2008 Toyota Camry Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the Power Steering, Service Vehicle, Traction Control, and ABS warning lights illuminated, and the speedometer failed to display the speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the sensors for the front wheels had failed. The contact purchased and replaced the sensors; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE PARKING THE CAR, PS LIGHT ALSO BECAME ON. THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, BUT WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE PARKING JOB AS THE CAR WAS ALMOST IN PARKING POSITION. CALLED AAA AND TOWED THE CAR HOME (2PM, NO DEALER WAS OPEN) AND LATER DROVE TO A NEARBY DEALER (THE AAA DRIVER TOLD ME HOW TO HANDLE THE STEERING). THE INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC BY THE DEALER (STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA, SAN JOSE, CA) IS AN ECU FAILURE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT WE WERE LUCK AS IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE PARKING THE CAR. IF IT HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY, IT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE CRASH FOR SURE. CAR IS 2008 CAMRY HYBRID, 105K MILE. WELL MAINTAINED, ALL MAINTENANCE WORK WERE DONE BY TOYOTA DEALER. WHAT MADE ME EXTREMELY CONCERNED IS THAT THIS CAR HAS A HISTORY OF CRITICAL SAFETY FUNCTION FAILURE IN THE PAST. 1) DRIVER SIDE WINDER SWITCH WAS OVERHEATED AND GENERATED A LOT OF SMOKES. DEALER SAID THE SWITCH HAS A DEFECT, AND I BELIEVE IT LED TO A RECALL LATER. 2) DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WIPER STOPPED MOVING WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, LOST VISIBILITY IN SECONDS. DEALER SAID A DEFECT IN THE MOTOR CAUSE THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT SURE WHETHER IT LED TO A RECALL. 3) PS / ECU PROBLEM THAT MADE THE CAR HARD TO CONTROL. I THINK TOYOTA IS DOING EXTREMELY POOR ON THEIR CAR'S SAFETY. THE DEALER REPORT IS NOT DONE YET. I WILL UPDATE IT LATER THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND MEATY AND I'VE BEEN CALLING EVERY TOYOTA BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A RECALL AND THEY BEEN TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN'T HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM THEY SAID THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT 1,500$ I WILL GET ON CONTACT WITH THE TV NEWS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH TOYOTA I REALLY LOVE TOYOTA BUT AT THIS POINT I'M REALLY UPSET WITH THIS.

AT ABOUT 62000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE RAC AND PINION NOW AGAIN AT ABOUT 130000 MILES IT NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. MY 2001 CAMARY HAS 200000 MILES AND IS STILL ON THE ORGINAL RAC. THE RACS TOYOTA IS PUTING IN THE 2008 CAMERY ARE DEFECTIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HORN WOULD SOUND INDEPENDENTLY WHEN MAKING RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER (WESTCHESTER TOYOTA SALES, 2167 CENTRAL PARK AVE, YONKERS, NY, 10710) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRACKET WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG WERE PROPERLY INTACT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT FELT THAT HE WAS NOT AT FAULT AND A CRASH DID NOT OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.

MY CAR HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED NOT EVEN A MONTH AFTER BUYING OFF THE LOT

I PURCHASED A USED/CERTIFIED 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY IN 2012. I HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I KEPT HEARING A BUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE, AFTER HAVING THE TIRES AIR PRESSURE CHECKED THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE GONE. HOWEVER, LATER THE CAR BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT, WHENEVER I DROVE ON A SIDE STREET, THE PULLING WAS NOT THERE ON THE FREEWAY. THINGS CHANGED ON THIS PAST SUNDAY, ON MY WAY TO TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN HOME FROM CHURCH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE CAR PULLED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND I DECIDED TO PULL OFF THE STREET, I WAS AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT MY GRANDCHILDREN IN ANY FURTHER DANGER. I HAD TO CALL MY DAUGHTER TO COME PICK US UP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL THEY ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING IS STILL THERE, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE A/C EMITTED HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

