2002 Toyota Camry steering problems

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CAR RIDE IS JERKY . AT ANY LEFT EXIT THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON EXIT RAMP ON LEFT TURN. STEERING TIGHTENS AND LOCK-UP. THE CAR SHUTS DONE WHILE STILL IN DRIVE MODE. THE ENGINE GOES QUITE AND DIES.THE GAS PEDAL STOP PRODUCING POWER. THE CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WITH KEY IN IGNITION AND STILL IN DRIVE . ALSO GOING DOWN HILL THE CAR BECOMES IMMOBILE AND STALL. ON OTHER OCCASIONS CAR STALL AT LIGHTS ON LOCAL ROADS SHORTLY AFTER MAKING LEFT TURNS AND STOP LIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO TOYOTA SUPERSTORE WESTON ST HARTFORD CT. ON THREE OCCASIONS. THEY KEPT IT FOR A DAY, TWO DAYS, A WEEK AND THERE IS STILL NO SOLUTION. . NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO STOP THE CONDITION. I TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANICS, AUTO ZONE. THEY SEE THE CAR ACT UP BUT THERE ARE NO CODES AND NO SYSTEM ERROR ACTIVITY SUMMARY. DEALERSHIP OFFER NO SOLUTION . ALWAYS THERE ARE 3 LIGHT THAT COMES ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CHECK BATTERY LIGHT AND CHECK FUEL LIGHT . TRIPLE A TOLL THIS CAT ON 3 OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION DURING THE SNOW IT HAD CHECK TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS TO GET THE NECESSARY OIL CHANGE BECAUSE I HAVE LIFETIME OIL AND LUBE. THEY ARE THE ONES SERVICING THE CAR SO IF ANY PARTS GO WRONG THEY ARE THE ONES CHANGING THEM.. THEY WANT ME TO BUY A NEW CAR. I TOLD THEM I CANNOT AFFORD ONE. I WONDER IF THEY ARE SABOTAGING MY CAR. IN HOPES THAT I WILL PURCHASE A NEW ONE. PLEASE HELP ME! I LEARNED THAT THE CAR STOPS AND STARTS UP AGAIN AFTER YOU SHUT IT DOWN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION FOR A WHILE SO THIS IS HOW I AM SURVIVING. THIS IS VERY SCARY! HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10694025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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VEHICLE SHAKE AT 55 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10683006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REALIZED WITH THEIR CAMRYS, MINE TOO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. IT IS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RACK AND PINION BOOTS, AS WELL AS THE STEERING PUMP. I AM NOW FACED WITH A $1600 REPAIR BILL. DESIGN ERRORS OCCUR, AS AN ENGINEER I UNDERSTAND THIS. BUT THE PROBLEM IS TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND ADMIT TO THE ERROR. THIS IS MY FIRST TOYOTA. I HAD HEARD HOW RELIABLE THEY WERE. I AM NOT SO SURE NOW. I AM CURRENTLY SHOPPING FOR A NEW CAR, AND I HAVE SCRATCHED TOYOTAS OFF OF MY LIST. I CAN NOT GIVE BUSINESS TO A COMPANY THAT TREATS CLIENTS THIS WAY.

NHTSA complaint #10667031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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EACH TIME YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A "WHINING' IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME YOU MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A PLASTIC PIECE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT MAY CAUSE THE PROBLEM THEY ARE NOT FOR SURE AND IT WOULD COST ME OVER $200 IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM FOR A "CHEAP" PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF USING IT. I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS DRASTICALLY!

NHTSA complaint #10577965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING HAS BEEN GETTING TIGHT. THOUGHT IT WAS POWER STEERING PUMP. MECHANIC SAYS ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEED REPLACEMENT. WHY NO RECALL?

NHTSA complaint #10560698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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OVER A PERIOD OF TIME STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND TURNING WAS A PROBLEM. STEERING LIKE A MAD TRUCK WITH JERKING MOVEMENTS WHEN TURNING AND PULLING BACK. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. WHY HAS TOYOTA NOT HAD RECALL? AT SAME TIME THEY SAID BRAKES GONE. JUST HAD THEM FIXED AT LOCAL GAS STATION A YEAR AGO BUT DID NOT TAKE ROTOR DOWN. GRAND TOTAL $2700

