Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| 00107 | 01/19/2007 | 10020994 | Steering intermediate shaft in high road salt areas. *kb | 02/20/2007 | |
| 00304 | 02/06/2004 | 00304 | 10006138 | Steering intermediate shaft noise. *mr this bulletin replaced previous bulletin 003-04, dated feb 6 2004. *tt | 04/22/2004 |
| STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | |||||
| TSB-0097-12 | 07/10/2012 | 10045349 | Toyota: information being provided regarding repair procedure to correct oil leakage from boots of steering gear assembly. *pe | 08/28/2012 | |
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||||
| TC04016 | 10/13/2004 | 10010603 | Limited service campaign 40h to replace the power steering fluid return hoses. technical instructions; dealership and owner notification. *tt | 12/02/2004 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||
| EA08024 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 10/28/2008 | 07/16/2009 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| Odi's analysis of warranty data shows that the alleged defect has occurred in just 0.2 percent of the subject vehicle population.when the analysis is limited to salt-belt states, the rate is still well below one percent of the population (0.4 percent).in addition, tests conducted by odi and toyota have shown that the alleged defect has a minimal affect on steering efforts.odi interviews of owners who experienced the alleged defect indicated that in most cases the problem was preceded by months or years of noise or a gradual increase in steering efforts in the initial steering maneuvers after first starting a cold vehicle.the subject vehicles have been in service for 4 to 5 years with no crashes or injuries associated with the alleged defect.toyota's technical service bulletin provides assistance to service technicians in the early diagnosis and repair of the alleged defect condition. accordingly, this investigation has been closed. the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.for additional information regarding this engineering analysis refer to the ea08-024 closing report. | ||||||
| EA08024 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 10/28/2008 | 07/16/2009 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| Odi's analysis of warranty data shows that the alleged defect has occurred in just 0.2 percent of the subject vehicle population.when the analysis is limited to salt-belt states, the rate is still well below one percent of the population (0.4 percent).in addition, tests conducted by odi and toyota have shown that the alleged defect has a minimal affect on steering efforts.odi interviews of owners who experienced the alleged defect indicated that in most cases the problem was preceded by months or years of noise or a gradual increase in steering efforts in the initial steering maneuvers after first starting a cold vehicle.the subject vehicles have been in service for 4 to 5 years with no crashes or injuries associated with the alleged defect.toyota's technical service bulletin provides assistance to service technicians in the early diagnosis and repair of the alleged defect condition. accordingly, this investigation has been closed. the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.for additional information regarding this engineering analysis refer to the ea08-024 closing report. | ||||||
| PE08041 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 07/09/2008 | 10/28/2008 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| The office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation, pe08-041, to investigate allegations of steering binding or increased steering effort caused by corrosion of steering intermediate universal joints in model year (my) 2004 toyota sienna vehicles.toyota's response to odi's request for information in pe08-041 indicated that toyota has been investigating reports of increased steering effort in my 2004 through 2006 sienna vehicles since 2005. toyota determined that a combination of thermal damage and subsequent water intrusion could lead to corrosion of the lowermost universal joint installed on the steering intermediate shaft of the subject vehicles. toyota has made production changes since september 2006 to address these concerns and has issued two technical service bulletins to its dealerships to provide instructions on diagnosing and repairing complaints related to corrosion of the intermediate shaft. toyota has not determined that a safety defect exists in the steering system of the toyota sienna vehicles and provided test data showing that the effect on steering effort is minimal, even for parts with relatively severe corrosion. odi analyzed complaint and warranty data relating to the following symptoms: (1) steering intermediate shaft binding or locking; (2) corrosion of the steering intermediate shaft universal joint; (3) complaints of increased effort to turn the steering wheel from neutral or return to neutral after turning (e.g., hard steering or steering binding); or (4) noise while steering.these analyses revealed that the subject vehicles have experienced a total complaint rate of 81.0 per 100,000 vehicles and a total warranty claim rate of 3.0 percent.odi's analysis found that approximately two-thirds of complaints were for noise only.similar analysis of the warranty data showed that 91 percent were related to noise concerns. odi has upgraded this investigation to an engineering analysis (ea08-024) to conduct testing to assess the effect of the alleged defect on steering effort in the subject vehicles. | ||||||
| STEERING - COLUMN | ||||||
| PE08041 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 07/09/2008 | 10/28/2008 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| The office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation, pe08-041, to investigate allegations of steering binding or increased steering effort caused by corrosion of steering intermediate universal joints in model year (my) 2004 toyota sienna vehicles.toyota's response to odi's request for information in pe08-041 indicated that toyota has been investigating reports of increased steering effort in my 2004 through 2006 sienna vehicles since 2005. toyota determined that a combination of thermal damage and subsequent water intrusion could lead to corrosion of the lowermost universal joint installed on the steering intermediate shaft of the subject vehicles. toyota has made production changes since september 2006 to address these concerns and has issued two technical service bulletins to its dealerships to provide instructions on diagnosing and repairing complaints related to corrosion of the intermediate shaft. toyota has not determined that a safety defect exists in the steering system of the toyota sienna vehicles and provided test data showing that the effect on steering effort is minimal, even for parts with relatively severe corrosion. odi analyzed complaint and warranty data relating to the following symptoms: (1) steering intermediate shaft binding or locking; (2) corrosion of the steering intermediate shaft universal joint; (3) complaints of increased effort to turn the steering wheel from neutral or return to neutral after turning (e.g., hard steering or steering binding); or (4) noise while steering.these analyses revealed that the subject vehicles have experienced a total complaint rate of 81.0 per 100,000 vehicles and a total warranty claim rate of 3.0 percent.odi's analysis found that approximately two-thirds of complaints were for noise only.similar analysis of the warranty data showed that 91 percent were related to noise concerns. odi has upgraded this investigation to an engineering analysis (ea08-024) to conduct testing to assess the effect of the alleged defect on steering effort in the subject vehicles. | ||||||
