Steering Column problems of the 2000 Toyota Avalon

When the vehicle is started in the winter, the steering column is sometimes locked, making it impossible to steer the vehicle until the steering wheel is turned back and forth repeatedly, the vehicle warms up, or the vehicle is turned on and off. Internet research suggests this is part of established steering problems with the 2000 Avalon and likely related to the steering lock bar of the interlock system. No steering issues have occurred as of yet while the vehicle is in motion.

2000 Toyota Avalon. Consumer writes in regards to Toyota recall steering column upper bracket the consumer stated the steering bracket in his vehicle had to be replaced, prior to Toyota issuing a recall. The consumer wrote Toyota two months later requesting reimbursement. Toyota responding by saying the repairs that were done on the consumers vehicle, were not recalled repairs. The consumer stated the recall as well as his invoice stated the steering bracket was the problem.

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Avalon. While driving 10 mph in rainy weather conditions, the steering wheel locked completely without assistance. The unexpected failure caused steering difficulty and the contact crashed into a parked vehicle on the street. The police was called to the scene and a report was filed. There were no injuries; however, both vehicles sustained minor damages. Suddenly, the vehicle began to steer normally and was driven to her residence. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to the steering column. The vehicle is currently being repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 124,000.

On July 3, 2008, my 2000 Toyota Avalon steering column locked while on vacation in sedona, az. It was towed to the nearest Toyota dealership which was in prescott, az. The dealership repair receipt reads: faulty lock pin, removed ignition lock bracket, removed lock pin, reinstalled bracket. Needs new lock bracket and break-off bolts. (please refer to the mechanic notes that I needed a new lock bracket and break-off bolts - did Toyota know at this time this was a defective problem?) recently I received a safety recall notice for certain 2000 - 2004 Toyota Avalon steering column upper brackets. I have contacted Toyota by mail and phone and they refuse to reimburse me for the expenses I have incurred because of their defective manufacturing. The recall notice describes the recall condition as follows: due to the improper casting of the steering lock bar, which is a component of the steering interlock system, there is a possibility that minute crack may develop on the surface. Such a crack may expand over a long period of repeated lock and unlock operations, and eventually the bar could break. It this occurs, the interlock system may become difficult to unlock when stationary. . . . . .

The contact 2000 Toyota Avalon xls. The steering on the vehicle has a tendency to lock up on the vehicle. The dealer was able to fix the problem, but they had never heard of this problem. The contact stated that the failure happened when the vehicle was making a right hand turn on a street corner at a 90 degree angle. The failure mileage was 81000 and the current mileage is 98,000. Updated 03/30/10. The dealer replaced the steering column. Updated 07/01/10.

While car parked steering locked would not release, later the same evening steering locked while car was being driven, causing no steering ability, almost crashed into fence. Car taken to dealer needs steering column replaced, at my expense. I can have old part as soon as I receive car back from dealer.