Component
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
137 NHTSA complaints about steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting issues across 20 makes and 63 models.
The steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 137 filings from 20 manufacturers and 63 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 17 crashes, 0 fires, 13 injuries, and 3 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT with 18 filings, followed by TOYOTA PICKUP and TOYOTA 4RUNNER. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 18 |
| 2 | TOYOTA PICKUP | 10 |
| 3 | TOYOTA 4RUNNER | 10 |
| 4 | TOYOTA T100 | 9 |
| 5 | AUDI A4 | 5 |
| 6 | TOYOTA TOYOTA TRUCK | 4 |
| 7 | TOYOTA 4 RUNNER | 4 |
| 8 | MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS | 4 |
| 9 | FORD TAURUS | 4 |
| 10 | DODGE DAKOTA | 3 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET IMPALA | 3 |
| 12 | BUICK LESABRE | 3 |
| 13 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 2 |
| 14 | MAZDA PROTEGE | 2 |
| 15 | FORD F-150 | 2 |
| 16 | DODGE RAM 2500 | 2 |
| 17 | DODGE RAM | 2 |
| 18 | CHRYSLER CONCORDE | 2 |
| 19 | CHRYSLER CIRRUS | 2 |
| 20 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 | 2 |
| 21 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 2 |
| 22 | VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE | 1 |
| 23 | TOYOTA TRUCK | 1 |
| 24 | TOYOTA TIOO | 1 |
| 25 | TOYOTA SR5 | 1 |
| 26 | TOYOTA SIENNA | 1 |
| 27 | TOYOTA HIGHLANDER | 1 |
| 28 | SATURN VUE | 1 |
| 29 | SATURN SL | 1 |
| 30 | PONTIAC MONTANA | 1 |
Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PEARL MOTOR COMPANY (3100 S CLAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW M3. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SUDDEN KNOCKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE NOISE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO
2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES SEVERE PROBLEM WITH TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS SPENT MORE THAN $588.54 ON WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECKS AND NEW TIRES, NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE SPINDLE ROD PR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V389000 STEERING LINKAGES, ROD RELAY CONNECTING. THE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA PICKUP. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE A-ROD THAT HELD THE TIRE IN PLACE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND CAUSED THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL TO FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. T
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENL
TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACCEPT OUR COMPLAINT ABOUT OUR 1994 TOYOTA T-100. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE 05V389000 AS A VALID SOURCE FOR A COMPLAINT. TOYOTA STATES THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE.
CONSUMER QUESTION ABOUT TOYOTA STEERING LINKAGES ROD. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW LONG THE MANUFACTURER IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MALFUNCTION OF A PART IF THE DRIVER WAS IN A ACCIDENT AND WAS KI
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO SHOP FOR REPAIR OF TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIX A BROKEN TIE-ROD. CHEVROLET IS REFUSING TO RETURN CALLS. CUSTOMER CARE REP. PAUL FLEMING 1-866-790-5700 EXT. 2211
BROUGHT MY 1991 4RUNNER INTO CONCORD (CA) TOYOTA DEALER FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V389000, FOR :COMPONENT: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE I
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 TOYOTA T100. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V389000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING) IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE IMMEDIATELY SCHEDUL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V414000 (STEERING: LINKAGES: ROD: RELAY: CONNECTING). SHE
I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN I DRIVE IT ON HIGHWAY AT AROUND 50-75 MPH, SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD WOBBLE FOR NO REASON. IF I MOVE MY FOOT AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THE WOBBLE WOULD STOP. IT MAKE
MY 1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS AT SLOW SPEED HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD END FAIL AND FALL OFF CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THIS HAPPENED AT A SLOW SPEED LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT. CAR TOWED TO FORD
INTERMITTENT LOUD NOISE FROM STEERING WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. I FOUND RECALL 05V389000 FOR A STEERING RELAY ROD PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE AND CONTACTED TOYOTA A T 1-800-331-4331 ABOUT THE RECALL IN DEC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE TIE RODS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEE
I HAVE BEEN NOTICING RATTLE ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDES WHEEL AREA. I TOOK THE CAR TO MCGRATH AUDI IN GLENVIEW IL FOR INSPECTION, AND HAD SINCE RECIEVED RECALL NOTICE RELATING TO TIE ROD PROBLEMS. DECE
CUSTOMER STATES THAT AFTER MOVING TO ITALY HE RECEIVED A RECALL AND WHEN HE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS HE WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD NOT GET THE CAR FIX BECAUSE HE DIDN'T BUY THE CAR IN ITALY**CC THE CO
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SAFETY RECALL ON THE RELAY ROD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY THE CONTACT VEERED SLIGHTLY OF
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting issues? ▼
How dangerous are steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting problems? ▼
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.