| EA08024 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 10/28/2008 | 07/16/2009 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| Odi's analysis of warranty data shows that the alleged defect has occurred in just 0.2 percent of the subject vehicle population.when the analysis is limited to salt-belt states, the rate is still well below one percent of the population (0.4 percent).in addition, tests conducted by odi and toyota have shown that the alleged defect has a minimal affect on steering efforts.odi interviews of owners who experienced the alleged defect indicated that in most cases the problem was preceded by months or years of noise or a gradual increase in steering efforts in the initial steering maneuvers after first starting a cold vehicle.the subject vehicles have been in service for 4 to 5 years with no crashes or injuries associated with the alleged defect.toyota's technical service bulletin provides assistance to service technicians in the early diagnosis and repair of the alleged defect condition. accordingly, this investigation has been closed. the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.for additional information regarding this engineering analysis refer to the ea08-024 closing report. | ||||||
| EA08024 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 10/28/2008 | 07/16/2009 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| Odi's analysis of warranty data shows that the alleged defect has occurred in just 0.2 percent of the subject vehicle population.when the analysis is limited to salt-belt states, the rate is still well below one percent of the population (0.4 percent).in addition, tests conducted by odi and toyota have shown that the alleged defect has a minimal affect on steering efforts.odi interviews of owners who experienced the alleged defect indicated that in most cases the problem was preceded by months or years of noise or a gradual increase in steering efforts in the initial steering maneuvers after first starting a cold vehicle.the subject vehicles have been in service for 4 to 5 years with no crashes or injuries associated with the alleged defect.toyota's technical service bulletin provides assistance to service technicians in the early diagnosis and repair of the alleged defect condition. accordingly, this investigation has been closed. the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.for additional information regarding this engineering analysis refer to the ea08-024 closing report. | ||||||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | ||||||
| EA08024 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 10/28/2008 | 07/16/2009 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| Odi's analysis of warranty data shows that the alleged defect has occurred in just 0.2 percent of the subject vehicle population.when the analysis is limited to salt-belt states, the rate is still well below one percent of the population (0.4 percent).in addition, tests conducted by odi and toyota have shown that the alleged defect has a minimal affect on steering efforts.odi interviews of owners who experienced the alleged defect indicated that in most cases the problem was preceded by months or years of noise or a gradual increase in steering efforts in the initial steering maneuvers after first starting a cold vehicle.the subject vehicles have been in service for 4 to 5 years with no crashes or injuries associated with the alleged defect.toyota's technical service bulletin provides assistance to service technicians in the early diagnosis and repair of the alleged defect condition. accordingly, this investigation has been closed. the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.for additional information regarding this engineering analysis refer to the ea08-024 closing report. | ||||||
| PE08041 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 07/09/2008 | 10/28/2008 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| The office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation, pe08-041, to investigate allegations of steering binding or increased steering effort caused by corrosion of steering intermediate universal joints in model year (my) 2004 toyota sienna vehicles.toyota's response to odi's request for information in pe08-041 indicated that toyota has been investigating reports of increased steering effort in my 2004 through 2006 sienna vehicles since 2005. toyota determined that a combination of thermal damage and subsequent water intrusion could lead to corrosion of the lowermost universal joint installed on the steering intermediate shaft of the subject vehicles. toyota has made production changes since september 2006 to address these concerns and has issued two technical service bulletins to its dealerships to provide instructions on diagnosing and repairing complaints related to corrosion of the intermediate shaft. toyota has not determined that a safety defect exists in the steering system of the toyota sienna vehicles and provided test data showing that the effect on steering effort is minimal, even for parts with relatively severe corrosion. odi analyzed complaint and warranty data relating to the following symptoms: (1) steering intermediate shaft binding or locking; (2) corrosion of the steering intermediate shaft universal joint; (3) complaints of increased effort to turn the steering wheel from neutral or return to neutral after turning (e.g., hard steering or steering binding); or (4) noise while steering.these analyses revealed that the subject vehicles have experienced a total complaint rate of 81.0 per 100,000 vehicles and a total warranty claim rate of 3.0 percent.odi's analysis found that approximately two-thirds of complaints were for noise only.similar analysis of the warranty data showed that 91 percent were related to noise concerns. odi has upgraded this investigation to an engineering analysis (ea08-024) to conduct testing to assess the effect of the alleged defect on steering effort in the subject vehicles. | ||||||
| EA08024 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 10/28/2008 | 07/16/2009 | STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING | ||
| Odi's analysis of warranty data shows that the alleged defect has occurred in just 0.2 percent of the subject vehicle population.when the analysis is limited to salt-belt states, the rate is still well below one percent of the population (0.4 percent).in addition, tests conducted by odi and toyota have shown that the alleged defect has a minimal affect on steering efforts.odi interviews of owners who experienced the alleged defect indicated that in most cases the problem was preceded by months or years of noise or a gradual increase in steering efforts in the initial steering maneuvers after first starting a cold vehicle.the subject vehicles have been in service for 4 to 5 years with no crashes or injuries associated with the alleged defect.toyota's technical service bulletin provides assistance to service technicians in the early diagnosis and repair of the alleged defect condition. accordingly, this investigation has been closed. the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.for additional information regarding this engineering analysis refer to the ea08-024 closing report. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 01/02/2013 | 90000 | ||
| Toyota is not reliable anymore like it used to. one problem after another not covered by warranties and too expensive to fix. there should be strict laws to force toyota to fix loads of design issues for free independent of warranties. big companies like toyota always find work arounds and play with words in order to escape. my steering wheel started making screaching sound everytime i turn. the power steering fluid level is fine. its hard to turn the steering. this is a safety issue and can cause an accident on the road or highway. these types of minivans are occupied by families and toddlers where multiple deaths can occur if a parent is not able to turn the steering freely to escape an accident. there should be a safety recall and have toyota fix this for free without any deadlines and independent of warranties where they say this part is covered and this part is not. | |||
