2005 Lexus RX Steering Problems

THE RX330 WAS SEEN AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AROUND 121,000 MILES FOR BRAKE PADS AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE & INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK AND IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RACK/PINION TO A TUNE OF AROUND $2,000! THE SERVICE WAS DECLINED AND THE OWNER WAS INFORMED IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD LOCK UP, MAKING IT MORE PROBABLE FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. AT PRESENT, THE OWNER IS ADDING PS FLUID TO THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RUNS LOW AND HOPING FOR THE BEST. A FEW MECHANICS HAVE COMMENTED THIS MIGHT BE THE LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION. HOWEVER, WITH A BROKEN RACK/PINION, IT MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO RESALE. MECHANICS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE AWARE OF THIS COSTLY MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 2005 LEXUS. ONE MECHANIC COMMENTED THERE IS A WEAK SPOT IN THE R&P WHICH GIVES, CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.

I WAS TOLD BY THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE A POWER STEERING RACK LEAK ON MY 2005 LEXUS RX330. TO REPAIR THE LEAK WILL COST APPROXIMATE $1700. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY ABOUT THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING BACK IN 2011 BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF RECALL. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST LEXUS OWNERS WERE HAVING. THIS CONFIRMS THAT THE POWER STEERING LEAK IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THEIR POWER STEERING RECALL. I HOPE NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE INTO THIS PROBLEM FURTHER AND REQUEST LEXUS TO INCLUDE THE POWER STEERING RACK LEAK AS PART OF THE RECALL. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR