2010 Toyota Camry Steering Problems

I am reporting a serious safety hazard involving a 2010 Toyota Camry purchased from GA Carz 4 Less, LLC through the GovDeals.com platform. The seller provided no disclosures of mechanical issues. Immediately upon receiving the vehicle, it exhibited violent engine knocking, shaking, heavy oil leakage, and repeated engine shutdowns. Two certified mechanics inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the engine has catastrophic internal damage involving camshaft timing system failure and severe internal wear. Both mechanics stated that attempting to operate the vehicle at highway speeds could have caused the engine to explode due to internal failure and pressure spikes. This was an alarming and dangerous finding, especially since the vehicle was advertised without any safety warnings or disclosures. Additionally, the Carfax mileage in March 2025 was 193,653 miles, but the vehicle delivered to me showed over 208,000 miles—an undisclosed increase of more than 18,000 miles. This raises potential concerns regarding sustained driving after the auction despite severe mechanical issues. The seller listed the vehicle twice before selling it, suggesting possible prior knowledge of the engine condition. I later found numerous online complaints reporting similar instances of this dealership selling vehicles with severe undisclosed defects, indicating a broader safety problem affecting multiple consumers. The condition of this engine creates a risk of sudden shutdown, engine seizure, explosion, fire, and loss of vehicle control, which could cause serious injury or death. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter, investigate the safety risks associated with these undisclosed engine defects, and determine whether this dealership’s practices pose a danger to the public. This complaint is being filed to prevent potential harm to future buyers and to document a serious safety hazard that I experienced firsthand.

MY CAMRY STARTED MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AT FIRST IT WOULD COME AND GO SOMETIMES A FEW DAYS IN BETWEEN. NOW IT MAKE THE POPPING NOISE ALL THE TIME. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY..

FRONT SEATS ARE OVER HEATING

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST STEERING WITH NO ABILITY FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL DIRECTION OF THE CAR. CAR DEPARTED FROM ITS LANE AND THEN CROSSED TWO LANES INVOLUNTARILY BUT LANES WERE FREE OF TRAFFIC SO AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR SHOOK AND VIBRATED. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY BRAKED AND THE BRAKES DID REDUCE THE SPEED OF THE CAR. THE ABILITY TO STEER WAS RECOVERED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. A REVIEW OF THE COMPUTER DATA (TROUBLE CODES) INDICATED A FAILURE OF THE ABS ACTUATOR AND STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. MAURICE AT THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AID THE TOYOTA COMPANY WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE AND HE ALSO SAID THAT, "NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GIVEN" AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.WE HAVE A CASE NUMBER FILED WITH TOYOTA. TOYOTA SAYS THIS HAZARDOUS AND TERRIFYING INCIDENT IS NOT THE RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW OR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WE HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THIS TOYOTA VEHICLE.

THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2010 CAMRY IS MELTING, IS SO STICKY. *TR

POWER STEERING HOSE/PIPE LEAKING DESPITE NO COLLISION OR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY ROUGH AND ABNORMAL FORCE HAD TO BE USED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION AND BRAKE FAILURE THAT CONTINUED TO OCCUR EACH TIME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS LATER DRIVING AND APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ANKLE AND BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHEN TURNING RIGHT EITHER IN MOTION OR NOT THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL. THE KNOCKING SOUND HAS GOTTEN WORST AND LOUDER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. THE FAILURE MADE IT VERY HARD TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT THAT CONNECTED TO THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

BOUGHT 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY NEW. WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON ODOMETER TOOK BACK TO LOCAL DEALER COMPLAINING ABOUT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAR NOW HAS 20,000 MILES, AND AFTER THIRD VISIT TO LOCAL DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALL THEY SAY IS BAD TIRES AND TOYOTA DOES NOT WARRANT TIRES. FILED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AND COMPANY SAYS SAME THING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHO INSPECTED AND REALIGNED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD GIVE HIM A RETURN CALL BUT THE CONTACT HAD YET TO HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,050.

POWER STEERING BELT BROKE AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND BEGINNING TO PICK UP SPEED. CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME (4 MILES) WITH LIMITED STEERING CONTROL. NEXT DAY, HAD CAR TOWED IN TO TOYOTA DEALER.

MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA COROLLA'S EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) IS ERRATIC AND UNRESPONSIVE. STARTING AT SPEEDS AROUND 55-60MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES HALF AN INCH TO AN INCH, ALTHOUGH I'VE ONLY DROVE IT OFF THE DEALER'S LOT WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. THIS WOBBLE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH WITHIN MY LANE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO MINE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR COLLISION IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE DEALER FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM AND TOYOTA USA DIDN'T CONTACT ME ABOUT A FIX EITHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND WAS AWAITING INSPECTION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE DEALER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE POWER STEERING TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK IT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 11,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE REAR WINDOWS WERE OPENED AND THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL AND THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD OPEN THE FRONT WINDOWS TO RELEASE PRESSURE FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 3,400.

