Seven problems related to steering column have been reported for the 2008 Toyota Highlander. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Toyota Highlander based on all problems reported for the 2008 Highlander.
Mileage on 2008 Highlander sport is 159226. Wife adjusted steering telescope/tilt when slowing to stop sign. Steering wheel column came off in her lap.
Every time you turn the steering wheel either left or right but it gets worst in the right it will make a thud sound and you can feel it in the steering wheel , I noticed that 4 years ago and it's goes noticed on and off but nowadays it is more frequent and a friend of mine had similar complaint coz we had both the same car car but mine is 2 years older and assembled in japan . . . Probably the steering column that they used.
This vehicle has a knocking/clunking/clanking/thumping sound when turning the steering wheel. It sounds dangerous and I wonder if the steering column will break apart while driving. This has been happening for a while, but the dealers are always unable to replicate it, some say that it is a common problem. It has become worse recently.
Drove to store, when vehicle in park, went to drive home. When I went to adjust telescoping steering wheel via little lever, the whole steering wheel came off the column into my hands, tried putting it back in place, got it on column, the anti skid light light came on while driving initiating the braking system,anti-skid, cannot drive above 5 mph because it activates anti skid, makes a lot of noise, slows the vehicle back down approx. 75200 miles on vehicle,.
Upper steering column detached from steering shaft while vehicle was in motion, immediately after driver adjusted the tilt feature. Vehicle was on interstate highway traveling 70 mph when incident occurred. Driver was able to slow vehicle down and reattach steering wheel. No crash or injuries resulted. After incident, driver visited two different Toyota dealerships to inquire about any bulletins or notices regarding the issue. Both dealers could not find any bulletins or notices. Vehicle appears to have previous front-end damage from previous crash, as evidenced by misaligned front bumper cover.
Noise occurs while turning in the steering column. The "clunking" and vibrations are felt within the steering wheel. The part from Toyota was remanufactured in 2011 to realce the current part given it was a default part not lasting long. It is a safety issue given it is the mechanism that connects the steering wheel to the front shaft assembly. Should that have issue, break etc. While driving or turning it can be accidental or fatal. The dealership mentioned that while it may not be a safety issue, its not fully determined that it is not. For the part to be re-manufactured differently, there must have been knowledge of a faulty part. This needs to be remedied by Toyota. Part is intermediate steering shaft.
In motion on city streets steering column makes clunk noise when turning left or right, also on highway steering column rattles. It started 6-15-2014 until present day 12-28-2015.