Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Toyota RAV4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Steering becomes very hard to control with no slack and in the wheel and occasionally it feels like you hit ice and sliding when you change lanes, happens on dry paved road without warning. Also when using cruise control hitting button to slow down the headlights and dash lights fade out and then brighter when acceleration
[XXX] Hi, My name is [XXX]i. I own a 2010 Toyota RAV4. Which I had bought from roseville Toyota dealership. On Sunday afternoon, I was driving back to my home from South Lake Tahoe. I drove for almost 40 miles and suddenly the steering got locked while I was driving the car. There was no prior indication of steering lock lights before I start the car. The steering got locked suddenly in a winding road. I called Geico roadside assistance and towed the car and it is with Thomsons Toyota, placerville, ca. The dealer told me that they found issue with alternator and battery. The reason I am reporting this issue is it should have steering lock light turned on before I start the car, so that it could avoid potential accident situation. Request you to please investigate in this. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE DETECTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ATLANTIC AUTO BROKERS LLC (15428 S DUPONT HWY, HARRINGTON, DE 19952, (302) 566-6322) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT, BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, CONTROL ARM, BALL JOINT AND AIR FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,090.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
MY CAR IS TOYOTA 2010 RV4 SPORT.THIS MORNING WHEN I START ENGINE, THE SYMBOLS OF "ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT , ABS, AIRBAG, BREAKER , SLIP INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT" ON DASHBOARD ALL LIGHTS ON. THAT'S NEVER HAPPEN BEFORE. AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME HEAVY. I WAS SO SHOCKED AND GO TO A LOCAL AUTO SERVICE STORE, THEY CHECK AND TOLD ME THIS IS ELECTRONIC STEERING MOTOR ISSUE. THEY ADJUSTED AND WHEEL BACK TO NORMAL NOW, BUT THEY ALSO MENTION THEY CAN NOT GUARANTEE THE SAME SITUATION WILL BE BACK OR NOT. AND THEY RECOMMEND ME TRY TO AVOID DRIVE ON FREEWAY ( BUT THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE IF YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA). I WAS TOLD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN ON TOYOTA RECALL GROUP BUT NOT INCLUDING MY CAR'S MAKE YEAR.
AFTER A HEAVY DOWN POOR OF RAIN I WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD WITH WATER LAYING ON THE ROAD HEADING HOME IN MY 2010 RAV4 . WHEN THE VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED OFF THE ROAD DO TO THE ANTI TRACTION BEING DISABLE THREW THE BRAIN OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CHARCOAL CANSTERED IS BAD .THAT WHAT THE TOYOTA PLACE TOLD ME THE CHARCOAL CANISTER HELPS CONTROL EMISSION NOT THE WAY THE VEHICLE PERFORMS TOYOTA STATED THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD GET THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE IT. TO DISABLE THE TRACTION,4WHEELDRIVE,AND CREWS CONTROL. I AM A MED. RETIRED VET I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY OVER 1000.00 DOLLARS FOR THIS PART WITCH CONTROLS EMISSION NOT THE WAY THE VEHICLE OPERATES UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS.
STEARING LOCKED UP. EPS FAULT LIGHT ON THE DASH. TOYOTA CASE #171520470. JUNE 1 2017 I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT THE STORE.
WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARALLLEL PARKING SPOT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET VERY SLOWLY. THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED VERY FAST AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR TOOK CONTROL ON ITS OWN AS WE WERE PULLING OUT VERY SLOWLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VENTILATION FAN COVER CAUSED THE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CLICKING NOISE WHEN IN PARK TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. GOING OVER BUMPS AT A SLIGHT TURNING OF WHEEL WILL ALSO MAKE CLUNKING NOISE FROM STEERING SHAFT. REVERSING CAR WILL ALSO MAKE CLUNKING NOISE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED UNKNOWN FAILURE AND MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED ON MY 2010 TOYOTA RAV-4 TODAY ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE RESULTING CRASH ALMOST KILLED ME. I'M 53 YEARS OLD, MY RAV-4 HAS ALWAYS HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND IS IN GOOD CONDITION, NOT ABUSED AND ALWAYS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. WITHOUT WARNING TODAY WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND SHARPLY TURNING LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT-RIGHT FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS WITH A GRINDING AND SHAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. I USED ALL MY STRENGTH TO KEEP THE CAR POINTED STRAIGHT WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AND NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THEN THE CAR SHARPLY VEERED LEFT AND HIT (HARD) A 5-FOOT CONCRETE BARRIER WALL SEPARATING THE INTERSTATE LANES. AS THIS WAS OCCURRING A RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I LOOKED IN THE TOYOTA RAV-4 OWNERS MANUAL, AND IT INDICATED AN "EPS MALFUNCTION". THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE (INSURANCE ESTIMATE STILL PENDING, PROBABLY ABOUT $8,000). MORE IMPORTANTLY HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IF THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALL HADN'T BEEN THERE MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TURNED LEFT, ROLLED OVER INTO APPROACHING ON-COMING TRAFFIC FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSED MUCH GREATER SAFETY RISK TO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AND DAMAGE. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE WALL WAS THERE. I SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. THERE WAS ALSO A WITNESS IN BACK OF ME WHO SAW THE ENTIRE THING WITH THE ERRATIC STEERING AND RESULTING ACCIDENT; HE STOPPED TO ENSURE WAS OK AND HE CALLED 911 AND MADE A STATEMENT TO THE POLICE. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO TIRES (THEY ARE NEW), OR POOR ROAD CONDITIONS (THIS PART OF THE INTERSTATE WAS NEWLY REFINISHED AND SMOOTH). IT WAS CLEARLY A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE TOYOTA EPS. MAILOUT CUSTOMER REQUEST 11/05/14*LJ....UPDATED 11/18/14 *BF UPDATED 8/12/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL WHILE MAKING A TURN AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,500.
CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, A KNOCK OR RATTLE NOISE FROM ENGINE .. *TR
I STARTED THE RAV 4 AND BEGAN BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING PLACE. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD. I RESTARTED THE CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH NO CHANGE AND THEN CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. ARRIVING AT THE DEALERSHIP I WENT TO PULL THE CAR INTO THE SERVICE BAY AND THE STEERING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. THEY CHECKED THE ONBOARD COMPUTER AND FOUND AN ERROR CODE INDICATING THAT THE STEERING COMPUTER HAD A PROBLEM AND I PAID $1,000 TO REPLACE IT, AS I WAS AFRAID OF THE STEERING GOING OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. *TR
CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V373000 (SUSPENSION: REAR). THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. THE RECALL REMEDY STATES THE TIE ROD NUT WOULD BE INSPECTED FOR LOOSENESS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE IF AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION THE TIE ROD NUT IS NOT LOOSE IT CAN BECOME LOOSE IN THE FUTURE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CONTACTS CONCERNS AND STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TIE ROD UNLESS THEY FOUND IT TO BE LOOSE. THE CONTACT WAS FEARFUL OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE TAKES FREQUENT LONG TRIPS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
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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