NHTSA Complaint #10038708 — 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA

THIS IS FOR A NEW TOYOTA SIENNA VAN. THE STEERING HAS ALWAYS HAD A SHAKE IN IT FROM DAY ONE. DEALER CHECKED TIRES FOR FLAT SPOTS. FOUND ONE BAD TIRE AND REPLACED. SHAKE STILL THERE.TOOK THE VAN TO ANOTHER TIRE STORE TO HAVE BALACES ON TIRES CHECKED AND THEY WERE NOT BALANCED PROPERLY. HAD TIRES RE-BALANCED AGAIN. SHAKE STILL THERE. DEALER THEN CHECKED STEERING COMPONANTS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. DEALER THEN ROTATED AND RE-BALANCED TIRES AND STATED THAT THE SHAKE MAY WORK ITS WAY OUT WITH SOME ADDITIONAL MILEAGE PUT ON THE TIRES AFTER THE ROTATION. WAS ADVISED TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE VAN ON VACATION AND SEE HOW IT GOES. AFTER VACATION MILEAGE OF 1600 MILES,SHAKE STILL THERE. DEALER RE-INSPECTS AND FINDS AN INNER TIE-ROD DEFECTIVE(LEFT SIDE). TOYOTA SENDS A WHOLE NEW RACK AND PINNION STERRING SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED. DEALER COMPLETES WORK BUT SAYS THEY DIDN'T REPLACE RIGHT SIDE OUTER TIE-ROD BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE TIE-ROD WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE. NEXT DAY THE SHAKE STILL THERE. BACK TO DEALER FOR MECHANIC TO TEST DRIVE. HE STATES THERE IS A DEFINATE SHAKE IN THE STEERING BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHY. SO THEY HAVE MY VAN AGAIN TODAY FOR THE FOURTH TIME TO TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT.