2010 Toyota Highlander Steering Problems

There is a clunk noise in the steering column On bumpy roads

NHTSA ID

11503742

Incident

Jan 26, 2023

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR. I PUT THE CAR ON PKG AND IT GOT LOCKED TOO. COULD NOT PUT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. WINDOWS GOT LOCKED TOO. THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT UP. A MIRACLE THAT FEW MINUTE BEFORE I EXITED A HIGHWAY. A TOW TRUCK TOOK THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE PAST WEEK AND THEY DO NOT NOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR

NHTSA ID

11388800

Incident

Jan 9, 2021

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11360832

Incident

Sep 23, 2020

Mileage

109,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING RIGHT TURNS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING SOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ADAMS TOYOTA KANSAS CITY LOCATED AT 501 NE COLBERN RD, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64086, (816)358-7600, WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11360292

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

79,000 mi

THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED AND AFTER INSPECTING THE CV JOINT, I REALIZED THIS IS NOT A CV JOINT PROBLEM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I NOW REALIZE THIS NOISE IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE "INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT" WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACE.

NHTSA ID

11355057

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

83,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING WHEEL CAN BE TURNED SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE NOISE IS HEARD.

NHTSA ID

11244307

Incident

Aug 9, 2017

Mileage

175,000 mi

POOR INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY! POPPING NOISE WITH CLUNKING FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS AND HITTING BUMPS. BEGAN AROUND 60,000 MILES AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE (NOW AT ABOUT 102,000 MILES) TOOK IN AT ONSET AND TOLD IT'S THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. AS IT'S GETTING WORSE, IT'S STARTING TO FEEL VERY UNSAFE. THIS LOOKS TO BE A VERY FREQUENT ISSUE WHEN LOOKING INTO IT ONLINE. DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A RECALL! MY FAMILY IS TRUSTING TOYOTA AND NHTSA TO MAKE CORRECT DECISIONS FOR OUR SAFETY!

NHTSA ID

11104597

Incident

Jun 28, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

STEERING HAS POPPING AND CLICKING WHEN TURNING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE STEERING HAS ALWAYS SOUNDED LIKE IT'S STRAINING/HARD TO TURN. POPPING GETS WORSE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED LIKE IT HAS ON OTHER TOYOTA MODELS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN STEERING FAILURE. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS FAULTY ON MANY TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. FOR 2010 MODEL YEAR.

NHTSA ID

11063489

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL A CLICKING NOISE IS HEARD. THERE IS A TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION A NOISE WAS HEARD, AND A LOUD HUMMING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE REAR. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED TO FIND PROBLEM AND DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11039503

Incident

Oct 19, 2017

Mileage

100,100 mi

I BOUGHT MY HIGHLANDER USED IN MARCH 2016. THE CAR HAS HAD THE CLUNKING NOISE SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA. I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT OF COURSE IT DOESN'T COVER THE DEFECT. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE I HAVE PAID FOR A WARRANTY THAT DOESN'T FIX WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I ALSO FEEL LIKE IT FALLS ON THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT BEFORE SELLING. EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE I DON'T WANT IT TO BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET $650 TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT IS KNOWN WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

10993055

Incident

Mar 6, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

CLUNK IN STEERING WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED FROM STOP FOUND TO BE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT-REPLACED AT DEALER.GOOGLE SEARCH SHOW VERY COMMON IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT TOYOTA VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10984591

Incident

May 9, 2017

Mileage

113,890 mi

STEERING WHEEL WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. DID NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WHICH HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) T-TT-0223-13 FOR THIS REPAIR. THERE IS ALSO AN NHTSA # 10062035 ON THIS SITUATION. TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR SINCE I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED

NHTSA ID

10981404

Incident

Apr 26, 2017

Mileage

92,000 mi

VEHICLE MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN. NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT ANY SPEED.

NHTSA ID

10840368

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

FROM A STOP WITH A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION ON ANY SERVICE IN ANY WEATHER, AN AUDIBLE NOISE AND JOLTING VIBRATION TELEGRAPHS THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. FEELS LIKE A LOOSE PART THAT MAY SEPARATE IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY AND RENDER THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE. FIRST RAISED WITH MOMENTUM/ FOWLER TOYOTA OF TULSA 6/14/14 WITH REFUSAL TO REPAIR AS A WARRANTY CLAIM @ 41430 MILES (DEALER WOULD NOT NOTE IN SERVICE CHECK-IN BUT PROMISED TO INSPECT). RAISED AGAIN WITH JIM NORTON TOYOTA THAT WOULD NOT INSPECT WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF A $100 INSPECTION FEE @ 60459 MILES. NOT SURE OF SAFETY IMPLICATIONS BUT CONCERNED THAT FAILURE OF THE STEERING SHAFT COULD OCCUR. NO REPAIR MADE TO DATE SINCE WARRANTY AND/OR SAFETY ISSUES COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. NOTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINTS FOR 2010 HIGHLANDERS.

NHTSA ID

10782601

Incident

Jun 12, 2014

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND TSB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,800.

