came twice and it was reset by saying its false positive.

NHTSA ID

11481940

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

While driving at highway speeds the steering seems to "stick" a little. I would explain it as the front end seems to pull from side to side, and then the drive wheels seen to stick so you have to fight with the steering wheel to get the vehicle to maintain lane travel. The dash lights came on that same night when this started. Maintenance req, airbag, seatbelt, battery, brake, low tire pressure, and traction Control lights all came on. They remain on and have not gone off.

NHTSA ID

11435160

Incident

May 10, 2021

JUST ABOUT COMPLETELY STOPPED AT STOP SIGN AT END OF STREET - WITHOUT WARNING CAR ACCELERATED EXTREMELY FAST, CROSSED 2-LANE STREET - DROVE INTO CHURCH PARKING LOT ON AN INCLINE TURNED AND BACK ACROSS THE 2-LANE STREET AND MY VEHICLE HIT NEIGHBOR'S TRUCK HEAD ON. BOTH CARS TOTALLED. HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. POLICE TOOK REPORT - MY PASSENGER AND I TOLD THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AS WELL AS A NEIGHBOR WHO SAW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED. EVERY SINGLE AIRBAG WENT OFF.

NHTSA ID

11269397

Incident

Aug 21, 2019

Mileage

52,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER RIGHT TURNS EVERY TIME. IT HAPPENS IN WET OR DRY CONDITIONS. IT HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED AND ANY ANGLE OF TURN. THE PROBLEM IS TOO INTERMITTENT TO REPRODUCE. THERE IS A POP OR GRIND IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE IN A TURN AND FORCING THE WHEEL BACK TO CENTER. THE POP HAPPENS IN LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS AFTER THE WHEEL HAS TURNED FULLY IN EITHER DIRECTION AND HAS TO BE FORCED TO RETURN TO CENTER. THE POP IS ALSO INTERMITTENT AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED ON DEMAND. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT BUT NOT ENOUGH TO REPRODUCE FOR REPAIR ACCORDING TO TOYOTA OF AMERICA. THE PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENS IN WET OR DRY CONDITION AND ANY TEMPERATURE FROM FLORIDA TO VIRGINIA.

NHTSA ID

11254024

Incident

Sep 8, 2019

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. WHILE REVERSING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED TO VISIT A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000.

NHTSA ID

11244453

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

Mileage

201,000 mi

SIRIUS XM RADIO HAS A RADIO DEVICE FOR CARS THAT DO NOT HAVE A BUILT IN XM RADIO. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT COMES WITH A 20 FOOT CORD. IT IS MEANT TO BE PLACED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CORD GOES THROUGH THE CAR AND IS PLACED ON TOP OF THE CAR. MY CORD GOT STUCK IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND SNAPPED THE CLOCK SPRING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AS ALL MY CAPABILITIES WERE RESTRICTED. MY HORN, AIRBAG AND CONTROLS WERE NOT OPERABLE. THIS WAS BECAUSE THE CLOCK SPRING GOT SEVERED. IT IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11210143

Incident

May 21, 2019

Mileage

71,000 mi

TOUCH SCREEN RADIO BASS CONTROL STOPPED WORKING WURRING NOISE FROM STEERING WHEEL WHILE I TURN WHEEL IN REVERSE BACKING PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T TURN OFF

NHTSA ID

11207096

Incident

May 11, 2019

CAR IN MOTION ON CURVE IN CITY STREET. PUSHED REAR WINDOW DEFROST BUTTON. RADIO WENT OFF. HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. STEERING VERY HARD TO USE. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) DASH INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN 2 SECONDS ALL RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS OCCURRED TWO TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11155847

Incident

Dec 2, 2018

Mileage

100,200 mi

STEERING SYSTEM WARNING SHOWING AND HAVE NO POWER, HARD TIME TO RESTART THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11141508

Incident

Oct 8, 2018

Mileage

3 mi

BAD QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11090444

Incident

Jan 3, 2018

AT 59000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED .SHORTLY AFTER THAT I NOTICED THE CAR SEEMS TO BE ALL OVER THE ROAD . THIS HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORST.SPECIALLY ON WINDY DAYS . CAN NOT TAKE A EXIT OR CHANGE LANES WITH OUT FEELING LIKE THE REAR END IS GOING TO BREAK FREE . IF ON THE HIGHWAY AND ROAD COMES INTO A CURVE FEELS LIKE YOUR GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL . I'VE HAD SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS LOOK AT THIS CAR . THEY DROVE IT AND EXPERIENCED IT . WAST TOLD HOW DO YOU DRIVE THAT CAR. CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES DO HAVE A FILE NUMBER. REQUESTING TO MEET A REP AT ANYLOCAL DEALER TO TEST DRIVE THIS CAR . WAS TOLD THEY DON'T DO THAT. WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER WHO DID TRANSMISSION IF RELATED REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY . IF NOT I'M LIABLE FOR DIAGNOSIS CHARGES.I REFUSED .ALSO NOTE THAT I'M ON SET NUMBER 4 OF TIRES 2 SETS OF MICHELIN AND SET OF SNOWS.IVE BE AT REPLACED TIRES ON ANY CAR LIKE THIS CAR . I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. PLEASE REFERENCE NHTSA I'D #10966229 SOME E NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORST.