| 10/01/2011 | 88000 | ||
| Loss of power to steering wheel making it difficult to turn corners, park, etc. | |||
| 03/25/2012 | 69000 | ||
| Steering on our vechicle slips then becomes very hard to turn, and is becomming increasingly difficult to turn. when completing a turn, sometimes there is overcorrection due to this difficult turning then steering slipage fluid levels are fine, no leaks. some sienna's have recalls on crank-shaft pully that can cause steering problems, but currently our vin is not included in the recall. vechcle has 71,000 miles on it ant i am told it needs a $1400 steering rack. | |||
| 02/07/2012 | 96000 | ||
| Steering wheel became hard to turn and erratically jumped when turned. dealer replace steering shaft and indicated it was close to a catastrophic failure. | |||
| 01/05/2011 | 83000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph the vehicle was hard to steer and no warning lamps illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 83,000 and current mileage was 94,000. pm | |||
| 03/10/2010 | 60000 | ||
| Cracks along the entire dashboard and airbag areas of the front dash. concern about proper airbag deployment or failure and lack of stuctural integrity of the dash along with steering control during a vehicle crash. dash failure and debris from dash may affect the steering control if dash debris is lodged against steering area. noticed dash cracks at about 60k miles and the cracks continue to grow with each use of vehicle. currently vehicle has 79k miles. dealer/manufacturer did not want to fix or replace the dash citing out of warranty issue. however, this issue is on all 04 and up toyota sienna's and possibly more vehicles with this type of dashboard material. | |||
| 11/01/2011 | 78600 | ||
| Steering binds when making turns. this happens at all speeds and compromises my ability to safely maneuver the vehicle. | |||
| 05/27/2011 | 69700 | ||
| The steering wheel on my 2004 toyota seinna is stiff and it is hard to control the vehicle. took the vehicle for inspection at the toyota dealership and they were unable to diagnose the problem. now the vehicle is not in a driveable condition and will have to be towed another toyota dealership. talked to toyota customer service about the tsb's posted on-line realted to the steering problem issue. reviewed the details about nhtsa campaiign id number: pe08041. also noticed that other sienna owners have also experienced similar problems with the vehicle. | |||
| 04/07/2011 | 93000 | ||
| 2004 toyota sienna: having trouble with steering system: knocking noise while turning left. also, a vibration like feel at the steering wheel while driving slowly. | |||
| 02/01/2011 | 60000 | ||
| I have a 2004 toyota sienna with approximately 60,000 miles. the steering seems to have lost power steering capabilities as well as over turning when going around curves and corners. | |||
| 03/17/2011 | 41000 | ||
| Without warning steering on 2004 toyota sienna became extremely difficult to steer. it felt as if power steering was not functioning. van was able to be driven to garage for service. the sudden change in steering was extreme. garage found service bulletin for steering component corrosion issue and confirmed problem. cost is estimated at $500. part will be retained. | |||
| 12/15/2010 | 90000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to steer and the wheel would not return to the standard position when making a turn. the contact stated that the failure occurred when the weather was cold and usually when the vehicle was operated before given a chance to warm up. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised that the stabilizer link was corroded. the steering rack and pinion, steering gear and linkage outer tie rods were also replaced. the mechanic also added power steering fluid but to no avail. the failure persisted and the contact returned to the mechanic for further diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was contacted and advised that there was a technical service bulletin for the failure under nhtsa item number: 10020994 (steering). the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000. | |||
| 12/15/2010 | 90000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving approximately 30 mph the contact stated the steering wheel became difficult to steer and the wheel would not return to the standard position when making a turn. the contact stated the failure occurred when the weather was cold and usually when the contact started driving before the vehicle warmed up. the vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who stated the stabilizer link was corroded.the steering rack and pinion where replaced as well as the steering gear and linkage outer tie rods. the power steering fluid was also replaced. the contact stated the failure continued. the vehicle was going to be taken back to mechanic for further diagnostics . the manufacturer was contacted and stated there was a technical service bulletin for the failure nhtsa item number : 10020994 (steering). a complaint was filed with the manufacturer. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000. ds | |||
| 11/01/2010 | 60000 | ||
| I noticed power steering began to stiffen-up over a period of 3 months. i checked the ps fluid and added very little, but still did not see any change in the stffness. after reading several incidents of this, i am going to bring it to a dealer for them to assess, but it seems to me the corossion issue to be the case. | |||
| 09/01/2008 | |||
| 2004 toyota sienna power steering is tight. the power steering does not function as smoothly as it should on this vehicle. dealer says it is a belt issue but that has not corrected problem in the past. | |||
| 11/01/2010 | 60000 | ||
| I noticed power steering began to stiffen-up over a period of 3 months. i checked the ps fluid and added very little, but still did not see any change in the stffness. after reading several incidents of this, i am going to bring it to a dealer for them to assess, but it seems to me the corossion issue to be the case. | |||
| 09/01/2008 | |||
| 2004 toyota sienna power steering is tight. the power steering does not function as smoothly as it should on this vehicle. dealer says it is a belt issue but that has not corrected problem in the past. | |||
| 11/01/2010 | 60000 | ||
| I noticed power steering began to stiffen-up over a period of 3 months. i checked the ps fluid and added very little, but still did not see any change in the stffness. after reading several incidents of this, i am going to bring it to a dealer for them to assess, but it seems to me the corossion issue to be the case. | |||
| 09/01/2008 | |||
| 2004 toyota sienna power steering is tight. the power steering does not function as smoothly as it should on this vehicle. dealer says it is a belt issue but that has not corrected problem in the past. | |||
| 01/26/2011 | 81964 | ||
| Our 2004 toyota sienna developed a clicking or popping sound in the steering column when turning left or right after about 3 seasons of winter driving in minnesota. the dealer said that they did not hear/feel the problem. each consecutive winter the symptoms would get worse and the toyota dealer claimed they could not duplicate the noise or hear a problem. about 4 months ago, the steering became erratic and felt un-boosted at times requiring a great deal of effort to turn the wheel. i did some research online and came across a toyota technical service bulletin st003-04 where they describe a shaft noise that is caused by corrosion. the nhtsa investigation concluded that toyota's claims that the noise was minor, not a safety hazard, and occurred infrequently. we took the sienna back to the dealer and i specifically asked them to examine the intermediate shaft and showed them the tsb. they reported back that i had a severely corroded intermediate shaft from road salt and it had siezed at one end of the connection. the tsb campaign was only good for the first 36,000 miles (our van had about 82,000 miles at the time of the repair) so the out of cost expense to make the vehicle safe to steer again was $527. i can not speak to the frequency this defect affects other 2004 siennas, but i can attest to a number of near misses on the road caused by the erratic and lack of power steering assist caused until the repair was finally diagnosed and fixed. corrosion resistance of steering components should be a fundamental attribute of any vehicle as the loss or diminished capacity of that function instantly creates a hazard to the vehicle occupants and others on the road. | |||