CAR FAILED VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF A STEERING RACK LEAK AND TORN RACK BOOT. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ABILITY TO STEER.......UPDATED 01/12/15*BF *TR

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL AND WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE STEERING. IT STARTED SWAYING AND HIT THE CEMENT BARRIER ON THE LEFT. THIS LOOKS LIKE A INTERNAL CAR FAILURE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR SINCE 2008 AND HAD BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. IT IS COMPLETELY UP TO DATE WITH THE MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGE ETC. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE 40 EAST, THE STEERING LOCKED AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. ULTIMATELY THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES WINDING UP IN THE MEDIAN FACING WEST. *TR

LOSS OF CONTROL OR STABILITY DUE TO MULTIPLE PROBLEMS CREATED BY FAULTY AND WEAK INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE ELECTRIC ASSIST RACK AND PINION. THE FAULTY ELECTRIC ASSIST RACK AND PINION CAUSES UNDETECTABLE MICRO-VIBRATIONS THAT LEADS TO CHAFFING OF THE FRONT TIRES, IT ALSO LEADS TO UNEVEN TREAD WEAR TO THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRES WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF TRACTION AT ALL SPEEDS WITHOUT IMPLICATION OF THE WEAR. THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM DOES NOT COME TO YOUR ATTENTION WITH ANY WARNING OR IMPLICATIONS UNTIL THE INEVITABLE HAPPENS (WHICH COULD BE A FATAL ACCIDENT). WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR SUBURBAN STREET THAT ALLOWS SPEEDS IN ACCESS OF 45+MPH IS WHERE THE PROBLEM IS AT THE HIGHEST RISK CAUSING A DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO SWAYING OF THE TIRES BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY ELECTRIC ASSIST RACK AND PINION, CHAFFING OF THE TIRES, AND UNEVEN WEAR OF THE TIRES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAULT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE AWARE OF HOW DANGEROUS IT CAN BE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKE PADS, THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT FINGERS. *TR

WHEN PULLING INTO A GRAVEL PARKING SPACE AT LESS THAN 5MPH. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE, JUMPED A CONCRETE PARKING STOP, BECAME PARTIALLY AIRBORNE ON THE RIGHT SIDE , COMING DOWN IN A DEPRESSION AFTER 25 FT. BRAKE WAS FULLY DEPRESSED THROUGH EVENT. VISUAL INSPECTION AND MANUAL CHECK AFTER INCIDENT SHOWED NOTHING IMPEDING EITHER GAS PEDAL OR BRAKE. MATS FIRMLY ATTACHED. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE ACCELERATION TRACKS AND THE DITCH WHERE IT LANDED. DAMAGE TO FASCIA, BUMPER, AIR DAM. ALIGNMENT, POSSIBLE TIRE DAMAGE. EST. $800 - $1200. OUR COMPLAINT IS CAR SAT AT DEALER FOR 2 MONTHS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE OUTCOME WAS THAT NOTHING WAS RECORDED ON THE BLACK BOX AND VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTIONS ON A LIFT. THEREFORE EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING. RECOMMENDATION FROM BOTH CONSUMER REPORTS AND EDMUNDS IS A BRAKE OVERRIDE SHOULD BE INSTALLED. WHEN THIS WAS MENTIONED THEY SAID NO THE CAR DOESN'T NEED IT. ONE OF OUR COMPLAINTS IS TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A. TOOK 2 MONTHS TO RESOLVE THIS. THEY DIDN'T RETURN PHONE CALLS OR NOTIFY THE DEALER OF ANY RESULTS. DEALER STATED TOYOTA WOULDN'T LET THEM WORK ON THE CAR AND IT WAS LISTED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DURING THIS 2 MONTHS WE HAD TO RENT A CAR OUT OF POCKET (INSURANCE PAID 2 WEEKS). OVER $1000. BOTH MY WIFE AND I FEEL VERY LUCKY THIS INCIDENT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR NEXT TO A SOLID WALL. IF IT HAD THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE WE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED AND THE DAMAGE MUCH WORSE. DEALING WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA U.S.A. WAS FRUSTRATING AND POINTLESS. WE HAVE PICKED UP THE CAR AND ARE CONSIDERING TRADING IT IN BUT ARE SHOCKED TO FIND IN 2 YEARS IT HAS DEPRECATED BY $8000! THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE AND A MONETARY LOSS AS WELL. TO AT LEAST GET THE BRAKE OVERRIDE WOULD BE SOME SATISFACTION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND IMMEDIATE THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS TRAVELING A CITY STREET IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (DEWEY BLVD). FORTUNATELY THE STREET IS FAIRLY LEVEL AND I WASN'T ON A HILL. I LOSS POWER TO THE BRAKE, STEERING AND EVERYTHING AS EVERYTHING WAS DEAD. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A CURB PUTTING ALL MY EFFORT TO STOP THE CAR. I TRIED STARTING AND MOVED ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE EVERYTHING WENT DEAD AGAIN. I DID NOT MOVE IT FURTHER I CALLED FOR A TOW (AAA) AND THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO ALSO SAID THAT THIS ALTERNATOR WAS DEAD AND IT WAS REPLACED. I TOLD HIM WHERE IT HAPPENED AND HE SAID I WAS LUCKY THAT I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