NHTSA ID

11083825

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

63,000 mi

TWICE WHEN I HAD TO SUDDENLY HIT THE BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THE SECOND TIME, THE STEERING LOCKED UP COMPLETELY SO I COULD NOT STEER OR STOP THE VEHICLE. EPS LIGHT CAME ON, STAYED ON ALL DAY UNTIL TOOK TO DEALER WHO CLAIMED LIGHT WAS NOT ON AND NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11002691

Incident

Jun 22, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO CENTER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,700.

NHTSA ID

10966389

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

Mileage

7,700 mi

THE CAR IS LIKE DRIVING ON ICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALWAYS TRYING TO KEEP IT CENTERED IN MY LANE . HAD IT CHECKED AT TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT WAS JUST IN MY HEAD. NO IT'S ALL WRONG AND THEY WON'T DO ANY MORE WITH IT . HOW CAN I DRIVE IT LIKE THAT? HAD IT ALIGNED , NEW TIRES , AXLES WHEEL BEARINGS , STILL DRIVES LIKE ON ICE . IT'S IN THE STEERING.

NHTSA ID

10966229

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD SLOWED TO ENTER MERCHANT LOT. APPLIED BRAKE. SOMETHING SNAPPED, STEERING LOCKED, WHEELS LOCKED, TIRES KICKED OUT. TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SKIDDED DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL IMPACTING THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE, PUSHING IT BACK INTO TRAFFIC AND CONTINUING SEVERAL FEET UNTIL COMING TO REST IN THE DITCH ABOUT 30 FEET FROM SEVERAL VEHICLES IN THE MERCHANT LOT. TIE ROD BROKE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THOUGH I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE OF WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS HIT WAS WHY THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676944

Incident

Jan 16, 2015

Mileage

13,000 mi

DEALER REPLACED WORN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISY AND BINDING STEERING NOW ORDERED AND PENDING REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN UNDER WARRANTY

NHTSA ID

10670566

Incident

Jan 3, 2015

Mileage

14,000 mi

I CALLED TOYOTA (CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER) TO GET MORE DETAILED RECALL INFORMATION RELATED TO MY MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. THE RECENT RECALL IS FOR THE 2014 TOYOTA CAMRY- STEERING CONTROL LOSS; FRONT LOWER SUSPENSION ARM/BALL JOINT. I AM A CONSUMER AND IT IS MY RIGHT TO GET DETAILED INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE RELATED TO MY MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660107

Incident

Nov 20, 2014

I WAS MAKING A TURN OUT OF A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, BUT WHEN I MADE THE TURN THE PLASTIC COVERING OVER MY STEERING WHEEL FLEW OFF AND FELL TO THE GROUND. I WAS ABLE TO STEER AND HIT THE BRAKES JUST IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED CAR. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRAKE SINCE THE COVER HIT THE GROUND AND PREVENTED ME FROM MOVING EASILY TO HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630760

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

310 mi

RECENTLY PURCHASED, 2014 SE V6 CAMRY WITH 60MILES ON IT, ONLY 5 WEEKS OLD NOW, I DIDN'T NOTICE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65+ THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT, CAR WILL NOT COME BACK TO CENTER WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, I CAN LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO TURN. FEELS LIKE IM DRIVING ON A VERY RAINY/WINDY DAY, VERY FLIMSY. I WOULD HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE CAR TO GO STRAIGHT, BROUGHT IT IN TO TOYOTA DEALER FOUR TIMES NOW, HAD 2 ALIGNMENTS DONE BY TOYOTA, STILL NO HELP, ALL THEY KEEP TELLING ME IS, "THATS HOW THE CAR IS DESIGNED", AFTER THAT THEY TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS DEFECTIVE TIRES, WHICH WAS NOT TRUE, I SWAPPED OUT THE TIRES, STILL DIDN'T HELP. SO YOU ARE TELLING ME A CAR THAT DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER IS NORMAL?? I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL?? VERY VERY BAD PERFORMANCE, I WILL NOT LET MY MOTHER DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES, VERY DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597799

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

100 mi