We purchased the Highlander new & have taken it to the dealership every 6 months for maintenance. I am the main driver (female) & have NEVER it on any rough roads. The thumping has been ongoing for approximately a year & continued to get worse. Took it in & informed we needed the intermediate steering shaft replaced... Cost of $537.38 Plus $119.95 for a 4 wheel alignment= $657.25 total!

So in the 17 times it's been in for service, why was this not addressed before now?? I guess Toyota has figured out, that when you get worried about it, it will be out of warranty & you can eat the cost yourself!! We've been loyal Toyota customers for years, well, I see another manufacturer in the future! Unfortunately, we just purchased a new 2019 Tacoma.

I find it inconceivable Toyota has the balls to expect owners to eat the cost.

Took it to the dealer repair shop and asked them what was causing the noise while it was still under warranty. Repair manager said he couldn't find anything wrong. Took it back around 85,000 miles- louder and more noticeable, manager crossed through complaint, again, didn't know what I was talking about. Took it in this week at 106,000 and guess what? YEP, discovered the problem and want $700 to fix it. I showed him the ALL DATA TSB and I was told since it isn't a recall, they won't fix it unless I pay for it.

Just bought this used 2011 Highlander. It had some clunking noise and slight looseness, when turning the steering wheel, mostly at slower speeds and when going over bumpy roads. Had it checked out at Toyota, they said that is is safe, but is a worn out intermediate shaft, and I didn't necessarily have to fix it soon as it wasn't a safety concern. Once I got it fixed with a new intermediate shaft, the problem was fixed and it did not have any noise/looseness after the fix. Feels great/tight and drives great now.

Took SUV to Florida Toyota dealer to report the noise while on vacation. Dealer said everything tight. August 2016 noise is more frequent and noticable. Will have my Ohio dealer look at vehicle. Other owners suggest that the intermediate shaft is suspect.

Update from Dec 28, 2016: I detected the noise shortly after buying this certified SUV and reported it to a dealer while the vehicle had low miles. The noise got worse so I took it back to the dealer at 70,000 miles. The noise was coming from the intermediate steering shaft and seemed to be more noticable driving low speeds left or right off a driveway apron at the conclusion of a turn. The sound a single soft clunk that is felt in the steering wheel. Put a 275 pound technician in the driver's seat for a test drive and the noise goes away. But Toyota and I know the component was defective and reported in a timely fashion. There was a technical service bulletin regarding the symptom and the proper repair since 2012.

Utilmately the dealer offered to replace the shaft for a $100 deductible due to the vehicle being out of warranty. My point was that the component was noisy and was reported while under warranty. It is not my problem that the first dealership was deaf to my concerns. I am out $107.25 and four visits to Toyota dealers.