In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for the Steering Column Telescopic Adjustment Lever Detent Clip in 2005- Certain 2012 Model Year Avalon vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Toyota Avalon steering problems
moderate 35 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 35 steering complaints filed for the 2006 Toyota Avalon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 35 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 9 model years of Toyota Avalon in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
In these vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where, after securing the telescopic adjustment lever, the steering column?s telescopic adjustment function may not retain its set adjusted position. Although the Steering Column Telescopic Adjustment Lever Detent Clip is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is now extending the warranty coverage for replacement of the Telescopic Adjustment Lever Detent Clip to address the problem described in the covered vehicles. Please see the Warranty Enhancement Program Details for additional information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗In these vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where, after securing the telescopic adjustment lever, the steering column?s telescopic adjustment function may not retain its set adjusted position. Although the Steering Column Telescopic Adjustment Lever Detent Clip is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is now extending the warranty coverage for replacement of the Telescopic Adjustment Lever Detent Clip to address the problem described in the covered vehicles. Please see the Warranty Enhancement Program Details for additional information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TOYOTA: A NEW ADJUSTMENT LEVER DETENT CLIP WAS DEVELOPED TO CORRECT THE LOOSENESS OF SECURING THE TELESCOPIC ON STEERING COLUMN FOR SOME VEHICLES. MODEL 2005-2012 AVALON.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2005 ? 2012 model year Avalon vehicles may exhibit a looseness when securing then telescopic adjustment lever on the steering column. A new adjustment lever Detent Clip has been developed to address this condition. Please follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the telescopic lever Detent Clip.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report six distinct steering-system failures on the 2006 Avalon. Most common is telescoping column collapse: the friction lock gradually loosens over 2,000 to 20,000 miles, then the steering wheel collapses inward without warning—especially during hard braking. Drivers lose control or nearly do. Dealers initially dismissed this, claiming inability to replicate or blaming the owner for "improper" locking. Toyota issued Service Bulletin 00306 and later a "warranty enhancement," but many owners paid out of pocket ($700–$911 for column replacement).
Steering racks leak power steering fluid from the right side, soaking the subframe. Initial replacement at $1,338 didn't stick; owners report recurring leaks requiring additional hose work ($500+) within 1.5 years. Steering linkage clunks loudly at low-speed turns on roughly half these vehicles—starting around 16,500 miles—and persists even after intermediate shaft replacement. One owner replaced the column twice, then resorted to lubrication; noise returned every 15,000 miles.
Steering stiffness or sticking appears intermittently, particularly on startup or during turns. Dealers offered alignment as a fix, but the problem recurs. One owner reported a VVT gear bolt failure that caused complete engine stall, resulting in simultaneous loss of power steering and brakes—a defect Toyota addressed via recall for Lexus models but refused to acknowledge on Avalons.
Same Toyota Avalon steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Telescoping steering column lock failure
The friction locking mechanism of the telescoping steering column gradually loosens during normal driving and disengages without warning. Drivers report the lock lever drops completely, allowing the steering column to collapse inward, particularly during hard braking or when pressure is applied to the wheel. The collapse creates sudden loss of steering control and potential for accident.
When: 2,000 to 2,000+ driven miles; some cases at 12,000 to 120,000 miles; happens unpredictably after 2–3 hours of highway driving or 1–2 weeks of normal use
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column lock lever drops or becomes fully disengaged; Steering wheel collapses toward instrument panel during braking or hard acceleration; Loss of vehicle control or near-loss of control; Free play in steering wheel; Requires manual checking and re-locking of column frequently while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota Service Bulletin No. 00306 mentions adjustment lever detent clip replacement for 2005–2012 Avalons; some dealers replaced entire steering column at $700–$911 cost; Toyota later issued 'warranty enhancement' program for this issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued Service Bulletin 00306 for telescoping steering column looseness; recalls on 2005 models (05/18/2005) for steering yoke welding defect; warranty enhancement program announced but owners report Toyota initially denied coverage or stated vehicles were out of warranty; dealers initially refused to repair, claiming inability to replicate or stating driver was operating steering improperly
Steering rack leakage
Steering rack develops leaks from the right side, causing power steering fluid to wet the subframe and accumulate under the vehicle. Initial replacement may not resolve the underlying problem, with leaks recurring and worsening over time.