| 09/01/2008 | |||
| 2004 toyota sienna power steering is tight. the power steering does not function as smoothly as it should on this vehicle. dealer says it is a belt issue but that has not corrected problem in the past. | |||
| 01/26/2011 | 81964 | ||
| Our 2004 toyota sienna developed a clicking or popping sound in the steering column when turning left or right after about 3 seasons of winter driving in minnesota. the dealer said that they did not hear/feel the problem. each consecutive winter the symptoms would get worse and the toyota dealer claimed they could not duplicate the noise or hear a problem. about 4 months ago, the steering became erratic and felt un-boosted at times requiring a great deal of effort to turn the wheel. i did some research online and came across a toyota technical service bulletin st003-04 where they describe a shaft noise that is caused by corrosion. the nhtsa investigation concluded that toyota's claims that the noise was minor, not a safety hazard, and occurred infrequently. we took the sienna back to the dealer and i specifically asked them to examine the intermediate shaft and showed them the tsb. they reported back that i had a severely corroded intermediate shaft from road salt and it had siezed at one end of the connection. the tsb campaign was only good for the first 36,000 miles (our van had about 82,000 miles at the time of the repair) so the out of cost expense to make the vehicle safe to steer again was $527. i can not speak to the frequency this defect affects other 2004 siennas, but i can attest to a number of near misses on the road caused by the erratic and lack of power steering assist caused until the repair was finally diagnosed and fixed. corrosion resistance of steering components should be a fundamental attribute of any vehicle as the loss or diminished capacity of that function instantly creates a hazard to the vehicle occupants and others on the road. | |||
| 12/28/2010 | 75290 | ||
| Failure of intermediate steering shaft due to corrosion. car became extremely difficult to steer, especially rapid changes. | |||
| 12/15/2010 | 80436 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving 25 mph the traction control system light illuminated on the dashboard. the vehicle jerked and made a noise, the brakes surged and locked the wheels. the vehicle pulled to the left and went across the yellow line into on coming traffic. the vehicle then went to the right and into another lane but there was no traffic. the contact stated all at once he had control of the vehicle. the vehicle was driven to the dealer and the failure happen 2 to 3 times on the way to the dealer. the dealer replaced the the steering angle sensor assembly. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 80,436 and the current mileage was 80,466. vwb | |||
| 10/01/2010 | 90000 | ||
| Steering failed in van, no warning, became very hard and acted like steering with no to very littel power steering. required significant driver input to steer and drive vehicle. dealer said road salt caused exposed mechanisms under car to corrode and tighten. | |||
| 10/17/2008 | 60000 | ||
| 2004 toyota sienna steering gets stuck and binds up. looking at other peoples same complaints, toyota should be responsible for a recall. this is a serious and also, expensive problem. toyota seems to want to ignore this problem, but thousands of sienna customers have complained. | |||
| 03/24/2010 | 80787 | ||
| During feb 2010, i noticed intermittent 'sticking' in the power steering of my 2004 toyota sienna xle at all speeds. on 10mar10, or 80,787 miles, heartland toyota flushed my steering as part of the scheduled 90,000 mile warranty. this was 10,000 miles early. the problem seemed to go away, and when it returned within two weeks, i was told to cycle the steering clockwise to the stop, and then counter-clockwise to the stops and to repeat this 10 times. this also seemed to help in the short term. the 'binding' action continued to worsen to the point where it felt like the steering was stuck, and additional force was requried to push through the binding. the binding happens at all speeds, but is more noticeable at higher speeds due to the reduction of response time to correct the steering. this binding worsened over time, and i dropped it off to be evaluated by heartland toyota on 16aug10. toyota stated the repair would entail replacing the 'steerng shaft assembly', and that the internal bearings were going bad. the repair will cost $680 with parts, labor and tax. i asked that the parts be saved and i will provide to the nhtsa odi upon request and proper correspondence via the us mail. additional research of this issue was found in the odi's pe0804. upon further reading it appears many of these issues are being linked to 'salt damage' from salting during the winter. the washington state dot does not use salt in western washington, and i would encourage the odi to reopen this issue with the toyota sienna. | |||
| 03/01/2010 | 98000 | ||
| I own a 2004 toyota sienna ce. in february or march i started to experience steering problems. when i first started my vehicle up in the morning, the steering was very tight and difficult to steer. after about an hour or less of driving the problem disappeared. a mechanic changed the power steering fluid, but the problem continued. some days there are no problems and some days there are. i have complained of the problem to the toyota dealership where i have the van serviced which is copeland toyota in brockton, ma. they could find nothing wrong with the steering. | |||
| 07/03/2004 | 77000 | ||
| Vsc engages at highway speeds: vehicle alarm sounds, brakes deploy abruptly and unexpectedly, steering pulls, accelerator goes dead (pulse races, adrenaline courses). first complained to dealer after four incidents in first 20k miles: had online testimonials of yaw sensor, steering angle sensor and ecm replacements as possible remedies; dealer rebuffed my complaints, denying service to sensors, and suggested my tires had 'gone square'. i have lived with the condition for a total of seven years. the car now 'goes off' maybe three times per every 20 miles driven, unpredictably and always shockingly. my family refuses to ride in the car. i cannot sell it in good conscience, as the defects cannot be confirmed by the dealer (and apparently therefore do not exist), so there is no way for it to be 'made safe' for a succeeding owner. its remaining $10k+ equity has been nullified by this defect. | |||
| 03/09/2010 | 62088 | ||
| Rust / corrosion on steering components which caused major handling problems. dealer stated that his mechanic would not drive the vehicle off the dealer premises and that the intermediate shaft required replacement. | |||
| 04/07/2010 | 149000 | 1 | |
| I began recently having difficulty in steering my 2004 toyota sienna minivan. the steering would bind and require increased effort when the vehicle was making turns. this happens constantly and is getting worst. i took the vehicle to balise toyota in warwick, rhode island to be repaired. they stated it was a problem with the power steering drive belts and they replaced them. however the vehicle continues to have extreme difficulty in steering and it continues to bind. i believe this is a threat to my families and my safety if we continue to drive this vehicle. i have check the websites on toyota defects and i believe it is a problem with corrosion of the steering universal joints. *tr | |||