NHTSA complaint #10514692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY 3 YEARS AGO AT 115,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 205,000 AS OF THE DATE OF THIS LETTER. LAST SPRING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED IN COLD WEATHER AND THERE WAS A SQEAKING NOISE BEHIND OR AROUND MY STEERING WHEEL SO I REPLACED THE PUMP. IT WARMED UP, SO I COULDN'T TEST THE RESULT. THIS WINTER, THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE AND UNSAFE, SO IT WASN'T THAT. AFTER NEARLY HITTING A CAR BECAUSE I COULD HARDLY COME OUT OF MY TURN, I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 1/17/12. THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY WOULD START BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN U-JOINT FOR $510, BUT WOULD NOT GUARANTEE IT. I ASKED 5 OTHER MECHANICS WHO SAID THAT IT CAN'T BE THAT IF IT ONLY OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER, SO I TOLD THEM NOT TO DO ANYTHING. I'M BRINGING IT BACK TO MY TOWN TO HAVE OTHERS LOOK AT IT AND FIX IT. MOST OF THEM FEEL IT IS THE RACK, OR, JUST GOO'D UP POWER STEERING FLUID, WHICH THEY WILL START WITH, AT A COST OF ONLY $50 TO DRAIN AND REFILL. I HAVE HAD RACK QUOTES OF $880. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND I PLAN TO KEEP IT FOR 500,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10444479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING BECAME HARD AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. THIS RESULTED IN A NEAR PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10437909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER WHEN RELEASED. CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID IT WAS OK. NO POWER STEERING LEAKS. TOOK CAR TO HAVE PROBLEM EVALUATED. MECHANIC SAID THAT STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS WERE WORN AND RUSTED AND BINDING UP. ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. IF ALLOWED TO GO TOO LONG STEERING COULD LOCK UP COMPLETELY OR SHAFT COULD SHEAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. REPAIR WILL COST $900 SINCE ENTIRE SHAFT MUST BE REPLACED AND PART IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM TOYOTA. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE AND WAS SHOCKED TO KNOW THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING SHAFT LEFT IT EXPOSED TO ROAD SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT CORROSION DAMAGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND GAVE NO WARNING AS TO THE IMPENDING FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN EVEN WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST.

NHTSA complaint #10393947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY 70,000 MI AND WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY THE STEERING FROZE AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. SINCE THAT DAY THE STEERING HAS BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF AND HARD TO STEER. AFTER CHECKING THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS AND FOUND IT TO BE NORMAL I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AFTER READING THESE COMPLAINTS I FEEL IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PART ITSELF AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10392986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE STEERING FAILED, TOO HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT WITH U- JOINTS. THEY SAID IT IS COMMON IN 2002 CAMRY.

NHTSA complaint #10383114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAPPENED A LOT IN THIS MODEL. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS HAPPENS TOO OFTEN TO THE 2002 CAMRY. THE STEERING COLUMN IS A TWO PIECE ROD THAT COULD TO CATASTROPHIC STEERING LOSS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME WAS THAT THEY HAD ISSUED A SERVICE CALL THAT ONLY INCLUDED GREASING THE SHAFT.

NHTSA complaint #10381542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FAILED AND BECAME EXTREMELY RESISTANT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10353020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I THINK MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM AS THE RECENT STEERING RECALL FOR THE TOYOTA AVALONS. ON 2/27/09 I HAD TO GET $970.00 OF REPAIRS INCLUDING A "REMAN GEAR ASSY AND CONE RETURM". WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS STUMPED AS TO THE PROBLEM, BUT IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE RECENT AVALON PROBLEM, COULD THE CAMRYS HAVE THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS?

NHTSA complaint #10347502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, CARFAX ONE OWNER, STEERING LOSE HARD TO TURN TOOK TO SHOP THAT'S BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1972 TOLD I HAD ACRACKED STEERING COLUMN THE SAME AS THE TOYOTA TRUCKS AND SUV MID 2000 MODELS. THE SHOP SAID IT WOULD BE 750.00 DOLLARS SHOULD TAKE TO TOYOTA AS THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IN TOYOTA CARS AND TRUCKS. CALLED TOYOTA THEY SAID CAR WAS TO OLD EVEN THOUGH OTHER WISE CAR IN PERFECT MECHANICAL CONDITION. I'M SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER OUT THEIR WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CRACKS IN ANY VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN SINCE THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPONENT ON ANY VEHICLE, THE BIG 3 NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SCORES OF OTHERS. EVERY ONE KNOWS THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, FAULTY STEERING CRACKS ON A -1 USED CAR BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW, NOT USAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10329891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. I REPORTED TO TANSKY TOYOTA (COLUMBUS OHIO) THAT I HAVE A STEERING WHEEL ISSUE. TANSKY TOYOTA TECHNICIANS MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE HEARD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE FROM OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS. HE MENTIONED THAT SINCE THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, TOYOTA IS NOT CONSIDERING THIS AS A RECALL. I READ A REPORT TODAY THAT TOYOTA COROLLA IS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUE. I WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT AS A TOYOTA CAMRY OWNER, I HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD INVESTIGATE THIS AND ENSURE THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE DRIVING A SAFE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10315727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. I HAVE HAD TWO OCCURRENCE. ONE WHILE DRIVING THROUGH MY RESIDENT PARKING LOT AT A SPEED OF 10 MILES PER HOUR, I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I HEARD A GRINDING SOUND OF THE BRAKES. MY HANDS WAS BLASTED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND I FELT A HARD THUMP IN THE SEAT WHICH EJECT ME TOWARD THE CEILING OF MY CAR. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I ENDED UP FACING THE REAR OF THE CAR NEAR DRIVER DOOR. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN THE SNOW. I WAS DRIVING 20 MILE PER HOUR AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS MENTION BEFORE. HANDS BLASTED OFF STEERING WHEEL, HARD THUMP IN SEAT, AND EJECTION OUT OF THE DRIVER SET. HAD TOYOTA TO REPAIR BRAKES AT COST OF NEARLY $450. I NEVER GOT AN EXPLANATION OF WHY MY HANDS WERE BLASTED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE HARD THUMP IN THE SEAT WHICH LEAD TO ME BEING EJECTED OUT OF THE SEAT. THE PARKING LOT WAS SMOOTH SURFACE, SO I DID NOT HIT A BUMP.