When: Reported at high mileage (153,000+ miles); one case reported leak recurrence approximately 1.5 years after initial replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel gets stuck when turning car on, requiring manual effort to release; Power steering fluid leaking from right side of steering rack; Wet subframe with power steering fluid; Oil leak from return hoses in power steering column (secondary leak point identified after initial repair)
Repairs/costs cited: Initial steering rack replacement: $1,338.85; return hose replacement and repair: $500; total spent approximately $2,000 over 1.5 years for recurring leaks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued service bulletins on steering leaks since 2004 but did not issue recall; dealers acknowledged problem as known issue but offered no warranty coverage at high mileage
Steering column clunking/knocking noise
Loud clunking or knocking noise when turning the steering wheel at low speeds or during acceleration, braking, and side-to-side wheel rotation. Root cause varies: steering intermediate shaft spline corrosion and wear, steering column replacement attempted multiple times without permanent fix, or unidentified steering linkage part defect in certain production lots.
When: Appears at 16,500 to 42,000 miles; one case recurring every 15,000–20,000 miles after multiple repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking or clunking noise when turning wheel at low speeds; Noise during acceleration, braking, and side-to-side wheel rotation; Worn splines and corrosion visible on steering intermediate shaft; Problem recurs after steering column replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column replacement: $700–$911; steering intermediate shaft replacement performed; subsequent lubrication of linkage; repairs temporary, noise returns every 15,000–20,000 miles in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota acknowledged as known problem with 2006 Avalons; Toyota stated fix exists but no recall issued; dealer classified as 'nuisance factor' rather than safety issue; bad lot of steering linkage part identified but never recalled
Steering sticking or binding
Steering wheel becomes stiff or sticky, particularly when turning or during initial startup. In some cases, steering binds or sticks during low-speed turns, requiring quick corrective input. Intermittent nature makes diagnosis difficult; dealerships unable to replicate and initially blamed driver technique or alignment needs.
When: Intermittent; reported at 35,000 to 60,000+ miles; one case recurring for over 1 year despite multiple dealership visits
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel sticky or stiff when turning car on; Binding or sticking during left-hand turns at low speed; Steering stiffness that is intermittent and unpredictable; Difficulty straightening wheel out after turn; Feels like vehicle will not come out of turn
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment performed to address sticking (temporary fix, problem recurred); dealer unable to duplicate and offered no repair; no parts specified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued recall for steering stickiness in July (year unspecified); dealers initially stated problem could not be duplicated; alignment suggested as band-aid fix; no parts or warranty information provided
Power steering pump leakage
Power steering pump develops leaks, causing loss of fluid. Replacement may be temporary, with leaks recurring within 12–16 months. One case involved oil spray-out after replacement hose rupture, soaking serpentine belt and causing loss of steering control.
When: Initial failure around 35,000–60,000 miles; recurrence 12–16 months after replacement; VVTi oil hose rupture at unspecified mileage post-recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering pump leaking fluid; Engine oil spray from failed VVTi hose soaking serpentine belt and power steering pump; Loss of steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump replacement; VVTi oil hose replacement under recall #90K (performed 03/22/2010); replacement hose ruptured 07/24/2012
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Pump replaced under warranty (12-month coverage); replacement hose installed under recall #90K; when hose ruptured post-recall, no manufacturer response documented
VVT gear bolt loosening (engine stall, not true steering failure but reported with steering impact)
Three bolts holding the variable-valve timing (VVT) gear to the intake camshaft came completely loose, causing engine stall while driving. Engine stall resulted in loss of power steering and brakes simultaneously. Owner identified this as identical to Toyota Recall 13V-395 (Lexus 2006–2011), which was never applied to Avalon despite same design. Engine required rebuild.
When: At 153,000 miles; incident occurred June 7, 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Engine suddenly stopped while driving at city speed; Loss of power steering and power brakes simultaneously; Diagnostic codes: P0345, P0300, P0302, P0304, P0306; Three VVT gear bolts found loose next to gear; Intake cam rockers fallen out; Bolt vibration cut marks visible on gear
Codes mentioned: P0345, P0300, P0302, P0304, P0306
Repairs/costs cited: Engine rebuild required; repair performed at owner's expense due to out-of-warranty status
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota Recall 13V-395 issued for Lexus 2006–2011 models with identical VVT system; Toyota refused to acknowledge or apply recall to Avalon despite owner documentation and case filing (case number logged 06/27/2019); no warranty coverage available
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Power steering pump leaking. Told by dealer it will need to be replaced. *tr
The telescoping steering column lock loosens during normal driving. Usually the lock lever only drops low enough to hit your knees as you exit the car after a drive, but does not loosen enough to release the column telescope. Today it dropped all the way down while I was driving and the column (which I have fully extended normally) collapsed forward (compressed). I lost some vehicle control as I…
Steering column telescoping lever drops during normal driving. Fully down (although not visible through steering column) within 2-3 hours driving. Leaves steering wheel with free play during operation. Safety issue. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2006 Toyota Avalon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2006 Toyota Avalon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 35 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,500 and 86,000 miles, with the median around 42,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,500; a quarter make it past 86,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Toyota/Avalon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.