| 12/16/2009 | 130000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that the power steering goes in and out on the vehicle. this has been re-occurring problem for the past six months. the steering will go out while making a left or right hand turn. the failure mileage was 130000 and the current mileage was 163000. | |||
| 03/10/2010 | 2 | 07/01/2004 | |
| 2004 toyota sienna steering problem*cw the consumer stated the dealer fixed the steering problem. however, the consumer had to return the vehicle because the problem resurfaced. the steering was never the same. there were times when the steering would become stiff, but the problem would go away once the vehicle warmed up. the consumer also stated the clip that holds the floor mat in place comes off easily. *jb | |||
| 02/15/2010 | 81000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. he stated that while driving at various speeds the steering wheel is very hard to turn and stay in one position . he stated that his vehicle was fine until it snowed and the salt on the roads made the steering intermiate shaft corrode. the dealer was contacted and they stated that there was no recall and that they will repair the vehicle at the owner's expense. there had been no repairs done to the vehicle at the time of the complaint . the failure mileage was 81000 and current mileage was 82000. | |||
| 01/20/2010 | 68600 | 1 | |
| We have a 2004 toyota sienna. we bought it new in 2004 from phillips toyota in leesburg fl. three to four weeks ago, we started noticing a problem with the power steering when first starting in the morning. it feels like the power steering is jumping between working and not working with no warning indication of a problem. the feeling is that of having no power steering until the car has warmed for two to three minutes, there are no warning lights or audible sounds. it has been happening every morning. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 30000 | 1 | |
| Loss of power steering due to internal leak of fluid into rack. made high pitched squeaking noise and fluid would slowly leak (internal, could not find external leak) first occurred around 11/08 and repaired first under warranty on 3/09 at 34,749 miles. now has occurred again at 80,000 miles . *tr | |||
| 12/01/2009 | 51000 | 1 | |
| I experienced significant difficulty (stiffness, lack of responsiveness) in the power steering of my 2004 toyota sienna. subsequent examination by my dealership revealed that both the steering rack and pinion and the intermediate steering shaft needed to be replaced. the minivan has only 51,000 miles. *tr | |||
| 01/20/2010 | 110000 | 1 | |
| It happened twice during 2 weeks ago ( during heavy rain). i was driving my 2004 toyota sienna on a parking lot. the steering wheel is very hard to turn, it seems like i lost the power steering. after restarting the van, the problem disappeared. next day, my wife encountered the same problem when she is picking up our kids from school. we believe there is a major problem with the electrical system or computer system. i have so many problem with this vans and the dealer refuse to fix it, i have seat belt problem, it is not easy to release after driving, dealer wants 300 to fix. electrical sliding door problem etc. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 85000 | 1 | |
| The steering binds during turns. i have noticed that the problem gets worse over time to a point that it seems dangerous to drive. when you turn the wheel, the wheel catches and turns the van real quickly in an uncontrolled manner. my mechanic has stated he needs to replace the steering rack. *tr | |||
| 02/07/2009 | 40000 | 1 | |
| 2004 toyota sienna: problems with the power steering. i live in ma and during the winter the power steering will intermittently work. there is not power steering from between 10 and 2 o'clock and then it will kick in. also it will not return to zero on its own. trying to make a turn you have to pull hard and then it will kick in and you almost run into the guardrail. after pulling back the other way it is hard and then once it kicks in i almost drive into oncoming traffic. i have read other readers complaints on aboutautomobile.com and there is a problem with the intermediate power steering shaft have corrosion issues in high salt area. toyota has changed this on later models so they know there is a problem. i feel this is a major issue that will lead to an accident. *tr | |||
| 12/10/2009 | 80000 | 1 | |
| Steering wheel on toyota sienna 2004 making noise and stiff when turning left or right. occurs when temperature drops below 40 degrees. *tr | |||
| 11/30/2009 | 82000 | 1 | |
| Steering problem on 2004 toyota sienna. steering will jerk as the wheel is turned - requires extra effort to turn the wheel and then will jerk through that direction. it then has tendency to stick, so vehicle continues turning when steering wheel grasp is relaxed. operator needs to quickly respond to avoid loss of control. problem is most pronounced when vehicle is cold but still noticeable after it has warmed up. the problem came on suddenly about one week ago. vehicle has ~82,000miles. *tr | |||
| 11/15/2007 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Approximately 20 months ago, began experiencing very difficult steering. steering acted as if loss of power steering. difficult to turn and would not return to neutral always, especially in cold weather. near accident when steering would not return to neutral as expected. last summer, steering improved in warm weather. this winter, constant problem and did not go away with return of warm weather. from what i have seen on this website, very common and expensive problem. *tr | |||
| 06/12/2009 | 111000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. when the contact started the vehicle, she noticed that the steering column became very stiff and difficult to maneuver when turning. there were no warning indicators illuminated prior to the failure. the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and the mechanic stated that a shaft was failing. the repair would cost $375. the contact is currently waiting for the parts to arrive for the repair. she is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 111,000 and current mileage was 112,000. | |||
| 11/27/2008 | 58000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that the steering was binding. the steering wheel locks in different positions while driving, which makes steering difficult. the dealer will repair the vehicle, but not under warranty. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 58,000. | |||
| 02/17/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2004 toyota sienna steering. steering suddenly binds while attempting to turn. very hard to steer at times. hard to control. there is 2 to 3 seconds delay and slight acceleration lag even when taking off from a stop. couple of times i was close to run into accident. *tr | |||
| 04/02/2009 | 74000 | 1 | |
| The universal joint at the bottom of the intermediate steering shaft has rusted and is seizing. this problem occurs at varying degrees dependent upon temperature and humidity. at it's best, steering is a little difficult and unpredictably responsive. at it's worse, steering is nearly impossible. it feels as though the power steering is alternating between working correctly and actually working against the driver. this alternation occurs in about 30 degree intervals as the wheel is turned. this makes for very unpredictable driving and may lead to a crash. i have researched this online and found that many people, particularly people in high road salt regions, are having this problem. toyota has created tsb st001-07 concerning it, but does not consider it a big enough problem to cause a recall. i am amazed that a known problem that could cause the car to be un-steerable is not serious enough for toyota or nhtsa to designate a recall. *tr | |||