NHTSA ID

10676775

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

48,800 mi

WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT LOUD CLUNK NOISE, DEALER CLAIMS IT IS A INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COST TO REPAIR OVER 800.00 THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAIN THAT I SEE ON THIS VEHICLE, AND A CHANGE WAS MADE BY THE MFG, GUESS THEY STILL HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN ON FIXING THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA DO A RECALL YOU KNOW YOU ARE DOING WRONG, STAND BY YOUR PRODUCT AND FIX THE CARS YOU MANUFACTURE... OR I WILL KINDLY DO A SURVEY NOT TO PURCHASE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638894

Incident

Mar 10, 2012

Mileage

22,000 mi

WHEN STEERING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT DURING FORWARD OR REVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE, THERE'S A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584070

Incident

Apr 10, 2014

THREE TIMES REPORTED FEELING A RATTLE IN THE STEERING ON RIGHT TURN LN ROUGH ROAD TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT. THREE TIMES THEY DENY SAYING 3 PEOPLE (INCLUDING THE SERVICE MANAGER) DROVE IT AND DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING. I TOLD THEM THAT WHEN THERE'S MORE WEIGHT ON THE FRONT END, LIKE BRAKING DOWNHILL AND TURNING RIGHT CAN FEEL IT MORE. BUT THE TESTED ON FLAT GROUND IN THE AREA OF MOTOR IMPORTS DOWNTOWN HONOLULU. I EVEN REPORTED IN EARLIER SERVICING THAT THE CAR DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE FREEWAY. AS IF THE STEERING IS LOOSE. AND THEY TEST DROVE AND SAID IT WAS FINE. THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF MY WARRANTY AND I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM TO FIND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN A DIAGRAM OF THE FIX ON: HTTP://WWW.UNDERHOODSERVICE.COM/ARTICLE/110175/TECH_TIPS_TOYOTA_TACOMA_MAKES_RATTLING_NOISES_ON_ROUGH_ROADS.ASPX . THIS SHOWS THAT IN 2012 THEY FIXED IT ON SOME TOYOTA'S: A NEWLY DESIGNED STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (P/N 45220-04020) HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION, BUT THAT'S 2012. MY CAR IS A 2010 BEFORE THE FIX. THE SOLUTION IS TO INSTALL A STEERING WHEEL HOLDER. OTHER REPORTS AT HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/TOYOTA/VENZA/2009/CONSUMER-REVIEWS/2009-VENZA-STEERING-COLUMN-RATTLE.HTML?STYLE=101109188&SUB=&REVIEWID=4641729. SHOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS ABOUT $1500 TO FIX AND SOMEBODY EVEN HAD A STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555485

Incident

Dec 9, 2013

Mileage

20,415 mi

I'D STOPPED ON THE RESIDENTIAL STREET TO LET A CAR PASS. AFTER THE CAR PASSED, I ATTEMPTED TO PULL UP ALONG THE CURB TO PARK, BUT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE STEERING DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND. THE SPACE BETWEEN ACCELERATION AND IMPACT WAS 10-15 FEET. IT'S LIKE THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN, AND I HAD NO CONTROL. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS SMASHED, THE HOOD WAS SMASHED, FRONT BUMPER AND PASSENGER SIDE FENDER WERE ALSO SMASHED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE TREE. ONCE IT STOPPED, I SIMPLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME TO TOW IT TO SAN FRANCISCO TOYOTA FOR MECHANICAL INSPECTION. I CALLED SAN FRANCISCO TOYOTA AND SAID THAT I WAS TOWING MY CAR DOWN AND WAS TOLD THEY'D BE WAITING FOR IT. LATER THAT DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM DON'S AUTOBODY TELLING ME THEY HAD MY CAR. I CONFIRMED WITH SF TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY SENT THE CAR THERE AND THE AUTO BODY WORK HAD TO BE DONE PRIOR TO A MECHANICAL INSPECTION. ON 4/15/13, I WAS INFORMED THE CAR HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND WAS SENT TO SF TOYOTA. I REPEATEDLY CALLED SF TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND ANY MECHANICAL DEFECTS. ON 4/16/13, I WAS CONTACTED BY DON'S AUTOBODY AND TOLD THAT TOYOTA REFUSED TO INSPECT THE CAR. SINCE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE, THE PERSON FROM THE AUTOBODY SHOP SUGGESTED WE CALL TOYOTA USA. TOYOTA USA OPENED A CASE AND HAS ENLISTED BILL FROM ENGINEERING ANALYTICS TO INSPECT THE CAR. BILL PLANS TO INSPECT THE CAR ON 4/30/13. HE WILL COLLECT DATA AND SEND IT TO TOYOTA. TOYOTA SAID THEY'LL REVIEW THE DATA AND WILL MAIL US THE RESULTS WITHIN 30 BUSINESS DAYS. WHEN WE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT TOYOTA WAITED 6 WEEKS TO LOOK AT OUR CAR (WHICH THE AUTOBODY SAID THEY'VE DRIVEN), TOYOTA HAD NO COMMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509771

Incident

Mar 20, 2013

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD UNCONTROLLABLY DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO TOLD THERE WAS NO OPTION TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ID

10393072

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT ENGAGE; HOWEVER, AFTER 5 SECONDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN AND TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,280 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,295.

NHTSA ID

10315706

Incident

Feb 10, 2010

Mileage

1,280 mi