2007 Camry Steering kickback/problems

[mazzmath]

I have a 2007 Camry XLE 4-cylinder with the Michelin Energy MXV4 S8 tires and 5,800 miles.

This car exhibits the worst handling I have ever experienced (including abused rental cars). The dealer has aligned it 4 times. According to the alignment report, everything is perfect. In fact, on a perfectly straight and flat (no bumps, ruts, etc.) road, the vehicle drives perfectly straight. The last time I had the service manager drive the car, he contacted Toyota and was told that Toyota will not provide any additional service with alignment related issues. I have also contacted Toyota customer service and got no where ... I was read numerous scripts off of a computer screen, but was offered NO help. I keep pushing them for information/help, but I never feel like they are being completely honest with me (shocking, I know). They are not even willing to thoroughly inspect the suspension and steering system.

Here is a detailed description of the problem I am experiencing: In short, it is nearly impossible to drive this vehicle in a straight line. Any bump, rut, unevenness, dip in the road, etc. causes the vehicle to pull (and the steering wheel to turn) left or right. This occurs at all speeds. There are some surface streets I drive on (25-35 mph) where the steering wheel rocks back and forth 10-20 degrees in either direction (or it would go into a curb if I don't correct quickly). It is possible to keep both hands on the steering wheel and keep a strong downward force applied to both sides to fight the pulling - it's exhausting to drive this way. On the highway, I am waiting to be pulled over for suspected DUI. Although the steering wheel kickback is more subtle at higher speeds, it requires constant correction to drive straight. On one stretch on a new concrete tollway in Houston, the steering wheel rocks back and few (just a few degrees either way) over and over again. I have had the wheels balanced and there is no vibration at any speed.

I have found that higher tire pressure (32-34 psi) makes the symptoms worse. Lower pressure (28-30 psi) improves the symptoms slightly, but does not eliminate the problem. It does cause even worse corning and tires that squeal with moderate speed during cornering.

I told the dealer and Toyota customer service that I believe that this vehicle is not safe to drive and I keep being told what I am experiencing is normal. In fact, the dealer and customer service push off the problem to each other. Each one says that if the other agrees there is a problem, they will try to fix it.

This is my first Toyota purchase and I feel like I have made the worst car buying decision possible. I absolutely hate driving this car. I cannot continue to drive this vehicle like it is until I pay off enough to be able to trade it in.

Does anyone have any suggestions??? Has anyone had the same problems and found a solution? I suspect (hope?!) that putting different tires on the vehicle would help, but the dealer and customer service are not willing to do this. This is surely not how all '07 Camrys drive? I am desperate to get this fixed and would greatly appreciate any advice anyone has.

[TRD VVTi]

What do you expect when you cross diagonal expansion joints while you're not holding the steering wheel? Are you for real? You don't know that you're supposed to hold the steering wheel?

Your second video clearly shows that you found a spot that can make your problem APPEAR to be real, but closer inspection of the surface proves otherwise.

The dealer and Toyota Customer Service are right. You no longer deserve any warranty assistance.

You're the exact person that gives people in the Service Department a bad time.

I want to say much more, but I won't.

[tonyizhurr]

okay i know what you mean but mine doesn't do it as much. but i think mine does it is because i have 20's and i guess its more rougher and so i just accept it. haha.

[JSM1284]

Called "Bump Steer"

[mazzmath]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

What do you expect when you cross diagonal expansion joints while you're not holding the steering wheel? Are you for real? You don't know that you're supposed to hold the steering wheel?

Your second video clearly shows that you found a spot that can make your problem APPEAR to be real, but closer inspection of the surface proves otherwise.

The dealer and Toyota Customer Service are right. You no longer deserve any warranty assistance.

You're the exact person that gives people in the Service Department a bad time.

I want to say much more, but I won't.

I am "for real." Obviously, one should not expect to be able to drive without holding the wheel. I did that to demonstrate that when you do drive this vehicle how much correction is necessary to drive straight. It is NOT an occasional occurrence. I have driven many cars on many roads and quite a few on the same roads I normally drive now and have never had any vehicle behave this way. That is all I basing this on (and how annoying/unsettling the car is to drive).

So, please anyone let me know if your 2007 camry requires you to frequently make steering adjustments (when driving over any type of road imperfection) just to drive straight. If this truly is normal for this vehicle, then Toyota has made a sub-par product. Also, if anyone has found anything that can help reduce this effect, pleast post. Thanks!

[mazzmath]

Originally Posted by JSM1284

Called "Bump Steer"

I am familiar with "bump steer" and it probably describes the situation well. Is it normal for this vehicle? Is there any known "solution" to reduce or eliminate it?

[anttorres]

I have the same problem on my 07 Camry. I had two wheel alignments and it still a problem. I've never struggled so much with a steering wheel in my life.

There is a TSB on this issue...ST005-01 REPAIR MANUAL SUPPLEMENT: VEHICLE PULLING TO ONE SIDE (REVISED)2002 – 2007 model year Toyota vehicles. 2004 – 2007 model year Scion vehicles.

The service dept I took my car to opened a ticket with Toyota technical group, supposedly other people have complained, but there is no resolution. I also experience a front end vibration which 3 wheel balancings (1 road force balance) have yet to resolve.

And I know other owners have a problem because the loaner 07 Camry the dealer gave me had the exact same issue.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by mazzmath

So, please anyone let me know if your 2007 camry requires you to frequently make steering adjustments (when driving over any type of road imperfection) just to drive straight.

Mine is fine, actually GREAT!!!

[importcars]

lol.. TRD VVti is great.. i love to read his comments..

-as in the video, i seen no problem, that steering wheel barely jerked while hitting bumps when u didnt have ur hands on the wheel? but what do i know.

[JAKSTER]

I looked at the video a dozen times each and I think you need to quit smoking that crack pipe man. What the hell when you hit a bump or dip ya !the wheel will move. Maybe you need a BaJa racer with the long travel shocks and lots of trail links ect.

[streetxdreamer]

i thought it was turning the wheel like 40 degrees until i watched your vids, are you fucking serious

cry me a fucking river and then build a bridge to get over it.

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by streetxdreamer

cry me a fucking river and then build a bridge to get over it.

[spamzilla]

cry me a fucking river and then build a bridge to get over it. hahahahahaha im sitting in class and i read that and actually laughed out loud.

[CMSE07]

I know what you are experiencing. I think my Camry is an awesome car, except for one thing, the suspension/steering. It needs some refining. The Camry does experience a little too much bump steer than it should. Im an ASE Master Tech and work for Federal Mogul Corp (Moog Chassis) I know my stuff. From what it seems as far as the wandering issue is, the rack has too much play (backlash) at center causing room for the wandering. I work as a technical specialist for Federal Mogul at their Technical Education Center and have had the top engineering guys from Hunter Engineering align my car on their newest rack/aligning system but the problems still exist.

[eddiecruz]

My 2007 Camry V6 SE also has significant amount of steering kickback. When taking it into the dealer they told me that it was operating under normal specs. I have driven many cars far cheaper than my Camry and they have not exhibited the same loose feel as the Camry. I have posted a similar comment with about the steering but I called it "wandering steering". I have had it aligned and tires road force balanced with no noticeable improvement. The only thing that seemed to help was to lower the tire pressure down to around 25psi.