This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I took my 2004 Sienna in for two recalls to a Toyota dealership last Saturday. Upon doing their standard inspection on the entire vehicle, the service advisor informed me of a serious safety issue with a corroded universal joint on the steering shaft that could seize. I declined this service and am investigating what to do. I came across Toyota tsb ST001-07 that states 'in areas where road salt is used during winter months, some customers may experience a slight increase in steering effort, which may gradually become more noticeable over time'. this describes my Sienna's operation for past winters, but I never gave it much thought. What troubles me is that the service adviser insisted I replace the shaft right away, whereas NHTSA action number PE08041 states that '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 the steering effort is minimal, even for parts with relatively severe corrosion.' As an interim solution, I will spray the universal joint with a penetrant, a recommendation I read online.
While driving on interstate vsc warning light came on, beeping and alarms heard. Engine slowed down and I felt like the vehicle was out of control. The vehicle swerved like it was hydroplaning on a dry highway. Called our repair shop immediately. Car was towed and research was done on the history of the problem in other Toyota mini vans. I was told there were reports of this happening in other vehicles but not enough for a recall to be issued by Toyota, recommendation by the report they found was to replace a sensor which is what was done. That was just over a month ago and the same problem occurred again tonight on a side road going approx 30 mph on dry road. Van is back at shop again tonight. I will be calling the 1-800 number for Toyota, I do not understand why there is not a recall on this issue. Both incidences could have resulted in an accident. Tonight I was driving with my child in the van. This issue could have placed her life in danger had there been an accident.
The steering on my 2004 Toyota Sienna was not working correctly. The steering was binding, requiring an increased effort to turn the steering wheel from neutral or return to neutral after turning. I checked the power steering fluid. It was fine. I looked up the issue and realized that this has been investigated. According to the report, my problem has been caused by the steering intermediate shaft. It is binding/locking because of the corrosion of the steering intermediate shaft universal joint.
While making a U-turn the steering did not recover to straight ahead position. The steering felt like it was binding. The vehicle kept turning, leaving the road surface, almost striking a stone wall. Nothing was hit. More effort than normal was needed to correct the steering. Air temp. Approx. 20F. Once home I inspected the tires, power steering fluid, power steering belt, alignment, leaks. All were normal. I googled the problem and found the tsb file on the steering shaft knuckle (U-joint) corrosion problems. I crawled under the vehicle and found the steering shaft and knuckle corroded. I liberally sprayed the knuckle and shaft with wd-40 which corrected the problem.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the brakes seized. The vehicle resumed normally after sittng for a couple of minutes. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering angle sensor would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage 143,339.
- Danbury , CT, USA
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This is most likely a known problem. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to get it fixed, and it has been in the shop numerous time, including a Toyota dealership service department. Problem: Very unpredictable traction control problem which is getting worse. Whether driving down the interstate, going around a curve, or just driving on slower city roads, the traction control light and sensor will go off - frequently locking up the steering, breaking, and causing loss of control of the vehicle. This often causes the vehicle to shake violently, and it has even caused the rear of the vehicle to slide. The only way I have found to manage this is to coast until it clears out. I am fearful every time I drive it, especially on the highway. I feel it is only a matter of time before I am involved in an accident, especially if the roads happen to be wet or icy. I have seen numerous complaints on the internet, and I have filed a case with Toyota. Back on 6-26-14 when I first contacted Toyota after nothing seemed to fix the problem, I was told they had no knowledge of the problem, and there were no reported problems from dealerships. I just spoke with them again without any success or new information.
My 2004 Sienna is experiencing the exact same issues as described in the 11/09/2011 voluntary safety recall. The belts have been squealing and the steering becomes difficult to turn at slow speeds. The recall applies to certain Sienna models but my specific VIN is not included in the recall. All new belts have been replace and the issue continues. Is it possible that this recall should be expanded to include other vins in the 2004 Sienna series? pressroom.Toyota.com/releases/Toyota+voluntary+safety+recall+Toyota+Lexus+vehicles+replace+crankshaft+pulley.htm.
In the early summer of 2013, I was traveling North on I-15, approx 5 minutes to St. George, Utah on a beautiful clear day when the car began to swerve and the yellow skid light came on and the emergency beeping sound alarmed and the car slows down on its own--I no longer have control over accelerating the speed of the car. It frightened and alarmed me and my passengers. Within about 5 seconds the light went off and the alarming beeping sound stopped and now I have control of the speed of the car. I have traveled that road several times since and the same incident has occurred at approx the same spot. However, in 2014, during my travels to and fro on this same highway where the speed limit is 65-75mph, the incident occurs in several other spots along I-15 North and southbound. The skid light and the alarming beeping sound even went off when coming to a stop going approx. 5mph. The indicator light and alarm sound seems to be getting more and more sensitive. The same incident has been occurring this year every day on my way home from work at the same spot on I-215. Even though the speed limit is 65mph, I have to slow down to less than 50mph in order to avoid this occurrence. This creates a very hazardous situation since I am slowing down for apparently no reason to the cars behind me who are traveling at the speed limit.
