New TRD PRO '15 Clunky Steering Issue....

Hello new PRO and/or '15 TRD owners:
After 2 weeks since driving off the lot, I've noticed the 3x that I've taken vehicle (MT) off-road, whether it be a washboard or heavier terrain surface, either in 4H or 2WD, there occurs a clunky-feeling/play in the steering that doesn't seem normal (my older Taco never had this issue). I read there are some TRD sport/off-road owners that have steering linkage issues, but this has only 700+ miles--steering should feel solid...like it should from the factory, this does not when off road....
I took it to Toyota Service today. Technician test drove/verified the issue and called Toyota corporate to see what steps to take. They instructed him, I should keep driving and if they can replicate same issue with other '15s, they will proceed with next steps....hmmmm.....not really the answer I was hoping for!
I am going to request that next they look to see if everything in the steering is tightened correctly next week, but not sure if this will be the fix....
Any feedback/comments/etc also appreciated. Thanks.

 

I think the fix people are doing is installing a plastic zip tie through a u-joint on the actual steering column shaft (under the dash near your Feet) Hopefully someone else with more knowledge on this will chime in.

Good luck!

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/88077-steering-column-fix.html

 

^ yup do that, paired with lowering the intermediate shaft down a bit.... zero slop in my 2013 now.

 

Thank you samoan, nd4spdbh, & Steves104x4

 

I would show the pics in that thread to the dealer and have them do the work since you are brand new.

 

Of that same thought samiam

 

the time it takes to go to the dealer, bitch and moan, have them reject you etc.... is alot greater than the 5 minutes it takes to do it.

 

Good point, but he may have a dealer that is willing to work with him on his brand new truck.

 

keeping fingers crossed samiam. But prepared to bitch, moan, & do grunt work...just can't believe it's doing this brand spanking new
for such a *&%$'nnnn expensive truck (nd4spbh)

 

You know what's weird. In the last year, I've been in a 2010, PreRunner V6, a 2014 PreRunner 2.7L & my new 2014, TRD/OR and noticed my new truck doesn't have the clunk in the steering like the two previous.

Not sure why some have the play, and some don't. Whatever is in my new truck, they got it right. My new truck was made in Mexico, and the other two US.

 

I was of the same opinion.... Then I tried to deal with the dealer to get my brand new truck fixed and was met with... Nothing is wrong they all do that.

 

Owned for 2 weeks and there is something wrong with it.. the dealer is not an option for warranty work?

 

this is what they are going to do.... replace it with the same exact part that does the same exact thing. Its a design flaw and the fix is a 5 minute thing you can do in your driveway.

 

UPDATE:
TOYOTA FIXED THE CLUNKY STEERING UNDER 3YR/36K WARRANTY.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THIS WITH ANY VEHICLE FROM 2013-2015 THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN OFFICIAL RECALL AND THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED FROM THE RECALL OF 2005-2012 REDESIGNED SHAFT.
AFTER MANY FAILED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE GREEN LIGHT AND MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS AWESOME SITE, TOYOTA INSTALLED UNDER TSB 45220-04020 SHAFT ASSEMBLY. RESULT: STEERING IS SMOOTH AS BUTTER ON ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS, NO MORE CLUNKY IMPROPER FREEPLAY.
I AM SINCERELY GRATEFUL TO A FEW OF THE SENIOR MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY TO
TACO '09, THANK YOU:

"Your steering components are the same as on my '14 TRD Off Road and by 800 miles mine was clunking so bad I could not take it any more.

Toyota is so full of it. They issued a TSB for this in 2010 and then reissued it again in 2012 to include models through 2012. The current TSB is T-SB-0057-12 and is a redesigned intermediate shaft. Problem is the TSB has not been reissued for 2013-2015 models. Now get this. From the time the original TSB was issued in 2010 they have been using the non-TSB shaft on new production models which forces us to do our own fix by purchasing the TSB shaft.

Moving the intermediate shaft forward a bit as described above is part of the fix but my intermediate shaft was shot and my fix required installing the new TSB shaft and slightly moving the shaft forward. I also did this fix on my '09 about 4 years ago and have been happy with it."

 

the real question is, WHAT IS DIFFERENT between the original and TSB shaft.

I lowered mine by about 4mm so its just barely above the top edge of the inner piece, and pulled two smaller zip ties through the gap and have had zero issues for 10k miles on my 2013.

And to be honest i like that fix A LOT better than any dealer touching my truck.

 

Nd4spbh--Perhaps it's size of replacement vs original....On principle of it being a brand new truck, I strongly felt it was Toyota's responsibility to fix. If it happens again after 3yrs/36k, then I'll be in on rolling my sleeves up.

 

Just took my '15 out and sure enough, I've got the same thing going on. I thought this truck was all figured out by now. Toyota is not what it used to be IMO. It's piss poor when you spend ~30k on a decade old platform and crap like this pops up. I thought I spent 30k on a decade old platform bc it meant this wouldn't happen.

 

I sure don't have that clunk in mine.
Of course, I haven't done any hard off roading with it.

 

Then take it back, they will eventually get tired of seeing it and fix it right.