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.

- Parma, OH, USA

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.

- Albany, NY, USA

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.

- Arlington, MA, USA

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.

- Marmet, WV, USA

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.

- Richfield, MN, USA

Failure of intermediate steering shaft due to corrosion. Car became extremely difficult to steer, especially rapid changes.

- Geneva, NY, USA

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 updated 03/18/11

- Merrill, MI, USA

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.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

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.

- Merrick, NY, USA

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.

- Seabeck, WA, USA

Toyota Sienna 2004 with only 62,000 miles presents knocking noise when operating the steering wheel, also requiring excessive correction when driving the vehicle in highways. Requested fix during extended warranty sold by Toyota itself. Claim was denied.

- Marietta, GA, USA

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.

- Taunton, MA, USA

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.

- Mill Valley , CA, USA

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.

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

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.

- Carolina, RI, USA

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.

- Willaimstown, NJ, USA

2004 Toyota Sienna steering problem 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.

- Unknown, DC, USA

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.

- Lake Wood, NJ, USA

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.

- Tavares, FL, USA

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.

- Cleveland, OH, USA