2014 Toyota Venza

I received a safety recall notice (21TA01) from Toyota for non-deployment of airbags. I scheduled an appointment with Kendall Toyota in Eugene, Oregon. They called me and told me they had to keep my car overnight because they had to special order the part (part # 04001-0590T). The SRS Warning Check Airbag system has been flashing on my dashboard when I have a passenger in my car. The day I dropped the car off they sent me a text trying to add $2000+ in additional services of which I declined as my car only has 89k miles on it and these services were suggested before 125k miles. The next day I receive a text saying my car is ready for pick up. So I went and I picked up the car and the only thing the advisor said to me was the car was "all set". The next time I had a passenger the SRS Check Airbag systems warning light comes on again. So I went back and the service advisor said he had to go talk to his manager. He comes back to tell me that they never actually did the replacement on the vehicle and the warning message is a separate issue that I now have to schedule another appointment to diagnose. Yet the dealership reported to Toyota corporate, who has opened an audit into this incident, that the repair was COMPLETED. When typing my VIN number into this site it also said 0 recalls not completed which is false. The paperwork says no replacement yet says the part is on special order. I think this dealership is committing fraud and certainly were not forthcoming to me about the fact that no work was completed. It seems as though they were selectively speaking to pull one over on me.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Venza. The contact stated that the screen was back over protection screen was blank. Additionally, the OnStar and the radio were inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the buttons were filled with water and that the camera, OnStar, and radio needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The vehicle started to exhibit a popping or clunking sound in the steering Column after 125,000 miles. Was told it was not dangerous and continued to drive while albeit was still distracting. At 165,000, the sound became extremely loud at hwy speeds of 70-80mph and cause the steering wheel to shake and pull to the left. Took to mechanic who told me to take it to dealer. Dealer immediately knew what the problem was but was told I would have to replace the entire steering column because there was no way access the bushing otherwise. It was 15$ EPS bushing/damper that had literally worn down to nothing cause the power steering motor to vibrate on the steering column when going over bumps and driving at high speeds. Altering the alignment and causing a slow leak of hydraulic power steering fluid. This apparently is a fairly common issue with 2009-2015 Toyota Venza

I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND COULD FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTEN LIKE IT WAS LOCKING UP. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED TO GREEN I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND HAD NO POWER IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I MANUALLY TURNED WHEEL AS HARD AS I COULD AND DRIFTED ACROSS ROAD WITH VERY LITTLE CONTROL BECAUSE IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED/ DRIFTED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD IN A DIAGONAL DIRECTION BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT TO TRULY MAKE A DIRECT TURN OR PULLOVER. THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AFTER I DRIFTED TO A SAFE SPOT AND WHEN TURNED IT BACK ON THE STEERING WORKED. I DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP BUT NO DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN MADE YET. THIS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR ROAD BUT NOT HIGHWAY. I SUSPECT THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THE TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL F0J (F1J) ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ELECTRIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) CERTAIN TOYOTA VEHICLES 2014-2015. MY VENZA WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BUT MAYBE IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL. Consumer stated power steering assist loss was again on June 2, 2021.

I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT 2WE MAKING A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THEY CHANGED THE SHOCKS, BUT THE NOISE DIDN'T STOP. I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR BUSHINGS, WHICH ARE PLASTIC (MOST OF THE TIME THE BUSHINGS ARE MADE OF METAL) INSIDE OF THE HUB. I WAS CHARGED TO FIX THE WRONG THING BY THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT FIXED. WHY DID THEY USE A PLASTIC PART, JUST TO SAVE MONEY? THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I BUY A TOYOTA. THE VEHICLE STILL MAKES NOISE, AND IS HEATING UP MY TIRES AT AN ALARMINGLY FAST RATE.