Steering in my 2004 Toyota Sienna is very tight, making it difficult to turn, especially when cold. The problem appeared last spring, while it was still cold outside. Steering improved during the warm summer months. Now that the weather is cool again, the steering problem has returned, but worse. The power steering fluid was changed, without help. Different auto shops, including my Toyota dealership, have offered vastly different opinions of what is wrong. The dealership first wanted to replace a 'leaking' power steering fluid hose, despite a normal fluid level. Then the dealership claimed it's the steering intermediate joint (U joint). An experienced independent mechanic says the intermediate joint is fine, but it's the rack and pinion that needs to be replaced. Online forums have offered various advice, including the aforementioned fixes, among others, including just lubing the U joint. In other words, no one seems to be able to diagnose the problem with certainty. I've read on various forums that other Toyota Sienna owners with the same model year have had identical complaints about tight steering when cold, but Toyota considers the problem 'closed'. now I'm faced with spending over $1000 to fix a steering problem that Toyota should have addressed long ago. Even then, I can't even be confident that the problem will be fixed, given current lack of consensus among experienced mechanics. I have a young child who rides with me daily, so this steering problem needs to be fixed as soon as possible! clearly there is a manufacturer defect in the power steering for my model year. Poor steering in my 2004 Toyota Sienna is a serious safety issue. This is an accident waiting to happen. There needs to be a prompt NHTSA investigation into this issue (which has affected many Sienna owners), and a recall based on the potential for a serious accident!!
In this initial incident, I was traveling on a curvy road at posted speed limit of 30mph. My vehicle suddenly slowed, as if I was applying the brakes, which I was not, and my steering was compromised. In addition the vsc indicator and symbol flashed on my dashed and beeped. The road was dry. This has occurred 10+ times since. I have brought it to my mechanic, without turning the engine off after the occurrence so that he could "read" the computer but there is no evidence available. We have brought it to the Toyota dealer. They "rebooted" the sensors and said it should be fine. It has continued to happen, on the freeway going uphill at 55 mph, going downhill at 60 mph and has been close to causing a rear end collision each time.
Intermittent hard steering. Will be driving around even slight corner will be fine then steer hard and be fine again around same corner. Or, will steer very hard around one corner then steer ok around the next.
The steering became difficult at times. It was almost like losing your power steering from time to time. Intermediate steering shaft was replaced which corrected the problem.
This happened about late 2006 to early 2007. I first observed that once in a while turning the steering was stiff and the wheel will not turn back to its neutral position, and the car will over steer. It felt like there was no power steering and you could hear some squeaking noise from the steering. Since at first it happens on and off during turning, everytime I took it to the dealer, they said was nothing wrong, it was still under warranty at that time.. after driving it for a couple of months there was an increase in the incidence and the steering at turn was getting harder and there was and increase in over steer that I would have to go slower than usual to avoid other vehicles. By that time I brought it back to the dealer, and they said that was some rusting and corrosion at the steering shaft and had to be replaced and by then the warranty had expired.
Steering became very jerky and tight while driving van with family. Problem got worse over the course of 2 days and I had to stop driving the vehicle because it became dangerous. Mechanic told me it was problem steering intermediate shaft.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated while driving 45 mph the brakes started to engage. There was a beeping sound as the traction warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred approximately ten times. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the steering angle sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the power steering assist failed without warning. The steering wheel became hard to turn. The contact also stated that both passenger side windows were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the problems. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
Complete loss of power while in motion entering freeway. Previously had noticed steering difficulty at times and engine light going on, but had always stopped after a short while. After the failure it was diagnosed as failure of crank shaft pulley. We found that Toyota had done a recall for this issue, but had not included our vehicle in the recall or notified us. Toyota denied coverage of the required repair. Driver and two small children in care at time of failure, just about to enter freeway. Over $800 in repairs.
Steering shaft intermediate shaft steering & suspension power steering not working all the time. Seems to get tighter and tighter from time to time. Very difficult making left or right turn...
While driving the vehicle (2004 Toyota Sienna), in an effort to make a turn, the steering wheel would lock, and not allow you to turn either direction for multiple moments. After taking it to Toyota about 3-4 times (about Dec 2009), they finally determined that it was a system failure in a self contained unit, that would prevent you from seeing it in the form of low power steering fluid, etc. At that time, it was repaired and considered to be under warranty. In the past month or so, this being middle of Jan 2014, the steering has been having similar issues. Have taken it to the dealership multiple times, and the time prior to my drop off yesterday, they stated that it involved the "reservoir" and installed a new one. After a few days of having it, the issue happened again yesterday. I can recall that in the first repair (about 2009) and the current repair, the issue seemed more prevalent when the weather was cold and rainy. Given that I just dropped the vehicle off yesterday, this incident is still not completely resolved at this point.
Our 2004 Toyota Sienna began having difficulty steering while my wife was driving our kids to an event in October 2013. She stated the steering felt "lumpy" or intermittently difficult. The effect was more pronounced when the car was cold, but improved somewhat when warmed up. Now in December, the steering problem is such she will not drive the van anymore for safety reasons. The van was difficult to maneuver in traffic and posed a danger to my wife and other vehicles. I drove the van and confirmed this problem and do not want her driving the van either, as the steering was difficult for me and keeping the vehicle in the traffic lane was hard to do at times. Research on line indicates this is a known problem. Not sure what to do now except have the steering component replaced so van is drivable again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wantagh, NY, USA