2004 Toyota Sienna Steering

I WAS DRIVING 10 MPH TOWARDS THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. I ALMOST HIT A TREE SINCE THE CAR WENT OVER THE CURB. I HAD TO STOP THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON MY WAY HOME THAT NIGHT. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA THE FOLLOWING DAY (1-800-331-4331) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAD NEVER BEEN NO RECORD OF ANY COMPLAINT WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE ON THE 2004 SIENNAS. BUT TONIGHT , I AM SO SURPRISED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. *TR

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 AROUND AND PLAY WITH WORDS IN ORDER TO ESCAPE. MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING SCREECHING 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. *TR

LOSS OF POWER TO STEERING WHEEL MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN CORNERS, PARK, ETC. *TT

STEERING WHEEL PRESENTS VIBRATION AND STRANGE NOISE WHEN FULLY TURNED TO ANY SIDE. COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA DURING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND SERVICE WAS DENIED, STATING THAT IS WAS FUNCTIONAL AND NOT BROKEN. NOW (FEB 2012, EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED) IT IS REALLY GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. WOULD TOYOTA WAIT FOR THE PART TO FAIL AND SOMEONE TO BE KILLED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM? THERE IS A PREMATURE WEAR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING SYSTEM. *TR

STEERING ON OUR VEHICLE SLIPS THEN BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN, AND IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN COMPLETING A TURN, SOMETIMES THERE IS OVERCORRECTION DUE TO THIS DIFFICULT TURNING THEN STEERING SLIPPAGE FLUID LEVELS ARE FINE, NO LEAKS. SOME SIENNA'S HAVE RECALLS ON CRANK-SHAFT PULLEY THAT CAN CAUSE STEERING PROBLEMS, BUT CURRENTLY OUR VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. VEHICLE HAS 71,000 MILES ON IT ANT I AM TOLD IT NEEDS A $1400 STEERING RACK. *TR

STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN AND ERRATICALLY JUMPED WHEN TURNED. DEALER REPLACE STEERING SHAFT AND INDICATED IT WAS CLOSE TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

HARD TO STEER AND STEERING WILL NOT TURN BACK. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GO BACK INTO THE LANE. NO RECALL NOTICE YET FOR STEERING SHAFT. SPOKE TO REP FROM TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT., SAID NO ONE HAS REPORTED SUCH PROBLEM YET. *TR

WHEN TURNING CORNERS, STEERING SUDDENLY SEIZES UP MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM OPERATING SAFELY AT LOW TO MEDIUM SPEEDS. IT SEEMS AS IF THE STEERING PROBLEM HAPPENS MOST OFTEN WHEN IT IS COLD OR WET OUT. OFTEN WE ARE REQUIRED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE THE STEERING LOOSENS UP AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

STEERING BINDS WHEN MAKING TURNS. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND COMPROMISES MY ABILITY TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. *TR

FAILURE OF INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT DUE TO CORROSION. CAR BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY RAPID CHANGES. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA 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 DRIVABLE CONDITION AND WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. TALKED TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE TSB'S POSTED ON-LINE RELATED TO THE STEERING PROBLEM ISSUE. REVIEWED THE DETAILS ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: PE08041. ALSO NOTICED THAT OTHER SIENNA OWNERS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

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 STIFFNESS. 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 CORROSION ISSUE TO BE THE CASE. *TR

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. *TR

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 SEIZED 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. *TR

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.

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. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND MADE A NOISE, THE BRAKES SURGED AND LOCKED THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND DROVE ACROSS THE YELLOW LINE INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE THEN CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO THE RIGHT AND INTO ANOTHER LANE BUT THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE RECURRED 2 TO 3 TIMES ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,436 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,466. UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ UPDATED 03/18/11

STEERING FAILED IN VAN, NO WARNING, BECAME VERY HARD AND ACTED LIKE STEERING WITH NO TO VERY LITTLE POWER STEERING. REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT DRIVER INPUT TO STEER AND DRIVE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID ROAD SALT CAUSED EXPOSED MECHANISMS UNDER CAR TO CORRODE AND TIGHTEN. *TR

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

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

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 REQUIRED 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 'STEERING 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. *TR

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.