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Hello everyone,

About a month ago, upon returning home from a trip of about 1,150 miles, I heard a creaking sound coming from my vehicle. It was very subtle yet apparent, and it only occurred when the camera was fully locked to the right. I went in the next day to try to figure out what was causing it and under what circumstances, but by then it was disappeared. Since then, I've been making short journeys around town, and the noise has vanished.


After a longer-than-usual drive today, I once again heard the noise whenever I pulled into a parking lot. It appears that this noise is activated after a longish ride. With the windows open, I can't hear it at all. However, with the windows closed, I can hear it, and it seems to be emanating from the right front side of the car. Only when fully locked to the right can you hear what sounds like tapping or creaking; otherwise, it is completely silent.

I recently purchased the vehicle from a dealership, and now Google is recommending expensive repairs, including a steering rack replacement, that might cost me up to £1500!? Can you guess what it might be? Much obliged for any assistance.

Much obliged.

A prudent course of action would be to inform the dealer of the incidences as soon as possible, as the vehicle is still under warranty due to its recent acquisition.

Does bringing the car to a stop silence it?
Is the steering wheel a source of any sensation for you?


I recommend having the dealer hoist it onto their ramp so they can examine the undercarriage, steering, brakes, and suspension in detail, as fault diagnosis is challenging via the internet. They may claim nothing is obvious, but at least you'll have documentation in case something goes wrong down the road.

Hey, I appreciate you getting back to me. As far as I am aware, there is no warranty because the dealer was not a mains dealer but a used car dealer. Their 30-day guarantee only covered certain components, including the gearbox, gearbox, engine, etc., but I might investigate consumer rights if this becomes more than just a minor problem.

I park the car for around half an hour after it makes this noise, and now it stops. It gets louder as I accelerate, though.


I can honestly state that I don't experience any sensation in the steering wheel when it happens. It's simply a sound that I can hear, and it's so faint that it goes unnoticed when the windows are open. To compensate, you have to drive extremely slowly (in EV mode only, of course), and the engine noise is louder than the noise itself.

The clicking sound at full lock could be the CV joint wearing out.

Ignore this. I just read that it's a 2018 model, and the noise maker was installed recently. It makes an unusual sound that can be heard occasionally, but it shouldn't be audible when driving under 15 mph, even with the windows open.

How familiar are you with the service records? The last time it was serviced? Has it been serviced by a Toyota dealer? Dealer usage typically extends the warranty to 10 years or 100,000 miles, which is why most owners choose for it. Vehicle history databases, like Car Vertical's, reveal details including annual mileage, MOT history, and ownership transfers. Hopefully, after reading this, you will have a better understanding of your car's background.
After that, you can choose whether or not to have a third party, such as the AA, check the vehicle after you buy it. Has no idea how much it will cost.
Wishing you the best success.

Well, that wasn't all the trouble with Toyota; the automobile also has a complete service history. Up until about 2023, I suppose, it was serviced by Toyota. After that, it was sent to local garages. I had it serviced by the dealership where I bought it not long ago. There was an annual service, nevertheless.

Before buying it, I looked over the vehicle's MOT history, and the only failure I could find was due to a broken bulb. There were a few minor advisories, like that the tires will need replacing soon, but that was about it. So, I got the impression that the car was well-maintained, at least from what I could see. It would have been perfect if only Toyota could fix it, but alas.


Just like you indicated, I have heard that getting the car serviced at the main dealer again will re-activate the manufacturer guarantee, which is probably called an extended warranty, for 10 years or 100,000 miles. So, I was planning to do this at the next service, or even sooner.

Buying the car was, in my opinion, a good move, and I couldn't be happier with it. However, I was surprised to see possible problems arise so rapidly! It seems like taking it to a garage for an inspection along with the expense of diagnostics would be more cost-effective, considering the price range of £116 for their basic one to £267 for their premium one. I was just reading about such post-purchase examinations.

Well, I'm still holding out hope that the noise would be more persistent and regular if it were something serious, but yeah.

Although it is difficult to diagnose without seeing or hearing, CV joints typically create a noise at low speeds while engaged in full lock. If this happens, you should take your vehicle to a Toyota dealer.

Hybrid battery health checks are part of the service process at Toyota. Doubtful if other auto shops go to such lengths. Schedule your next service with Toyota without a doubt.

Stop by a Toyota dealership for maintenance; just keep mum about the noise. Hopefully they won't notice (or else they'll charge you for the repair), and then you can return it a few weeks later and use the 10-year warranty.