Steering Column Problems of Toyota Tundra

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while making a turn she heard a squeaking sound coming from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred while pulling out the parking spot and she heard a loud snap which caused the vehicle to lose control. The contact was unable to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new steering column, and clockspring spiral cable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was no longer under warranty and referred the contact to NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 50,000.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

The steering wheel did not stay centered and the position would change. I noticed that when I was stopped and the steering wheel was locked that the steering wheel had some movement from side to side. I checked the steering wheel lock down nut and it was tight. The steering wheel has a spline bushing that matches up with a matching spline on the shaft so I could not see how this could move. I removed the locking nut so I could see the where the steering wheel and shaft connect together. With the nut off I noticed that the spline bushing did not move but the steering wheel did move on the bushing. There was a potential danger of the steering wheel coming loose so that I would lose control or worse yet the steering wheel could come completely off the column. This problem can easily be checked as I did with the steering wheel in the locked position. If you have any movement of the steering wheel in the locked position get it checked immediately.

See all problems of the 2012 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

Horn does not work when a road hazard was presented attempted to utilize horn nothing happened when I took to Toyota they said it is the wiring harness from the airbag around the steering column and is not covered under warranty and is not a recall but when I look up online many people for years have had issues with this problem was sent away driving my vehicle which I believe to be unsafe as if I don't have airbags or a horn not sure that my vehicle is legal to be driven at this point I feel that since these are safety issues they should be recalls as it has happened to many people I have only owned my truck since December I picked it up at the very end of December 2019.

See all problems of the 2013 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

Upper steering column shaft start to knock very loud /bushing falling apart.

See all problems of the 2015 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

Gear shift leaver has detached from steering column. This is the second time this has happened (1st time was in 2011). Repair done then was with factory part. Truck cant be driven & if happens while in any gear other than park can be a safety issue, especially on unlevel parking pad. Appears to be lots of Tundra owners on the Toyota owner/tundra owner websites experiencing same issue.

See all problems of the 2004 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

Steering column shift bracket broke in 3 places when trying to shift from park to drive, making shifting impossible. See pictures from 2 of 3 fracture locations, 3rd fracture is at an attachment screw (not shown). This is cause by an punderdesigned part made of inferior cast aluminum. There are thousands of reports of this problem on Tundras and other Toyota models with same defective bracket. This dangerous defect must be recalled and fixed by Toyota with a redesigned part.

See all problems of the 2003 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

Column shifter broke away from shift column with very little force when shifting in reverse. Attempting to back out of parking spot. Had to jump on brake to avoid losing control of vehicle.

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When attempting to shift from park to reverse with the engine running and the brake applied, unexpectedly the column automatic transmission shifter completely broke loose from the steering column. The column bracket and housing were both found to be fractured, with the bracket separated from the housing. This rendered the vehicle inoperable.

Gear shift on steering wheel column became loose and it became very difficult to place truck into park. It started gradually until the play in the shifter was so bad that I could no longer put it into drive, reverse or neutral without the shifter handle hitting the windshield wiper handle and causing the windshield wipers to activate and squirt cleaner onto the windshield. I was concerned that it was going to slip out of gear or into gear causing injury or death, and it became increasingly hard to put the vehicle into park. I took it to Toyota dealer and they replaced it. I have the part (a1 shaft sub-assembly / bd376 housing, steering column) and it is defective inferior metal part broken into two pieces.

See all problems of the 2005 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

This safety complaint relates to the "tilt latch mechanisms" of a 2011 Toyota Tundra's steering wheel, the set of mechanisms used to release/safely secure the steering wheel in place. There were at least two parts among the latching mechanisms, one being plastic & the other being a metal alloy, broke off and into pieces. It was fortunate that the problem was found when I went to lower the steering wheel while cleaning my vehicle. Had the pieces shattered and fallen off while the vehicle was in motion, a fatal accident could have been resulted from loss of steering wheel control. At the time of the finding, the vehicle had 37118 miles. Such safety mechanisms ought to be designed with specifications so that they would last more than two or three times of use. I recall, at least once, seeing the steering wheel dropped with the latch lever hanging down half way without anyone touching it within the first 25000 miles. But my assumption was that a technician might have adjusted the steering wheel and didn't latch it back properly. The technician who was working on my repair had told me that my vehicle would be the second vehicle he had worked on for the same issue. And through online research, I have found that while there are not a high volume of complaint of the same issue, there are owners reporting the exact same issue. As the Toyota dealer had told me, their Toyota regional service and parts manager had decided to cover for the replacement of the entire steering column and expecting me to pay for the labor cost. Sharing the repairing cost is not as much of a concern as the major concern of safety. As I had mentioned above, the outcome from the failure of latching mechanism is unlimited, and the cost of such incident(s) could be fatal accident and/or would be many times the cost of repairing the vehicle. Therefore, this serious matter should be thoroughly investigated.

