TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Toyota Camry steering problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Toyota Camry have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 50,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Camry | 32 |
| 2015 Camry | 105 |
| 2016 Camry | 25 |
| 2017 Camry (this page) | 14 |
| 2018 Camry | 59 |
| 2019 Camry | 11 |
| 2020 Camry | 5 |
| 2021 Camry | 4 |
3crashes
1fire
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 14 steering complaints filed for the 2017 Toyota Camry, 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
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two broad categories of steering failure in the 2017 Camry: sudden loss of power assist with simultaneous failure of ABS and stability control, and progressive or intermittent steering instability ranging from vibration to complete unresponsiveness.
The most critical incidents involve steering lock-up at highway speed. One owner described the steering wheel stiffening abruptly at 60 mph, coupled with unexpected deceleration and illuminated brake/skid lights, which led to a ditch crash. Another reported the steering system locking entirely while the vehicle accelerated from 35 mph to 60 mph; braking made it accelerate faster. A third lost steering control at 55 mph and veered into a ditch with injuries. Dealers have diagnosed faulty ABS actuators (quoted $3,000 to replace) and found that steering columns require replacement due to internal looseness—one owner paid $1,447 total for column replacement at 50,000 miles.
Steering instability also manifests as highway vibration and drift. Owners report the wheel pulling out of lane at speeds above 50 mph, excessive play in the steering wheel, and hypersensitivity to input. In wet conditions, some experienced swerving when braking. One owner's independent mechanic found no tire or alignment issues, yet the dealer found no fault either.
Electrical gremlins accompany or precede steering complaints in several cases: burning smell, radio glitches, check charging system warnings, airbag faults, and one unexplained airbag deployment that sent occupants to hospital. Owners report cranking sounds in the steering wheel and loose-feeling wheels alongside these electrical issues.
Same Toyota Camry steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering loss / electrical steering failure
Complete or partial loss of electric power steering assistance, sometimes coupled with loss of other electrical systems (ABS, stability control, speedometer). In at least one case, the steering wheel stiffened significantly during highway driving, accompanied by unexpected deceleration and system warning lights. In another, loss of power steering occurred abruptly at low speed with no warning, along with ABS and stability control failure.
When: Occurred at various speeds and mileages: one at 60 mph during initial highway driving; one at 25 mph during braking; one at 55 mph on highway; one at approximately 49,000 miles; recurring in another case.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel stiffens or becomes difficult to turn; Loss of power steering boost; Warning lights illuminate (steering, check engine, ABS, traction control); Vehicle may decelerate unexpectedly or resist acceleration; Multiple electrical systems fail simultaneously (ABS, stability control, speedometer)
Codes mentioned: ABS actuator fault
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer diagnosed faulty ABS actuator; parts reported on back order. Another case required steering column replacement ($135 diagnostic, $555 labor, $757 part). ABS repair quoted at $3,000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealer stated no additional warranty available in one case. Service tech noted multiple cases of steering column looseness requiring replacement. No recalls mentioned; customer stated ABS actuators being replaced while no NHTSA reports filed.
Steering wheel vibration and instability at highway speeds
Steering wheel vibrates or shudders during acceleration or at highway speeds. Vehicle swerves or drifts out of lane, requiring constant steering correction. In wet conditions, vehicle swerves when brakes are applied. Reported as exacerbated by rain and vehicle speed. Multiple owners describe the steering as overly sensitive with excessive play and inadequate resistance.
When: At speeds above 50 mph; one case at 165,000 miles; one at 60,000 miles; occurs repeatedly during highway driving and in rain.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibrates at moderate to high speeds; Vehicle veers or drifts from lane without driver input; Excessive steering wheel play (1-2 degrees of loose movement); Hypersensitive steering response to slight inputs; Vehicle swerves when brakes applied in rain; Shuddering and abnormal shaking during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: One owner took vehicle to independent mechanic; no alignment or tire issues found. Another dealer found no issues after diagnosis. No repairs completed; one owner replaced tires and brakes without resolving issue.
Steering column looseness / rattle
Rattling noise under dashboard developing over time, traced to loose parts within the steering column. Rattle increased in frequency and became more pronounced with mileage and driving over bumps. Confirmed by dealer diagnosis as requiring steering column replacement.
When: Began around 45,000 miles; brought to dealer at 50,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Rattle under dashboard, especially over bumps; Noise increases with mileage; Loose feeling steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: $135 diagnostic fee, $555 labor, $757 steering column replacement. Service tech noted multiple other cases of steering column looseness requiring replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota customer service provided no satisfaction per owner. Service tech confirmed other cases of steering column looseness requiring replacement at dealer.
Steering system lock / loss of control at speed
Steering system locks or becomes completely unresponsive during driving, rendering the vehicle uncontrollable. In one critical case, steering locked while vehicle accelerated from 35 mph to 60 mph; applying brakes caused further acceleration. In another, vehicle veered left independently at 55 mph with no steering input.
When: One case at 35–60 mph highway speed; another at 55 mph highway speed; another at approximately 49,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering system locks or becomes unresponsive; Complete loss of vehicle control; Vehicle accelerates when brakes applied; Vehicle veers or drifts independently; Vehicle may shift out of gear after stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles involved in crashes; one totaled, damage to another unknown. No repairs noted.
Electrical system malfunction affecting steering and related systems
Multiple electrical faults including burning smell, radio and lighting malfunctions, check charging system warning, airbag light staying on, and loose steering wheel. Owners report cranking sound in steering wheel and note that electrical gremlins preceded or accompanied steering issues. One case involved airbags deploying unexpectedly (possible electrical short).
When: Reported across multiple mileages; some issues at 5–6 months of ownership; one airbag deployment during highway driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell from vehicle; Radio goes on and off randomly, screens flash; Check charging system warning light; Airbag warning light illuminates or stays on; Headlights burn out repeatedly; Cranking sound in steering wheel; Steering wheel feels loose; Airbags deploy unexpectedly (possible electrical short)
Codes mentioned: Check charging system, Airbag system fault
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced in one case; radio still not fully functional. Arm controls replaced. Axles replaced. No definitive repair for underlying electrical issue. Airbags had to be cut to extract occupants.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated uncertainty about check charging system warning. No explanation provided for airbag deployment or electrical gremlins.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I just bought Toyota camry xle v6 2017. This car has very sensitive steering and is unsafe to drive, especially on a highway. There is a 1-2 degrees of very loose, fluid, no-resistant movement space in the steering wheel. The lack of any resistance in the steering makes the driver not having control over the car. I have to keep correcting the steering for the car to stay in lane. Actually, a…
I was involved in a head on collision with a stone fixture, when my camry too me off the road I was traveling 35mph initially and the car went up to 60 MPH onto the side walk. The steering system locked and I had no control over the car anymore and when I applied the brakes it caused the car to accelerate faster. I was going 60 MPH into a stone fixture where me car crashed. I'm badly injured due…
Had steering trouble with your 2017 Toyota Camry?
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 2017 Toyota Camry?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 46,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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/2017/Toyota/Camry.
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.