2007 Toyota RAV4 steering problems

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UNKNOWN

NHTSA complaint #11710612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 222,822.

NHTSA complaint #11661161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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while driving down the big bear mountain, the vehicle lost power steering i could not turn the wheel and hit the railing, thank god i didn't hit another car. The battery light was flashing steering locked up other dash lights came on. The mechanic could not give me any answers, Toyota says there is no recall on this and after reading other complaints about the 2007 Toyota RAV 4 i am shocked that the dealership has nothing to say and can not fix the problem, this is so dangerous and i am at a loss on how to fix the problem. who has to die for them to take this problem seriously!!!

NHTSA complaint #11487914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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AT 65270 MILES RAV4 FAILED STEERING INSPECTION WHICH IS MANDATED BY NC. PARTS REPLACED PASSED INSPECTION BUT SQUEALING CONTINUES GETS WORSE AFTER ABUT 15 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING - METAL TO METAL CONTACT? 265 COMPLAINTS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE OVERALL STEERING SYSTEM SQUEALING OCCURS AT IDLE WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED, RELEASE BRAKE TURN LEFT OR RIGHT SQUEALING STARTS UNTIL ENGINE SHUTDOWN. NO VIBRATIONS FELT STEERING WHEEL. SUNDAY IN CITY DRIVING - 15 MINUTES AFTER START UP.

NHTSA complaint #11390835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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OIL BURNING. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL BURNING. A QUART EVERY 200 500 MILES ON AVERAGE.

NHTSA complaint #11339848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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KNOCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING AND HAVE PAID OVER $2,500.00 WITH THE PROBLEM NEVER GETTING FIXED BECAUSE EVERYONE THINKS IT IS SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY ARE ALWAYS WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #11322740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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FOR ENGINE, IT HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I NEED TO ADD 1 QTR OF OIL AFTER 1.5K MILES DRIVE. FOR STEERING, IT MAKES CRACKING SOUNDS WHEN HAVING TURN THE STEERING IN A SLOW MOTION DRIVE BACKING UP FROM GARAGE.

NHTSA complaint #11319591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TOYOTA 2007 RAV4 STEERING MAKES A KLUNKING / POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, WHEN TURNING EITHER DIRECTION, WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVING. NO SOUNDS ON FREEWAY. ISSUES SEEMS TO BE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #11245523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DEFECTIVE STEERING ASSEMBLY, MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING SLOWLY. I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RESULTED WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING

NHTSA complaint #11245106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ARROW HWY IN THE RAIN WHEN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. I LOST POWER FROM BOTH MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS COASTING DOWN TO AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION WHEN I MADE THE DESCISION TO TURN RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. THE STEERING WAS SO HARD THAT I NEARING HIT THE CENTER DIVIDE. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BARELY WORKING AND MANY OF MY DASH ICONS WERE COMING ON RANDOMLY. THROUGH IT ALL, MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND I MADE TO THE NEXT STREET THAT TURNED INTO CONDOS THAT HAD PARKING SPACES. I SHUT MY ENGINE OFF AND TRIED A RESTART. THE ENGINE,OF COURSE,DID NOT START. AFTER BEING HAULED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN ALTERNATOR THAT SHORTED THE BATTERY. HAVING A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN THIS ELECTRICAL AREA, I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN BUT WITH PROPER DESIGN IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE BATTERY WAS SAVED AFTER RECHARGING. HERE IS MY POINT; I DON'T WANT ANY ONE THAT I KNOW AND LOVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAD TO. THOSE THAT DRIVE THIS CAR SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH A CAR EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICAL STEERING. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE STALLED; WHICH, BY THE WAY WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN A SHORT TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11157206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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MY 2007 RAV4 IS EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE STEERING FEELS SUSPECT AT TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. A ONLINE SEARCH, REVEALED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. TOYOTA DIAGNOSES THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN.IS THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS IT A SAFETY CONCERN?

NHTSA complaint #11151291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE LOSE AND THERE IS A THUNDER NOISE COMING FROM RACK AND PINION ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVES IN THE CITY OR OVER A HUMP.NO MATTER HOW SMALL IS, ALSO WHEN DRIVING AND MAKE RIGHT TURN

NHTSA complaint #11130364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING, THERE ARE VIBRATIONS. TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT SHOUD BE REPLACED AND THE INTERMEDIATE LINKAGE RACK LEAKS. THE SOUND SYSTEM MAKES NOISE WHEN STOP OR DRIVING DOWNHILL OR UPHILL.

