2005 Toyota Sienna Steering

STEERING BECOMES STIFF AND MAKES IT HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING KNUCKLE OUTSIDE OF THE FIRE WALL IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND BECOMES STIFF AND REQUIRES FREQUENT LUBRICATION TO MAINTAIN THE FUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A CONCERN WE HAVE DEALT WITH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND WE HAVE RECENTLY BECOME AWARE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VAN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AN AUDIBLE ALARM WAS ACTIVATED BEFORE THE STEERING SUDDENLY JERK THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND WOULD ONLY LAST A FEW SECONDS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

STEERING HAS BECOME INTERMITTENTLY STIFF. STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T SELF CENTER. IT'S DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL EITHER WAY. AFTER TURNING THE WHEEL VERY HARD, IT SUDDENLY BECOMES EASY. THIS PHENOMENON OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND AT ALL SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AGO, AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY, THE BELT IS IN GOOD CONDITION, THERE ARE NO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL IS CORRECT.

MY STEERING HAS BEEN GETTING STIFF FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS. ABOUT A MONTH I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WAS STIFF AND THEN SMOOTH A FEW DAYS LATER. NOW IT FEELS STIFF AT COLD START AND EVEN AFTER WARM UP FROM NORMAL DRIVING. I HAVE NEW BELTS AND NO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. I'VE READ MANY BLOGS ONLINE AND PEOPLE CLAIMING THAT THE (U-JOINT) AKA "STEERING KNUCKLE" IS THE CAUSE. DUE TO WATER/DIRT/SALT FROM THE ROAD - CAUSING RUST ON THE U-JOINT. TOYOTA MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF INSTALLING A RUBBER BOOT TO PROTECT THE U-JOINT FROM EXPOSURE OF WEATHER ELEMENTS. IF THE U-JOINT IS BADLY RUSTED, IT CAN BREAK OFF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A SAFETY RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN ACCELERATING OVER 40 MPH, THE SHAKING WORSENED. THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE WHENEVER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

VERY STIFF WHEN TURNING. STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK AND MAKING A TURN AND RETURNING TO NORMAL DRIVING POSITION IS FAULTY, I TOOK IT TO TWO MECHANICS AND THEY BOTH SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN LOOKING AT THE DATABASE I SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES EXIST WITH THE TOYOTA SIENNA. RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED AS THIS POSES A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.

EXTREMELY HARD STEERING HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY A PROBLEM (ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD SQUEAL) DURING THE FIRST MINUTE AFTER START UP, PARTICULARLY IN THE COLD. NOW I HAVE NOTICED A SUDDEN STEERING DIFFICULTY ON A TURN WHILE DRIVING LONG AFTER START UP.

MY 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA STARTED GIVING PROBLEMS OF RACK AND PINION LEAK FOR POWER STEERING AROUND 90,000 MILES. ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS COULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR POWER TRAIN BUT WAS DENIED. LOOKING AROUND VARIOUS FORUMS ONLINE, I CAME ACROSS THAT MANY OF 2005 TOYOTAS HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I ALSO OWN 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY AND IT ALSO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AT ABOUT SIMILAR MILEAGE. COST TO REPAID WAS MENTIONED AS $1300. I HAVE 2 2005 TOYOTA VEHICLES AND BOTH HAVE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WANTING ME TO SPEND $2600 TOTAL TO REPAIR THE RACK AND PINION UNIT OF BOTH OF MY CARS. I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF OTHER 2005 TOYOTA OWNERS ALSO HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL OR IT SHOULD BE ENHANCED WARRANTY WORK AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS.

STEERING PROBLEM.

DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE, POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION BOOT HAD A TEAR AND WAS LEAKING. I HAVE READ THAT THE LEAKY SEAL EATS INTO THE BOOT TO DETERIORATE OVER TIME. AS I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR THIS PROBLEM, I NOTICED THEIR WERE SEVERAL OTHER CAUSES OF THIS SAME ISSUE. I THINK THIS DEMANDS FOR A RECALL. *TR

2005 TOYOTA SIENNA: POWER STEERING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. DRIVER IS AT RISK IF SUDDEN STEERING AWAY FROM AN EVENT IS NECESSARY DUE TO THE EFFORT AND INCONSISTENT NATURE OF THE STEERING. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS THAT CAN BE FOUND ON VARIOUS FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE RATHER THAN AFTER SOMEONE DIES AS A RESULT OF THIS VEHICLE FAULT. *TR

WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED (WOULDN'T TURN); HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO FIX A COUPLE OF RECALLS AND THEY DID AN INSPECTION AT WHICH TIME THEY TOLD ME THE POWER STEERING RACK & PINION WAS LEAKING AND IT WOULD COST $1800 TO FIX. CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. *TR

CAR DIFFICULT TO TURN AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER STATES BAD POWER STEERING RACK AND SHAFT MAY ALSO BE BAD. *TR

