Steering Noise problems of the 2008 Toyota Highlander

Clunking noise from steering column started in July of 2020 and is getting worse current mileage is 130000. I mostly here the noise while turning the steering wheel and also feel the click in the sterring wheel.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander. Every time a turn was made, the steering shaft made a noise. The failure has occurred ever since the vehicle was purchased in July of 2016. The dealer diagnosed that the shaft assembly failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle exceeded the mileage to be repaired under technical service bulletin: 0034-13. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph and making a left turn, a loud noise emitted from the steering wheel. The failure recurred each time the contact turned left or right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

Turning left or right there is a clicking noise and a click in the steering wheel mainly at slow speed & if just bearing moving - very low speed. Numerous reports have been turned into Toyota - yet they will not do a recall - appears that the steering shaft is the problem. Have been told hundreds have had to be replaced in phoenix alone. Can you request from Toyota how many of these shafts the dealers have purchased? Toyota will not tell me when I requested this information. Our vehicle has less than 25k miles on it & it is 7 years old so it isn't an abused vehicle. This problem is also on other Toyota models / years I've been told.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander. While turning the steering wheel in either direction, a popping noise emitted from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the intermediate steering shaft was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

The contact owns 2008 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while parked the rear passenger door side seat belt would not release and as a result it had to be cut. The contact also stated he heard a knocking noise emitting from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic testing. The technician stated the seat belt and the lower steering shaft needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 82,600 and the current mileage was 93,000. Updated 12/12/12.