NHTSA complaint #11034746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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ONGOING AND VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED AT LOW SPEEDS, AT TIMES THE NOISE CAN ALSO BE HEARD WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS RAV4 MODEL AND IT SEEMS TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO REMEDY THIS. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, THE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE STEERING MECHANISM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #11023722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I RECEIVE LETTER BY MAIL, ABOUT TAKADA AIR BAGS, AND THANKS BECAUSE DEALERS,NEVER MENTION THAT PART,AND IS UNFAIR, SPECIAL WENT BUY A USED CAR,AND PAY MORE MONEY,,WELL RECEIVE A FEW MONTHS LATER A RECALL FOR COMPSUPTION MOTOR OIL, NEED TO BE DONE, AND TRIED 2 OR 3 TIMES,BUT THE ADVISOR AND TECH,ARE MERO WORRY ABOUT FIXED UNCOVER WARRANTY REPAIRS, BECAUSE TRANSMISSION GOES BAD,TOW 140 TO DEALER,AND MAKE ALL KIND OT TRICKS TO MAKE ME PAID,FINALLY THEY ADMIT TO FIXED BUT CHARGE ME $618.00 FOR ALIGNMENT THE 4 TIRES,REPLACE REAR SEAL, THE INTAKE FUEL SYS AND USE THE WORD, PER CUSTOMER REQUEST,CUSTOMER AUTHORIZED, BUT NEVER COMMENT OH IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE TECH RECOMMENDS,WARRANTY IS GOING TO AVOID,DECLINE THE REPAIR, AND GET SERVICE HISTORY AND FOUND THEY DID ALL THE WORK FOR THE CAR RECALLS TO,AND I'M THE ONLY OWNER,BUT BUY THE CAR IN 2015 WITH 80,000 MILES AND A LOT OF FALSE,IRREGULARITIES, SO WANT TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS FOR THE LEMON LAW CASE MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY TRAVEL TO MEXICO,ENSENADA, AND I'M WORRY,CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE,MY CAR DON'T WANT TRAVEL IN THE CAR,AND IS CORRECT,BUT I'M SCARE TO BE INVOLVE IN ACCIDENT,CAR NEED TO BE CHECK BUT BY A DEALER,A GOV TECH,OE A SERIOUS ORG. OK TM.

NHTSA complaint #11020001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MIDDLE SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #10971956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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AUDIBLE CLUNK SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER CAN ALSO FEEL A KNOCK THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR (E.G., ABOUT 40 COMPLAINTS OF THIS KIND HAVE BEEN FILED FOR 2007 RAV4S ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM). IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT; TOYOTA HAS FOR EXAMPLE ISSUED TSB 0318 08 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, IT IS DUE TO A SHAFT TOLERANCE THAT IS TOO LOOSE; THE CLUNK SOUND WOULD ONLY BE AN ANNOYANCE, BUT NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. GIVEN THAT THE STEERING IS CRITICAL FOR CONTROL AND SAFE OPERATIONS OF THE CAR, I FEEL THAT ANY NOISE IN THE STEERING MIGHT INDICATE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 107874 MILES (FROM THE FIRST OWNER) ON 05/09/2014, AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY DURING THE FIRST WEEKS OF USE. WE BELIEVE THE CONDITION HAD ALREADY EXISTED BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT WE HAVE NO INFORMATION AT WHICH MILEAGE THE PREVIOUS OWNER STARTED TO NOTICE IT.

NHTSA complaint #10954113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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CONSTANT CLUNKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL

NHTSA complaint #10949783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WHEN I BACK UP ON ANY KIND OF AN INCLINE, THE CAR JERKS AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE "HIT" SOMETHING IT JERKS SO BADLY. IF I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL, IT STOPS THE JERKING BUT THE MINUTE I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN, IT JERKS AGAIN AND MAKES A TERRIBLE NOISE. I CAN STILL BACK UP BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR IS FALLING OUT. IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED 2 YEARS AGO. I KEPT THINKING IT WAS ME UNTIL I GOOGLED IT TODAY AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL IT'S UNSAFE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. MY VEHICLE ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE AND WAS REPAIRED EARLIER THIS YEAR. NEEDS TO BE A NATIONAL RECALL AND FIXED PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10920455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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NHTSA RECALL NO 16V 596. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE RECALL COMPLETED AT WASHINGTON NC PECHELES TOYOTA. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF 10 25 2016. WHAT IS THE HOLD UP? FAILURE OF RLSA WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL- SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10918969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WHENEVER YOU MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS REGARDING THIS ISSUE FOR OVER 5 YEARS & YET THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BY A REMEDY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED BY TOYOTA. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE & FIX THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS & CITY STREETS.