STEERING PROBLEM INVOLVING A "FREEZING" OF THE WHEEL AND THEN A GRADUAL ABILITY TO RESUME STEERING. PROBLEM INCREASINGLY HAPPENING WHILE MAKING A TURN AND NOT JUST AT START UP. *TR

STEERING PROBLEM INVOLVING A "FREEZING" OF THE WHEEL AND THEN A GRADUAL ABILITY TO RESUME STEERING. TODAY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A TURN AND NOT JUST AT START UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,350. UPDATED 11/3/2017*CN

STEERING WHEEL WOULD SUDDENLY BE HARD TO TURN AT CERTAIN SPOTS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND CLAIMED HOW HARD IT WAS TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. WE DROVE TO A LOCATION USING THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. IT MADE TURNING UNDER MOTION VERY DIFFICULT. I TOOK THE WHEEL ON OUR RETURN AND CONFIRMED HOW AWKWARD IT WAS. SO WE DROVE TO OUR GARAGE. THEY CALLED US LATER AND SAID THE INPUT SHAFT MALFUNCTIONED. COST OF PART FROM TOYOTA $374.19 PLUS TAX AND LABOR. ONLY ONE LEFT IN STOCK. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT TOYOTA HAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED AND RECALLED BEFORE THERE ARE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS?

RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. *TR

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. WHEN WE BACKED OUT I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THERE WAS A "CLUNK" AND IT FELT LIKE I JUST WENT OVER SOME OBJECT WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WE COULD FIND NOTHING IN THE PARKING LOT THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THIS. I DROVE THE CAR THAT DAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT ON A 430 MILE TRIP. SEVERAL TIMES THAT WE PARKED WE HEARD THE SAME "CLUNK" AND FELT A SLIGHT DROP IN THE RIGHT FRONT. I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AS SOON AS I COULD GET AN APPOINTMENT ON 2/26/13. TOYOTA FOUND THAT THE INTERNAL POWER STEERING RACK WAS FAILING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY. THE PART NUMBER WAS: 0 44250-08041. I ASKED TOYOTA IF THERE WERE ANY SAFETY RECALLS. THERE WERE NONE. TOYOTA SAID THESE FAILURES DID OCCUR ON TRUCKS IN HEAVY DUTY USE BUT NOT IN SIENNA MINI-VANS. *TR

STEERING VERY HARD AND "BUMPY" DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERING WHEN FIRST DRIVEN FOR THE DAY. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED MANY OTHERS HAVE VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM THAT IMPROVED AFTER SPRAYING "STEERING KNUCKLE" WITH PENETRATING TYPE OIL. APPEARS STEERING LINK IS BECOMING CORRODED AND STICKY. VEHICLE IS ALWAYS GARAGED WHEN NOT BEING DRIVEN. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER, THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT SAY TOYOTA HQ HAS NOT AUTHORIZED THEM TO DO ANY WORK WITHOUT FULL PAY. APPEARS LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING BELTS, POWER STEERING PUMPS, ETC REPLACED AT GREAT EXPENSE AT INDEPENDENT AND DEALER REPAIR SHOPS WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM OR THE PROBLEM EVEN BEING CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED. LUCKY I HAVE INTERNET AND REFER TO IT IN THESE SITUATIONS. GUESS I CAN NOW HAVE MINE REPAIRED FOR $1-2000 OR DO THE TEMPORARY OIL FIX. LOTS OF MONEY WHEN ITS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN DEFECT AND THEY WON'T HELP. *TR

THE BOOTS OF THE RACK AND PINION LEAKED AND IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY EVEN HAVE A TSB FOR IT AND TOYOTA SAID REPLACE THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR

FIRST OF ALL, THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON A TIMELY BASIS, AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, AND TO HAVE A REVIEW OF A NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT, DRIVER'S SIDE. WAS TOLD RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS LEAKING, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $1200. *TR

UPON ROUTINE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT, VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO NEED THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED. IT APPEARS THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM IN TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVANS MODEL YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2006. REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACING POWER STEERING RACK AND ALIGNING CAR, TOTALING MORE THAN $1000.00. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY STEERING STARTED LOCKING ON ME. I WAS GOING THRU MOUNTAIN DRIVING AND AS I TRY TO GET CONTROL ON SITUATION IT STARTED TO BECOME MUCH HARDER TO CONTROL. TO AVOID ANY UNPLEASANT INCIDENT I DECIDED TO MOVE OVER IN RIGHT LANE AND SLOW DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY TO KEEP CONTROL ON THE CAR. ONCE THE MOUNTAIN DRIVING WAS OVER I TRIED TO FIND RELIABLE SHOP TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED AS THIS WAS GETTING WORST. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO COME OUT WITHOUT INJURY BUT NEXT FAMILY FACING THIS ISSUE MIGHT NOT BE. I DID RESEARCH REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT MANY MORE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCE SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH SAME MODEL. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A PROPER INVESTIGATION FOR CONSUMER SAFETY. THANK YOU *TR