NHTSA Complaint #10667670 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

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. *TR