NHTSA Complaint #10521977 — 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A "VERY" STEEP GRADED AND WINDING GRAVEL ROAD THAT REQUIRED CONSISTENT BRAKING AND AS I WAS MAKING A TURN TO NEGOTIATE A RIGHT TURN ON A CURVE, MY STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN FAILED TO EXIST. THE STEERING WHEEL SERIOUSLY RESISTED MY TURNING IT. I WAS FORCED TO APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY TO ATTEMPT GOING OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DOWN A DEEPLY SLOPED RAVINE OF ABOUT 20 FEET OR SO. THE TRUCK STOPPED WITH THE FRONT WHEELS "JUST OVER" THE EDGE BUT DID STOP BEFORE GOING "OVER". LUCKILY I HAD A "COME-ALONG" WITH ME AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK THE TRUCK BACKWARDS ENOUGH TO GET THE FRONT WHEELS BACK ON TO THE ROAD SURFACE. I HAVEN'T CARRIED THAT WITH ME IN YEARS ! I HAD TO BABY THE TRUCK ABOUT A MILE AT VERY LOW SPEED TO GET BACK IN TO TOWN. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS/IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I "COULD NOT" MAKE A TYPICAL TURN AT VERY SLOW SPEED AND NOT USE THE OPPOSING SIDE OF THE ROAD. I GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND SHUT IT DOWN. I SUSPECTED A POWER STEERING LEAK AND CHECKED TO FIND IT WAS OUT OF FLUID. I USED MY FRIENDS VEHICLE TO BUY POWER STEERING FLUID, FILLED IT, CHECKED AND FOUND FLUID SPRAYING OUT OF BOTH ENDS OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE "RACK" OR TUBE? IT TOOK LESS THAN A FEW "SECONDS" FOR IT TO DRAIN TOTALLY. I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO LEARN THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON. I DID A CLOSE PHYSICAL INSPECTION TO FIND MUCH CORROSION. THIS TRUCK WAS THE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL FOR AND RECEIVED A NEW CHASSIS AS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE CORROSION. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE ! *TR