| 03/30/2009 | 31500 | 1 | |
| 2004 toyota sienna steering. steering suddenly binds while attempting to turn. very hard to steer at times. hard to control. *tr | |||
| 03/20/2009 | 79000 | 1 | |
| Steering binding or increased steering effort on toyota 2004 sienna. steering requires extra effort while turning, and does not always return by itself (requires effort to return to 0 degrees). this condition varies (different effort at different points in the turning arc) from turn to turn, making it a hazard for driving. it is similar to partial loss of power steering midway through a turn. seems to be getting worse. i understand there is a tsb to fix this problem, which i am trying to obtain so the problem can get fixed correctly. (don't want to be overcharged for unnecessary work). *tr | |||
| 02/23/2009 | 42000 | 1 | |
| Steering suddenly began to bind when turning at low speed and increasing difficult to steer, especially in cold temperatures. dealership found rusting knuckles on steering shaft and installed new shaft. vehicle had only 42,000 miles. never had a problem like this with 2 previous toyotas, one of them eleven years old! very unsafe and expensive to repair. my opinion toyota should recall. *tr | |||
| 02/01/2008 | 41000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving 5 mph, the contact noticed that the steering was tighter than normal. a repair shop checked the steering fluid level for leaks. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the rack and pinion failed. the dealer replaced the rack and pinion at the cost of $1,500; however, the failure persisted. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and they stated that the failure could be due to the intermediate shaft pump. a report was filed with the manufacturer. the manufacturer stated that there was no tsb to explain how to repair the vehicle. the failure mileage was 41,000 and current mileage was 41,500. | |||
| 02/20/2009 | 41000 | 1 | |
| Steering is binding on my 2004 toyota sienna. the dealership that i brought the vehicle to said they found no tsb for this vehicle yet this sight said two tsb's exist. the dealer charged me over $1400 and the steering problem still is not fixed. *tr | |||
| 01/10/2009 | 67000 | 1 | |
| I have 67,000 miles on my van and i am presently on my 3rd set of 4 tires (12 total) averaging 20,000 miles for one set. i have a lifetime wheel alignment on the car when purchased new and have alignment checked every 5,000 miles. never had a vehicle with this type of horrendous tire wearout which must be the suspension on the vehicle, i appear not to be alone due to numerous complaint. can a recall be done based upon the unusual tread wear and frequency of customer complaints. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| We have a 2004 toyota sienna. once the weather turned cold we experienced severely hard turning. it is ok in the neutral position, however when steering left or right it is not only hard to turn but it will not return to neutral without much effort. very dangerous. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2004 toyota sienna. when turning the steering wheel in either direction, it becomes difficult to turn, jams, and fails to turn back to the correct driving position. *tr | |||
| 02/02/2009 | 1 | ||
| Corrosion of steering intermediate shaft universal joints. steering got progressively worse and would bind when turning the vehicle. very hard to control the vehicle while driving and making turns. *tr | |||
| 12/01/2008 | 99500 | 1 | |
| 2004 toyota sienna steering binding, does not return to neutral position. nhtsa pe08041 addresses this problem as corrosion of universal joint on intermediate steering shaft. muller toyota of washington, nj 908-638-4100 confirmed intermediate shaft needs to be replaced, cost $575.00 invoice #l75877. have not replaced shaft yet, is toyota going to recall this defect? *tr | |||
| 12/15/2008 | 61000 | 1 | |
| I began experiencing a stiffness in my power steering on 12-15-08. i checked the power steering fluid level and it appeared to be low. i added a few ounces. two days of driving later and there was no change. i took the van to the toyota dealership today, 12-18-08, and they identified the problem as corrosion to the flex joint of the intermediate shaft of the power steering rack and pinion. they did tell me that the situation could degrade to the point where power steering could fail. cost of repair was quoted as $500 plus $70 for related/required front-end alignment. the root cause was said to likely be water entering the seal of the joint, causing rust to form on/around the bearings. other reports of road salt being the cause, seem to suggest that under-carriage cleaning would, in fact, prevent the corrosion. this dealers position is that the high-pressure spraying of the under-carriage was, itself, causing the corrosion to begin. *tr | |||
| 11/05/2008 | 100000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving 15 mph and turning the vehicle, the steering column began to fail. the steering became stiff and then loosened too much. as a result, a crash could have occurred. the dealer stated that they were unaware of any failures with the steering column. the contact inspected the vehicle himself and determined that the lower universal joint on the intermediate shaft was failing and covered with rust. the vehicle has not been taken to a dealer for inspection and repairs. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle needed to be taken to the dealer for inspection. the failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 102,000. | |||
| 11/21/2008 | 47000 | 1 | |
| Just over a year ago i started hearing a sporadic sound when making a left hand turn. when i brought it to the attention of the dealer' service department during regular maintenance, they said they found no problem and unfortunately did not indicate the complaint on the service record. i don't believe they took my description seriously at the time. the sound disappeared for a while but reappeared consistently when cold weather arrived this fall. three weeks ago the steering started to become very hard. it took a week to schedule an appointment, 4 days to receive a part and 5 more days to fit the repair in with an estimated cost of $500. they wanted us to wait an additional four days and at first implied there would be no option for a loaner car. our car has 47000 miles on it and unfortunately we do not have extended warranty. when i presented the original noise, it would have been under warranty. i refuse to drive the car as i nearly had an accident when i tried to turn the wheel and had difficulty. we are still making payments and combined with nearly annual run flat tire replacement issues, this seems a unreasonable repair. *tr | |||
| 11/30/2008 | 55000 | 1 | |
| The steering has become stiff on my 2004 sienna causing unexpected response when steering. my mechanic tells me it is the steering intermediate shaft and that there is a bulletin ( st001-07) on this. the toyota dealership states that this is not a safety concern. the vehicle is at 88,000 km and exceeds the 36 month 36,000 mile limits. when i purchased this used vehicle (in january 08) from the dealership it came with their total satisfaction warranty which does not seem to clearly state anything that is covered. *tr | |||
| 11/18/2008 | 54472 | 1 | |
| I had taken my sienna to the dealer to fix the last recall for the liftgate. they must have done an inspection and told me i needed to replace the warn control arms at a cost of $1,755.00 and the high pressure power steering hose at a cost of $699.00. i was there in april to have work done and none of this was mentioned. i have 54,473 miles and asked at what mileage do the control arms usually break down and i was told simply at any time. *tr | |||
| 05/01/2004 | 1200 | 1 | |