NHTSA complaint #10888008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL ON VERY LOW SPEED OR ON CAR THAT IN NOT MOVING. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING STATE INSPECTION [CAR WAS IN GARAGE AND WAS NOT MOVING]. CAR HAS JUST ABOVE 30,000 MILES, MOSTLY CITY DRIVING, REGULARLY, BUT SHORT DISTANCE COMMUTE.

NHTSA complaint #10882833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I HEAR A CLUNK, POP OR KNOCK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS (TECH SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08). TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. HOWEVER, TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE STEPS TO ISSUE RECALL TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA complaint #10882235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I HEAR A CLUNK, POP, OR KNOCK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. TOYOTA WAS ACUTELY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08) AND HAD TO REDESIGN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN THE STEPS TO RECALL ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES AND REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I URGE THE NHTSA TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO FORCE TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AS THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WITNESSED IN A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE 06-07 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10874850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS MAKING CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM FEARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND THE STEERING IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10872385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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R/R SWAY BAR END LINK BROKEN. UPPER AND INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BROKEN.

NHTSA complaint #10852135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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LEFT FRONT INPUT SEAL HAS LEAKED FLUID TWICE NOW. FIRST TIME WAS 9/25/2012 @ 56,516 MILES. SECOND TIME WAS ON 1/12/2016 @ 101,753 MILES. MY INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SERVICE, CORAM PRECISION AUTO OF CORAM, NY WENT TO TOYOTA TO GET THE SEAL NEEDED TO FIX THE LEAK BOTH TIMES AND ASKED TOYOTA PARTS COUNTER IF THEY KNEW OF A RECALL AND THEY SAID NO. THEN THEY ASKED WHY THEY HAD SO MANY SEALS IN STOCK IF THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALLS. I AM ON THIS WEBSITE AND DON'T SEE ANY RECALLS EITHER BUT I WONDER IF ANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. NOTE: I HAVE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR MY TOYOTA RAV4 FOR GAS PEDAL AND NOW FOR THE 'REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING' WHICH EXTENDS MY WARRANTEE UNTIL 2017 FROM TOYOTA AND FROM NHTSA FOR MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG IN 2014 BUT CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THIS WED SITE. PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH ME ON THE SEAL PROBLEM AND IF THE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA TOLD ME 'NO" BUT I DON'T TRUST THEM. THANKS, WPZIEMS 02/01/2016.

NHTSA complaint #10839252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, NOTICEABLE AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS NEW BUT WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE LEFT FRONT STRUT. ON OUR LAST SERVICE WE WERE TOLD IT INVOLVED THE STEERING. NOTE: RAV'S FRONT BUMPER HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BEFORE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO US. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS MINOR DAMAGE JUST NEEDED REPAINTING..THIS VEHICLE HAS 64,000 ORIGINAL MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10838769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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NOTICED CLUNKING IN STEERING WHEN TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. LOOKED UP PROBLEM ON INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO INTERNET THERE OVER 400,000 COMPLAINTS. CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM AND IT REQUIRES REPLACING STEERING SHAFT. I ALSO READ ON THE INTERNET THAT VEHICLES WHO REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT OFTEN HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO ME THAT TOYOTA CAN NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM AND NOW IT BECOMES THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP ON CHANGING AN INTRICATE PART TO DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES. WHY WITH SO MANY FAILURES HASN'T YOUR AGENCY WARNED THE PUBLIC OR IS NHTSA SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE OR SAFETY CONCERN. PLEASE INFORM ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A PROBLEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AND I DON'T HAVE TO SPEND $800.00 TO FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10823614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DRIVING 50 MPG AROUND CURVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEERING LOCKED UP HARDLY ABLE TO PULL.OFF SIDE OF ROAD. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY 2 TIMES AND HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES BEFORE IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS.STEERING FROZE HAD TO GET OF TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THEN IT WAS ABLE TO STEER BUT BATTERY.LIGHT FLICKERS. THREE OTHER LIGHTS ON THE LEFT OF THE DASHBOARD STAYED ON AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. WENT TO PEP-BOYS AND I WAS ASKED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND ONE DAY LATER SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10822452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.