Warranty Replacement: Steering Shaft Assembly - Clunking Noise Issue Fixed

[stansmith7777]

That's my worry too is that it is so slight right now that they wont fix it... It almost needs to be audible for them to track it down. I was planning on bringing it up on my next oil change visit. I have changed tires and rims and it had no change on the issue.

I took it in Friday and they couldn’t find anything. I drove it with a tech and when I was feeling it, he reached over and felt the steering wheel. He said he thinks he felt it but he wanted his master tech to look at it (Who was gone for the day). He did see if there was any play in any of the steering shafts, and there wasn’t (I had already checked before I had brought it in). So I’m bringing it back in Tuesday for the master tech to look at it. I’m not hopeful that they’ll find or do anything. I’ll probably have to wait until it gets worse or starts making an audible noise Instead of a “feel”.

Same thing for me. I took it in and pre-rode a loop around the dealership to confirm that it would be able to reproduce it on the small bumps. Took the master tech on the same route and he said he couldn’t reproduce it. I’m not sure if he was lying, but proceeded to tell me this is just how electronic steering drives. I find it hard to believe Toyota would allow that sort of driving experience. Nonetheless, they did not fix it. I guess I’ll have to wait for the problem to worsen or there is a TSB out.

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[turquan]

It's one of the only things that really bothers me about the car. In bumpy conditions which happens often where I live, my 4runner feels terrible through the steering wheel.

Really hoping a TSB comes out for this...

 

[Xhale760]

Front left of my car makes a noise when backing out of the garage or parking spots. I felt it in the steering wheel as well. Hopefully its not from my leveling kit

 

[ysrpilot]

My POS 2013 Nissan Altima’s steering feels better than my ORP 4Runner’s (And the Altima has soft touch plastic on the door panels and dual zone ac). Lol.

I already know what they are going to say tomorrow. I’ll be in the group that has to let it get worse and start making noise.

 

[turquan]

I agree 100%, it's one of those things that is super annoying and noticeable. Something I would not really expect in a 90k CAD truck.... yet its not broken enough for many service reps to notice right away or chase due to how small it is.

 

[ysrpilot]

Well, I took it to the dealership again on Tuesday morning and the shop foreman took it for a drive with me in the passenger seat. Guess what the result was? Yeah, he didn’t notice or feel anything. Same result, “bring it back when it gets worse.“ They did say that it is documented now and if I have issues with it in the future (after warranty allegedly) that it would be covered. I won’t hold my breath on that. I guess unless a TSP pops up, I’m waiting for it to get worse.

 

[Biff]

I think I’m having the same issues!! I have a video that captures the clunking sound, I’m not even driving fast and the snow covered road isn’t that bumpy. I’m only driving 22km/h (15mph) in the video!!

 

[HanousJim]

Yep, sounds familiar!

 

[ysrpilot]

I think I’m having the same issues!! I have a video that captures the clunking sound, I’m not even driving fast and the snow covered road isn’t that bumpy. I’m only driving 22km/h (15mph) in the video!!

Mine is definitely not that bad. Can’t hear mine. It can only be felt through the steering wheel. I guess I’ll have to wait until it’s that bad to get it fixed.

 

[turquan]

Same here, no noise like that but the feeling in the steering wheel is getting worse every 1K.

 

[Who?]

I’ve had 2 replacements so far and still live with the feel/sound. The issue has been escalated from regional (northeast) to national techs (in Texas), and they’re working on a final fix on a customers car they’re tearing down (ongoing since December).

My 1st fix was shaft and sub shaft, came back 100 miles later. 2nd fix was just sub shaft, came back again around 100 miles later.

Currently in the waiting game.

Issue started for me around 400 miles in, and I’m at about 10k now.

Will keep y’all posted when it’s finally fixed.

 

[stansmith7777]

Well, I took it to the dealership again on Tuesday morning and the shop foreman took it for a drive with me in the passenger seat. Guess what the result was? Yeah, he didn’t notice or feel anything. Same result, “bring it back when it gets worse.“ They did say that it is documented now and if I have issues with it in the future (after warranty allegedly) that it would be covered. I won’t hold my breath on that. I guess unless a TSP pops up, I’m waiting for it to get worse.

Same for me. Just took it to a second competing Toyota dealership with the shop foreman and he wasn’t impressed. Just told me I have three years and 36,000 mile warranty.

 

[HNT4TRS]

Would you be opposed to describing the symptoms in more detail? I feel like I may be experiencing a similar or the same issue.

I can feel a downstream “clunk” during normal driving in the steering. It seems like something is loose but everything in the suspension is confirmed by my dealer to be tightened to spec. The clunk/rattle sensation seems most present during deceleration and when the suspension droops. But during normal driving and on flat surfaces it can still be felt subtly. Mine isn’t really audible but did become audible last weekend after an extended drive.

Any more details you can share would be a huge help. Appreciate it!


I am having the exact same issue on my Trailhunter. The dealership acknowledges the knocking sensation and are trying to blame the stock tires it came with. I know it’s not the tires because you can feel it from 5mph up to around 40mph. I’ve noticed it will happen 100% of the time when it’s hot outside and I take my foot off the gas pedal and coast. I’m also now starting to feel it when I first hit the brakes too now, it never did that before.

I’m also dealing with the thunking/jolt it does ever time the engine engages after a complete stop. The dealer(s) keep saying it’s normal with the hybrids. If that’s true, Toyota has a design flaw.

I describe it in more detail in this thread: https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/thr...rut-suspension-area-into-steering-wheel.3495/. Note that mine was never really audible - it was haptic through the steering wheel and brake pedal - you MAYBE could hear it a bit but it wasn't a significant sound, more of the feeling of something shifting back and forth and feeling like it was going "clunk". I did notice it upon braking as the first sign, which then became more regular even when driving - most commonly could hear it at lower speeds, esp around 40-50mph

 

[Joestac]

Just to add another data point, my TH has done this since day one, so did the one I test drove at another dealer before buying mine. I figured it was "normal" body on frame issues with small bump sensitivity since I'm used to independent suspension vehicles. Just a slight jitter that can be felt in the steering wheel, never heard any noises. Handles big hits no issue.

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