| Clunking noise noted on steering the 2004 toyota sienna just a few months after it was bought. it had gone through 3 recalls already when first the fuel tank, then the door sills, then the middle row seatbelt bezel, and finally recently, the rear hatch struts were all replaced. vehicle was test driven, but no mention of clunking documented. however, all this time, the clunking had become more noticeable, and vehicle had gone through 2 alignments already, with only about 42,000 miles on it. last serviced for alignment, dealer did note clunking and recommended replacement of intermediate steering shaft. it is now becoming more difficult to steer the vehicle, especially at low speeds, and k-turns now require more maneuvers, and the steering radius has increased potentially causing collisions with objects or pedestrians if compensatory action is not initiated. (steering output has sometimes been unpredictable). second component is lack of tpms sensors when tires were changed at a facility, and i had the facility document the lack of sensors. *tr | |||
| 02/01/2008 | 45000 | 1 | |
| While making a sharp left turn, i can hear clunk, clunk from the steering column. dealer says the steering column (rack-pinion) joint is bad, need replacement, not under warranty, will cost 500 to 600 $, not an immediate safety threat , can wait until the noise gets too bad. i am not happy that such things break down at 45,000 miles. *tr | |||
| 10/06/2008 | 86501 | 1 | |
| On septmber 9, 2008 i was told at the that i needed to replace all four of my run flat tires after doing so, when i left the dealer i noticed that the steering did not feel the same as it did prior to my visit. initially, i thought because i had four new tires that the steering felt tight because the tires were hugging the road. over the past few weeks the steering had become progressively worse. driving straight the car felt like it pulled towards the left, making turns was difficult because the steering wheel would move intermittently as if i had no power steering. i called the dealer on october 3, 2008 to make an appointment and they told me they could look at it on october 8, 2008. the car sat over this past weekend and when i drove it first thing monday morning i could barely move the wheel so i brought the car to the dealer on october 6, 2008 to make sure it was safe to drive. they diagnosed the problem as, steering shaft u-joint failure, and told me that the steering could cease. they ordered the part and replaced the steering shaft u-joint the following day on october 7, 2008. i inquired how often they saw this issue and decided to research this part which brought me to this website. i was curious since my family has owned many toyotas and never heard of this issue. in addition, the dealer had just replaced the same part on another sienna this past saturday. i requested that they give me the defective part which i have. *tr | |||
| 09/12/2008 | 72000 | 1 | |
| Steering problems with my 2004 toyota sienna . the turning of the steering wheel has become tougher. taking turns is extremely difficult and loss of steering control dealer is repairing at a cost of 598.00 and it could be more. *tr | |||
| 02/01/2008 | 50000 | 1 | |
| The steering began to get hard to turn. the problem progressed to the point where it began to interfere with driving. the dealer told me it was a due to corrosion on a steering shaft and if it failed completely, i would not be able to steer the vehicle. i believe the repair cost $700 with the part and subsequent alignment. *tr | |||
| 04/20/2008 | 78000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving and attempting to turn the vehicle at approximately 35-45 mph, the steering would tighten and hesitate to the point where it felt like it would not turn. the dealer believed that the u joint needed to be replaced and had lots of play. the estimated repair cost was $523.71. the failure mileage was 78,000 and current mileage was 84,208. | |||
| 04/18/2008 | 67200 | 1 | |
| On april 18, 2008 the steering on my toyota sienna began to feel difficult. it was very hard to turn the steering wheel. the intermediate steering shaft had failed and was replaced on may 6, 2008. *tr | |||
| 03/16/2008 | 56000 | 1 | 11/14/2003 |
| About 15 minutes into a half hour drive the steering suddenly felt like it was sticking during turns. the force required to turn the steering wheel became unpredictable, making the vehicle difficult to control. did not drive the vehicle until local garage (not affiliated with toyota) could inspect steering. they reported that the intermediate steering shaft needed to be replaced due to corrosion from road salt, but that the part was on national back order. found on nhtsa website that toyota had issued a tsb on this problem in january 2007. given the rapidity of the onset of this problem, suggest that owners in high salt areas should be notified by manufacturer. total mileage on vehicle is 56,000. will keep damaged part when replacement arrives. *tr | |||
| 10/19/2007 | 56000 | 1 | 10/20/2003 |
| We had a steering problem with this car for a number of months. the steering would become very difficult and felt as if it was locking up, especially in the middle of a turn. it was extremely difficult to control the car and required much effort. towards the beginning, it was a bit intermittent. at the first visit to the toyota dealer, we paid for other service in a vain effort to address the problem at the recommendation of the service advisor, as they said they were unable to reproduce the problem; no mention was made of this problem, and no indication was made that an inspection was made to see if this was the source of our complaint even though a tsb had existed for well over a year and numerous complaints had been logged through nhtsa and on the internet. the technicians said they could not reproduce the problem. on the second visit, i referenced the toyota tsb (#10020994 from 01/2007) and they replaced the intermediate steering shaft (i have the original) at my cost! (total of ~$700 for 2 visits). we came close to having accidents in the car before the repair was made. this is an extreme hazard which will likely cause bodily or property harm if toyota does not recall these vehicles soon. a number of similar complaints already exist in your database: 10221808 10220841 10220825 10220825 10189743 10162602 10159496. *tr | |||
| 03/10/2008 | 59000 | 1 | 09/01/2006 |
| A shaft in the power steering began to fail due to corrosion caused by road salt. complete failure would have caused the steering to lock up. i replaced the part prior to failure. *tr | |||
| 03/07/2008 | 55000 | 1 | 02/26/2004 |
| Steering became hard and would catch in certain turning situations so the car felt as if steering locked up. needs intermediate steering shaft replaced. car went into shop on friday 3-7-08. part is on national back order. none are available in usa. a tsb was issued 1-2007 concerning replacement of intermediate steering assembly with modified part in high salt areas. the original design allows salt to get in the universal joint and corrode it causing steering to become difficult. toyota has come out with a new design. their failure rate must be high if they have no replacement parts in the usa for 2 weeks and only states with road salt are affected. *tr | |||
| 02/26/2008 | 55000 | 1 | 02/26/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving 24 mph, the steering wheel froze. the contact experiences difficulty when driving. he took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the parts for the repair were on a national back order. there is a tsb (number 10020994) regarding the steering intermediate shaft in high road salt areas. the current and failure mileages were 55,000. updated 4/2/08 *cn updated 04/02/08 *tr | |||
| 05/04/2007 | 48000 | 5 | 11/15/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that when turning the steering wheel in either direction, it becomes difficult to turn, jams, and fails to turn back to the correct driving position. the dealer stated that the vehicle needs an intermediate shaft, steering gear, and a steering column flex coupling. the dealer also stated that it is not safe to drive the vehicle because the steering may fail. the current and failure mileages were 48,000. | |||