LTR FWD (NY) OWNER OF A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT HAS BEEN SERVICE FOR MULTIPLE DEFECTS SINCE PURCHASED INCLUDING BRAKING SYSTEM AND GAS PEDAL RECALL, REPLY TO MASSAPEQUA, NY OFC. *TGW THE BACK SEAT FOAM WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE PASSENGER EXTERIOR MIRROR WAS LOOSE, THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED SO THEY WOULDN'T FEEL MUSHY, THE STEERING WAS LOOSE AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD DIM WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM THE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THEY STATED IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. *JB

OPENING THE HOOD TO ADD WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, THE HOOD RELEASE DID NOT WORK, HAD TO RECONNECT IT. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS EXTREMELY LOW, HAVE ONLY OWNED CAR FOR 6 MONTHS, ONLY 4000 MILES ON IT. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL, FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ENGAGE, REALLY SLOWS THE CAR DOWN WHEN "COASTING". *TR

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2010 CAMRY LE (4 CYLINDER), AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE SET OF FACTORY-INSTALLED TIRES, ANOTHER SET OF FOUR MICHELIN TIRES, A THIRD SET OF FOUR, AND 2 MORE TIRES AS OF 10/27/2013, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE ONLY NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRES CURIOUSLY GO UNIFORMLY BALD ON THE FRONT IN LESS THAN 1/3RD OF THE LIFE OF THE TIRE. EACH COMPANY FROM WHICH I HAVE PURCHASED NEW MICHELIN OR BFGOODRICH TIRES FOR THIS CAMRY SAID THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES SHOULD NOT ORDINARILY BE UNIFORMLY BALD OR BE WORN OUT SO QUICKLY. THEY HAVE ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE COME OUT OF THE FACTORY ALIGNED THIS WAY, SINCE THE FIRST PAIR WAS USELESS AFTER SO FEW MILES AND THE NEW TIRES ARE WEARING OUT SO QUICKLY. MOREOVER, THERE ARE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AC SYSTEM CONTROLS AND THE SENSOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW. THE AC MYSTERIOUSLY TURNS ITS RECYCLED AIR SWITCH FROM RECYCLED TO VENT (WITHOUT BEING PRESSED TO MAKE THE SWITCH) WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW WILL GO NEARLY ALL THE WAY UP (WHEN PRESSED), BUT IT STOPS SHORT OF THE TOP AND THEN ROLLS ITSELF BACK DOWN. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT ROBBIN'S TOYOTA SAID HIS MECHANICS COULD NOT GET THESE PROBLEMS TO RE-OCCUR WHEN DRIVEN, AND THEREFORE, HE COULD NOT AND WOULD NOT FIX THE TWO ISSUES, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME. FINALLY, I CANNOT REMOVE THE OIL FILTER CANISTER FOR A HOME-OIL CHANGE. I'VE USED THE OEM FILTER CAP WRENCH, BUT I AM UNABLE TO GET THE CANISTER HOUSING TO TURN, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE OIL FILTER AT HOME. THIS WAS THE FIRST TOYOTA I'VE OWNED, AND IT WILL BE THE LAST. *TR

DRIFTING IN 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY. VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT LEFT AND RIGHT BUT NOT GO STRAIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS AND REPLACEMENT OF TIRES AND WHEELS A NEW WRACK WAS INSTALLED AND THAT ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM. I AM AWARE OF 3 OTHER 2010 CAMRYS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

PURCHASED 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY IN 12/10/09. CAR/TIRE WAS WOBBLING, FELT THAT ALIGNMENT WAS OUT. I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON 12/21/09. I WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THE TIRES WAS OFF. DEALER SERVICE JUST REBALANCED REAR PASSENGER TIRE AND INFLATED WELL BEYOND REQUIRED PSI'S. CAR CONTINUED TO WOBBLE, AND DRIVE WITH A DISTORTION IN RIDE AND HAVE TO HOLD STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. WENT BACK FOR SERVICE ON 1/23/10. AGAIN, SERVICE ADMITTED RADIAL PULL. THEY REBALANCE THE WHEELS, AND REALIGNED THE CAR AND THAT DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DEALER PUT 4 NEW TIRES AND REALIGNED. PROBLEM CONTINUED. CAR IS NOT SITTING ON THE FRAME PROPERLY BUT SERVICE WILL NOT ADMIT IT. TOOK CAR TO SERVICE AGAIN ON 2/13/10. AGAIN A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED AND DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. TOOK TO SERVICE AGAIN 3/8/10 COMPLAINED THAT CAR ISN'T DRIVING PROPERLY, I HAVE TO HOLD MY STEERING WHEEL A CERTAIN WAY TO KEEP THE CAR DRIVING STRAIGHT. WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE DUE TO THE DISTORTION, WOBBLING OF CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA TIRES ROLL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. INCREDIBLE! THE CAR ACCELERATES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT TO GO STRAIGHT. ONE SIDE OF THE CAR IS HIGHER THAN THE OTHER. WHEN I ASKED WHAT WAS DONE TO THE CAR, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND WAS DISMISSED. PEOPLE DRIVING BEHIND ME FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT ME AND I'VE BEEN STOPPED AND TOLD THAT MY CAR IS CROOKED . I CAN FEEL IT AND SEE THE SAME THING. SERVICE INFLATED MY TIRES TO OVER 42PSI'S. THAT'S TOO MUCH AIR. THIS CAR IS STILL DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT DEPENDING UPON WHICH WAY THE TIRES ARE MOVING FROM "LEFT TO RIGHT", IN WHICH I WAS TOLD THIS IS A TOYOTA THING. INSULTING! I FEEL THIS WAS DONE IN ORDER TO MASK WHATEVER THE REAL PROBLEM IS. I TRADED A 2004 CAMRY THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I HAD OVER 30 ALIGNMENTS, 4 BRAKE JOBS, A STEERING SHAFT REPLACED AND 4 SETS OF TIRES IN 4 YRS. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION ON THAT CAR. THIS CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING. FEEL UNSAFE. *TR