2005 Toyota Highlander steering problems

“WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING WHERE I WORK, BACKING UP, THE ENGINE IDDLE WENT EXTREMELY HIGH AND I TRIED TO STOP, BUT I COULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. I TRIED TO PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT INSTEAD, IT WENT STRAIGH TO DRIVE, SO IT CAUSES MAJOR DAMAGES TO 2 VEHICLES BEHIND MINE, AND OTHER 3 IN FRONT OF MINE TOO. ALSO MY VEHICLE DESTROYED A MAIL BOX AND A TREE, BUT I COULD NOT STOP UNTIL MY HIGHLANDER STOPPED BY ITSELF TOTALLY DESTROYED. I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SOME TRAUMA.”

“NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND STEERING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE MADE A TURN TO EITHER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. WE THEN TOOK OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED US THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FLEX COUPLING WAS LOSE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO POTENTIAL BALL BARRIERING LOSE. CLICKING SOUND WENT AWAY ONCE STEERING WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS ALSO A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING.”

“UNABLE TO STEER CAR PROPERLY ESP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CAR, ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS, HAD THE TENDENCY TO GO STRAIGHT (DIFFICULT TO STEER) WHEN MAKING TURNS AND THEN GOES AWAY MOST TIMES. 2ND INCIDENT, WRITER ATTEMPTED TO MERGE TO THE MAIN STREET. LAST INCIDENT TODAY.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, VSC, TIRE PRESSURE, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. ...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE STEERING CONTROL AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO LOSE POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WOULD HAPPEN ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. UPDATED 10/06/15*JB”

“ON SATURDAY, MAY 30TH AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 I WAS MOVING OUR 2005 HIGHLANDER FROM THE STREET INTO OUR RESERVED PARKING SPACE WITHIN OUR COMPLEX. AS I WAS STARTING MY RIGHT HAND TURN INTO THE COMPLEX THE CAR ACCELERATOR STUCK. I HIT THE CURB ON THE DRIVER'S/LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE I HIT A TREE AND KNOCKED OVER ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S POSTED SIGNAGE. THE IMPACT MADE THE CAR BOUNCE BACKWARD PARTIALLY INTO THE DRIVE, DAMAGING THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, FRONT END PART FLEW ALL OVER AND A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED. POLICE WERE CALL AND REPORT TAKEN. THEY ESTIMATED THE SPEED AT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE REPORT TAKEN WAS NOT FILED SINCE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO GET IT ON THE TRUCK. HE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HE COULD NOT GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A RECALL REPAIR DONE ON MAY 21, 2011, AFTER WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO INSTALL THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR CARPET…”

“WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOP WORKING. VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK IN SAFE PLACE. CAR RUNS BUT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. SAFETY HAZARD. *TR”