CHECK VSC SYSTEM WARNING AND BRAKE AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS LIGHTING UP ON DASHBOARD. DIFFICULTY BRAKING WITH LURCHING FORWARD WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. NEEDED TO PUMP ON BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. *TR

THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAMRY SE BEGAN TO CRYSTALLIZE AND BECAME STICKY TO THE TOUCH. IT IS NOW SO STICKY THAT THE LEAST TOUCH AND NICK PULLS THE VINYL RIGHT OFF. IT IS SO SHINY THAT IT GIVES OFF A REFLECTION WHILE DRIVING. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING WHEN DRIVING AS IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING IS IN YOUR EYES. THE GLARE MAKES FOR A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE YOUR JUDGMENT IS AFFECTED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE DEALER. I HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS WITH CAMRYS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IT CAUSES DISTORTED MOVEMENT AND THE WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT ALSO PRODUCES HARSH NOISE. THIS MAY CAUSE VEHICLE MANEUVERING PROBLEM AND MAY LEAD TO CRASHES. *TR

IN SUMMER OF 2013, POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED ON 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY. CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, TURN AND PARK BUT HAD TO BE DRIVEN, THOUGH UNSAFE TO DRIVE, FOR 3 DAYS WHILE PUMP WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED. IN THE WEEK BEFORE THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO BE BURNING OIL AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. DURING THIS SAME MONTH (AUGUST, 2013), THE GAS COVER COULD NOT BE OPENED TO REFILL THE GAS TANK WHILE OUT OF TOWN, REQUIRING A TEMPORARY CABLE FIX BY AN OUT-OF-TOWN DEALER. IN THE SUMMER OF 2014, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTUATOR FAILED, ALSO CAUSING LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERATURE AND TACHOMETER FUNCTIONS. ABS ACTUATOR PART WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED. THEN A WEEK LATER, THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MULTIPLE TIMES), LEAKING WHEN BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THESE ARE JUST THE MAJOR SAFETY FAILURES OF THIS 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY, WHICH HAS HAD OTHER PROBLEMS, PURCHASED NEW IN 2007 AND MAINTAINED BY THE SAME DEALER. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE OR RELIABLE TO DRIVE. *TR

THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AND IT FEELS LOOSE. CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATES IT IS NOISY AND THERE IS PLAY INSIDE. RACK AND PINION NEEDS REPLACED FOR $2400. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS THE TRIANGLE WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN TEN DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.