NHTSA complaint #10312415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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CONSTANT SQUEAKING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL. REPAIRED TWICE AT TOYOTA DEALER BUT STILL SQUEAKS. BROUGHT CAR TO MY REPAIR SHOP AN IT STILL SQUEAKS. FIRST INCIDENT AN SECOND TOOK PLACE UNDER WARRANTY. USUALLY SQUEAKS IN COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA complaint #10308434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH IN TRAFFIC OR WHEN HE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE OR IDENTIFY A FAILURE CODE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #10303023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TOYOTA CAMRY LE 2.4 L WINTER WEATHER CAUSE TO VVT ON AUTO TO FAIL AND STALL ENGINE. STALLED ENGINE CAUSED LOST OF CONTROLS, STEERING, BRAKES, ETC..PARTS REPLACED WERE OXYGEN SENSORS, CAT.CONVERTOR, ETC.. THE VVT IS VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL ALONG WITH OCM, PCM, THROTTLE SENSOR, MASS AIR SENSOR WHICH REGULATES THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10188813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WHILE TURNING AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS DRIVER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING WHEEL NEEDED LUBRICATION. *AK DEALER LUBRICATED STEERING COLUMN BOOTH ACCORDING TO TSB RELATING TO PROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT THIS IS JUST A TEMPORARY FIX, AND PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10111568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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MY CAMRY HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE THE DAY PURCHASED. IT HAS BEEN ALIGNED OR CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHEING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD ALL CAMRY'S PULL TO THE LEFT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I SHOULD UPGRADE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD YES, IT DOES PULL TO THE LEFT, BUT IT IS INHERENT IN THE CAR. NOW AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS OF ASKING TOYOTA TO FIX MY CAR, THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT IS THE TIRES AND OF COURSE THAT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AS THEIR WARANTY DOES NOT COVER TIRES. THIS VEHICLE WILL PULL ACROSS THE LINE INTO ANOTHER LANE AT THE HIGHER SPEEDS AND THIS MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10098589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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2002 TOYOTA CAMRY LEV6 W/15" RIMS. CAR IS UNSTABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS. WE ARE NOW ON OUR THIRD SET OF TIRES AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 21,000 MILES ON IT. FIRST SET (CONTINENTAL) BECAME BALD ON OUTSIDE EDGE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES AT 9000 MILES. TIRES WERE ROTATED (FRONT TO REAR, REAR TO FRONT) AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS DONE. TIRES BECAME BALD ON OUTSIDE EDGE AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES (17000 TOTAL MILES ON CAR). DEALER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH DUNLOP AND I HAD TO PAY FOR A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER 2500 MORE MILES CAR AGAIN BECAME UNSTABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 75 MPH AND AS THE TIRES WORE IT BECAME UNSTABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS 55-65 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AGAIN WITH MICHELIN THIS TIME AND DID ANOTHER FRONT END ALIGNMENT. NOW WITH ONLY 1200 MILES ON THE NEW TIRES IT IS AGAIN BECOMING UNSTABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS 65-75 MPH. WE WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.

NHTSA complaint #10088134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I EXPERIENCED A TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATION -- WHILE DRIVING IN DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON, DC, MY CAR LOST ITS POWER STEERING. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, I SAW THAT THE RESERVOIR FOR POWER STEERING FLUID WAS INDEED FULL. NOT WANTING TO BE STRANDED 40 MILES FROM HOME, I DROVE TO THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT COULD BE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE MY CAR WAS EVALUATED AND/OR REPAIRED. ABOUT 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I RETURNED IT FOR 2 COMPLAINTS: (1) THE DRIVER SEAT JARS FORWARD AND BACK UPON STOPPING AND ACCELERATING, APPROXIMATELY 80-90% OF THE TIME; (2) STOPPING/SLOWING THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 40MPH (SUCH AS WHEN SLOWING FOR AN EXIT) CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND PULL TO ONE SIDE. I WAS ADVISED, BY THE SERVICES MANAGER THAT THE SEAT MOVING "HAPPENS IN THIS KIND OF CAR", AND THAT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE CAR WAS "OK" AND THAT "PULLING AND SHAKING HAPPENS IN THIS KIND OF CAR". AND, I'VE TOLERATED IT. NOW, I'M WONDERING IF THE SHUT DOWN OF THE STEERING ALSO 'HAPPENS IN THIS KIND OF CAR'. IF SO, I DON'T WANT "THIS KIND OF CAR" AND PERHAPS MY NEEDS WOULD BEST BE SERVED BY SOME OTHER 'KIND OF CAR'

NHTSA complaint #10070502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO FELT LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT FOUND NO PROBLEMS. *MR AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN TOWARDS THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE REMAINS STATIONARY AND THE BRAKES ALWAYS STOP THE CAR. DSY THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10066664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.