| 06/18/2006 | 39800 | 1 | 06/24/2004 |
| 2004 toyota sienna with 39,000 miles. steering shaft assembly failed - nearly impossible to maneuver car. failure occurred suddenly, as if power steering system failed. failure blamed on rubber boot. corrective action: steering shaft assembly replaced at consumer cost. old part is available for government viewing. sudden failure could have caused loss of vehicle control and accident at high speeds. toyota refused to cover repair due to my not having 30,000 miles service performed at local toyota dealership! *jb | |||
| 06/09/2006 | 47000 | 1 | 07/17/2004 |
| Problem with steering system in 2004 toyota sienna. noise in steering. toyota repair shop indicated steering intermediate needs to be replaced because it was bad. i believe steering system is a manufacturing defect. *jb | |||
| 08/21/2004 | 10 | 0 | 08/21/2004 |
| Since purchase, vehicle steering has excessive play, which requires too many steering corrections, especially under windy conditions. condition is most obvious at highway speeds. there has been no failure per say, but such information should be made known to other buyers. no repairs for this item have been attempted because it unfortunately appears to be normal for this vehicle. such a condition, however, seems very unsafe. | |||
| 08/01/2004 | 6000 | 90 | 07/17/2004 |
| The steering on the 2004 sienna lacks precision and requires constant corrections. upon correcting it appears to have an underdamped but responsive response that creates an unstable feeling while driving. the problem is exemplified during windy days where above normal corrections on non windy days become extreme corrections on windy days. in heavy traffic this becomes a very stressful driving condition. when all other driving responsibilities are thrown into the mix it is very challenging to drive the vehicle. toyota's choice of steering components are inferior relative to their advertised quality. *nm | |||
| 01/03/2005 | 6 | ||
| The steering sensor is causing the traction control to come to a halt and slow the vehicle down. taken to dealer for checkup for the sixth time and results showed that the steering lock needs to be replaced. *nm | |||
| 03/30/2004 | 13985 | 1 | 04/05/2003 |
| At 13k00miles, owner noticed excessive tire wear to outside edges of both steer tires. took to selling dealer to have alignment checked and tires rotated. toe in was outside specification. dealer corrected alignment and agreed to replace 1 worn tire. owner replaced other at his expense. at 22k miles, same type of tire wear apparent on steer tires again. owner contacts toyota customer service to complain. toyota agrees to replace 1 worn tire and owner to replace the other. owner not satisfied with decision. vehicle is obviously causing abnormal wear to tires. at this rate, owner will be required to replace all 4 tires every year due to a problem with the vehicle. toyota not standing behind their product, only their checkbook.*ak | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 05/04/2009 | 63000 | 1 | |
| Large noise in the steering column while turning left. *tr | |||
| 12/19/2007 | 68000 | 1 | 12/01/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving 10-15 mph, the steering wheel vibrated and he heard a clunking noise when he made a turn. the dealer stated that there was a defect for the intermediate steering shaft. the steering shaft was replaced with an upgraded part. there had been no other occurrences since the replacement. the current and failure mileages were 68,000. the vin was unavailable. | |||
| 07/30/2007 | 25000 | 20 | 06/08/2004 |
| Our family is deeply troubled and worried about the safeness of our 2004 toyota sienna le-8 every time we use it on the road. our van has been having intermittent vsc, kicking which started early this year. first, it will hesitate to accelerate followed by vsc kicking then automatic braking engages then sudden pull of the steering to the left. the vsc keeps flashing and beeps continuously unless i slow down to around 20mph. i even showed the dealer copies of sienna owners complaints with similar problem and tsbs regarding yaw rate sensor and steering column sensor. but still could not fix or duplicate the problem. nothing was done to correct the problem and no parts replaced or repaired. *tr | |||
| 05/12/2007 | 58000 | 1 | 10/15/2003 |
| We noticed that the steering for the 2004 toyota sienna was beginning to get hard. sometimes it felt like there was no power steeing, then it would become easier. i thought it was a lack of power steering fluid, but found out it was the intermediate steering shaft. the switching from hard-to-turn steering to regular power steering made driving difficult and unpredictable. toyota issued two tsb's on this steering shaft component, and, i understood had recalled the same component in its prius model. something should be done about this danger. *ak | |||
| STEERING - ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 03/22/2007 | 34749 | 2 | 04/19/2004 |
| This is a second major leak of power steering fluid in which the fluid is leaking internally inside the steering rack. the first leak was repaired under toyota warranty on 3/22/07. the second event, same failure symptoms from 2/17/08. *tr | |||
| 04/27/2006 | 38000 | 1 | 02/05/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated that the power steering failed every 30,000 miles. during failure, the steering became very stiff while driving at 15 mph, which made the vehicle difficult to turn. this occurred on 2 separate occasions. the vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, where the mechanic determined that the power steering shaft had leaked all of the steering fluid. | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||
| 04/04/2007 | 39336 | 2 | 07/22/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving 5 mph, the power steering oil line was detaching from the vehicle. as a result, the power steering began to fail. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and a repair garage for inspection in april and november of 2007. the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. the contact has scheduled another appointment with the toyota dealer to have the vehicle examined. the current mileage was 45,000 and failure mileage was 39,336. updated 01-15-08. *kb the power steering hose popped off. updated *jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 04/13/2008 | 36000 | 1 | 07/31/2004 |
| Power steering rack failure on 2004 vehicle with 36,000 miles. steering is erratic and odd feeling. concern is that a total ps failure could occur making van very difficult to control. *tr | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | |||
| 12/01/2007 | 999 | ||
| Steering is not smooth. the wheel will not return to straight forward after a turn. this defect has become progressively worse and now has reached a dangerous level. *tr | |||
| 02/02/2007 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle has suddenly become very hard to steer. much force is required to turn wheels and cornering is very jerky. the dealer advises a new steering shaft assembly is required. this is not considered warranty work. i can not fathom how malfunctioning of the steering assemble after three years is not a manufacturer defect. *jb | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 02/04/2009 | 70000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that the steering rack alternated between manual and power. the failure occurred twice and seemed to occur only in winter months. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and the steering rack from the firewall to the tie rod ends were replaced at the owners expense. the contact called the manufacturer who stated that the problem was not covered under warranty. the failure mileage was approximately 70,000. the current mileage was approximately 81,500. | |||