NHTSA complaint #11760067

Owner complaint summary

I own a 2024 Toyota RAV4. At approximately 38,300 miles, an authorized Toyota dealership diagnosed a failed rack-and-pinion/steering rack assembly that required replacement. Before the repair, I began noticing a squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel. The noise became progressively louder over time. The symptoms continued to worsen until the vehicle was inspected by the Toyota dealership. The vehicle has been regularly maintained, and there was no collision or other known event that would explain this failure. The steering rack required replacement only about 2,200 miles beyond Toyota’s 36,000-mile basic warranty. Because the rack-and-pinion assembly is a critical steering component, I am concerned that this may represent a premature failure and potentially a safety issue if similar failures are occurring in other 2024 Toyota RAV4 vehicles. I am submitting this complaint so the issue is documented and can be compared with reports from other owners. I have dealership repair documentation confirming the diagnosis and replacement of the steering rack assembly.