IN 2010, I COMPLAINED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT KNOCKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER TWO YEARS THE NOISE BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE AND THE TOYOTA MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE LOWER INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAFT HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY DUE TO WORN-OUT SPLINES. CORRECTION: REPLACE LOWER STEERING SHAFT ($359.--). I DECLINED REPAIR SINCE I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THE 2006 AND 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 MODEL AND A RECALL WOULD WARRANTED. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF STEERING. THE MECHANIC DID NOT THINK SO. *TR
2013
SUSPENSION
WHEN VIEWING MY 2013 RAV4 FROM THE REAR, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR SEEMS TILTED TO THE LEFT, IN OTHER WORDS THE RAV4 SITS HIGHER ON THE RIGHT SIDE THAN THE LEFT. I MEASURED FROM THE TOP OF EACH WHEEL WELL TO THE GROUND AND FOUNDS AN ALMOST 1" DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE LEFT ON BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE RAV4. THE MEASUREMENT WAS REPEATED ON 3 DIFFERENT LEVEL SURFACES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE RAV4 WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY AGREED. THEY WROTE ON THE SERVICE INVOICE THAT THIS CONDITION IS "AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME. ALSO COMPARED TO OTHER LIKE VEHICLES AND FOUND SAME." THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT THEY FOUND DIFFERENCES FROM 0" TO 3/4" ON OTHER RAV4'S AND THAT THERE WAS NO REPAIR AT THIS TIME. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS CONDITION MIGHT AFFECT THE HANDLING OF THIS VEHICLE OR RESULT IN UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. *TR
