Broken steering linkage

[dzeleski]

Picture isnt the clearest but it seems that it was fractured for some time as the break has a darker section and a brighter section. Darker section was exposed to dirt/air/water for longer.

The only way this is a 5k repair is if other components are broken or bent. Personally I would pay an independent shop to fix and align the link. If the car aligns without issues you are fine. If it doesnt then you have more tweaked components.

Your next step should be to call Toyota Corp and quit talking to your dealer. Even if you get it fixed on your own you can have Toyota pay for the part at a minimum but I would push for part and labor.

Edit: Do you remember hitting anything? Pot holes, curb, etc?

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[razorlab]

Looking at this photo again. It looks like the sway bar contacted the tie rod (you can see the mark on the bar) and bent it up and then the rod snapped. A couple track guys with bigger bars and such have had some issues with bending the tie rod. Everything is VERY tight in there when the car is on the ground.

Was the car jacked up or put on a lift recently?

Image from my Supra with just a .5" lowering and aftermarket end links that position the bar lower than OEM.

 

[Elektro]

life is too short to be worried about $5k.

Can you send me $5k? I was the first to ask so surely you won't mind?

 

[FnkDrSpok]

This just happened on my 2021. Also found that 2020 Supras and BMW Z4 had a recall for this exact failure.

I'm sorry, can't gloss over this. Are they saying this was corrected in the 2021? When I purchased mine, I had them do all recalls before I took delivery, this wasn't mentioned. Do you know the manufacturer date of your Supra?

 

[FuzzyRev]

You really hurt yourself by mentioning legal action prematurely, and the recall was for 09/2018 through 07/2019 build dates, but never applying to Supras.

 

[zrk]

Definitely does look like the sway bar contacted the tie rod.

 

[Loco38SUP]

Looking at the angles of the snapped ends a huge pot hole was hit prior and the part finally gave out in your driveway. Or that front end was cycled past its limits.

Is the car lowered at all?

-RJM

 

[Loco38SUP]

Looking at this photo again. It looks like the sway bar contacted the tie rod (you can see the mark on the bar) and bent it up and then the rod snapped. A couple track guys with bigger bars and such have had some issues with bending the tie rod. Everything is VERY tight in there when the car is on the ground.

Was the car jacked up or put on a lift recently?

Image from my Supra with just a .5" lowering and aftermarket end links that position the bar lower than OEM.

Something doesn’t add up. That rod was stressed to the point of failure by a decent force. Usually tie rod ends just bend like you mentioned. Here is another example from my Tacoma.

-RJM

 

[SupraSteve1]

I’ve not received it.

2020 TOYOTA Supra Recalls, Complaints and Investigations - The Center for Auto Safety

 

[razorlab]

You can look up open recalls on your car here: https://www.toyota.com/recall

Nothing for my 2020.

Also found this:

 

[SupraSteve1]

Looking at the angles of the snapped ends a huge pot hole was hit prior and the part finally gave out in your driveway. Or that front end was cycled past its limits.

Is the car lowered at all?

-RJM

I never hit any pot hole at all, and car not lowered or anything. Hitting a pot hole at such speed to break the tie rod would certainly show other damage, especially to the rim or tire. There is no damage. Too much of a coincidence that the 2020 was recalled for possible failure of that exact part.

 

[razorlab]

Something doesn’t add up. That rod was stressed to the point of failure by a decent force. Usually tie rod ends just bend like you mentioned.

Yea, that part of the rod is literally designed to be the bend point to help it not snap, obviously it didn't help in this instance.

 

[razorlab]

I never hit any pot hole at all, and car not lowered or anything. Hitting a pot hole at such speed to break the tie rod would certainly show other damage, especially to the rim or tire. There is no damage. Too much of a coincidence that the 2020 was recalled for possible failure of that exact part.

Not all 2020's were affected.

The issue here is that it's very obvious in your photo that the tie rod bent before it snapped. It's not just a clean snap.

I asked before but I'll ask again, was the car jacked up at all previous to this incident?

 

[zrk]

Regardless of why this part failed, either OPs failt, a manufacturing defect, or -whatever-, the man is without a car.

I believe the best thing to do at this point is to go to an independent BMW shop with an alignment rack, and pay ~$500 to fix this, and move on.

 

[puzzled]

Can you send me $5k? I was the first to ask so surely you won't mind?

I’m keeping it for when my steering wheel falls off the car like OP’s car..!

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