See all problems of the 2011 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

While driving at 75 mph on interstate 40 steering column completely fell on to lap, had to pick up steering column and try to keep truck under control at which time all dash lights came on . After getting truck stopped noticed that bolts used to hold steering column where not attached to column. Took pictures of steering column as proof , at this time put bolts into column and tighten bolts. Continued trip cruise control also inoperative now.

For the third time since I have owned the vehicle where the shift control goes into the steering column, where it connects has broken. This is a piece of metal that has again snapped making it unable to shift the car. What happens if I was in drive and could not shift into park? I have had this fixed twice before, once when I was stuck on the road and once towed to Toyota.

Prior to the incident, the steering column became very loose. I had to keep repositioning it. I thought I had tighten the safety lock piece that holds the steering column in place. The day of the incident, as I was getting in my vehicle, the steering column completely came down. It would not lock in place. As I was on my way the steering column moved up and down, and in and out. I could not control the steering vehicle. The next day I took the vehicle to a Toyota dealer. I was told two pieces of the steering column broke off. I was given a quote from Toyota in the amount of $600 for the part and $645 for labor.

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

I have a 2002 Tundra sr5 with ~65k miles. This morning when I try to pull on the drive gear shift handle to move from park to reverse. The shift handle snapped off unexpected - broke. Toyota dealer wants to charge ~$600. 00 to remove and replace with a use steering column (if the use can be found), as the new steering column will cost over $1k. I believe this is appear to be a flawed design for attach the shift lever. The shift lever handle should be out live the Tundra with only ~65k miles. I need help to get Toyota to cover this design defect as this could result safety and costly.

I have a 02 Tundra sr5 have a serious problem w/steering column shaft when I try to put on drive the gear shift lever broke free causing unexpected gear select. I have to remove the plastic cover in order to hand select the gear the aluminum shaft sub-assy control broke off at the screw attach to the column support this is appear to be a flawed design for attach the shift lever. I have to replace the whole housing for the column shifter and their support. The old part is available for further stress analysis / design modification for subsequence model.

We own a 2003 Toyota Tundra with 47,000 miles on it and are the original owners. On Friday while putting the truck into reverse in a parking lot, the shift mechanism snapped off in my hand. Our certified Toyota mechanic came and managed to get it into drive and drive it to his shop,and in opening the steering column, found the entire thing was broken within the steering column. Our mechanic, who is a certified Toyota mechanic says that this should have never happened. As with another complaint lodged on this problem, it is not as if the mechanism has experienced rough handling in any way.

There was no incident here, let me clarify that first of all. I am beginning to read quite a bit about the 2000-2001 Toyota Tundra vehicles in cold weather states, experiencing an unusual amount of frame rust. I live in maryland and currently own a 2001 Toyota Tundra sr5 4wd. My vehicle has 36,000 miles on it and has always been garage kept. After the first year the rust started, I have used at least a case of rust-oleum to counter the effects of the rust. My biggest concern right now is the appearance of my steering column (located under the hood) this metal shaft is engrossed in rust. I own a 1987 Buick with 117,000 miles on it that does look no where near this bad. There is no doubt in my mind that this could at some point pose a safety risk. Just today I called the Toyota's customer experience center at 800-331-4331 and notified them of the problem. They acknowledged the frame rust, but said that I was on my own with any other rust. They told me to schedule an appointment with the dealership. Upon contacting the dealership, they only acknowledged rust problems with Toyota tacomas. I just wanted NHTSA to be aware of this . Thanks.

See all problems of the 2001 Toyota Tundra 🔎.

Event was the gear lever became looser and looser. It resulted in the gear not being able to go into park. Truck would not start. It appeared to be in park and I thought it was a dead battery. Aaa replaced battery. It was not the problem. Creative gear manipulation allowed truck to start. Repair discovered a cracked steering column!.