2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Steering Problems

WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH A HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ZONE MY CAR SUDDENLY BECAME HARD TO STEER, AND MY SPEED BECAME GREATER, TRIED TO (BREAK) DECELERATE THE CAR BEGAN SLIDING OUT OF CONTROL-PLOWING INTO THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS PART LODGED IN FRONT PASSENGER WINDSHIELD. THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE DITCH BECAME AIRBORNE THROUGH A ROD IRON FENCE SHATTERED THE REAR SECOND-ROW RIGHT SIDE WINDOW SPUN OUT , AND CAME TO REST JUST FEET FROM THE SOME PILEINGS. THIS IS THE INFORMATION OF MY DAUGHTER WHOM IS AN OUT OF STATE COLLEGE SENIOR AND VERY SHAKEN UP FROM THIS ORDEAL, THIS HER STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. POSSIBLY THE PLACEMENT OF THE 🚧 COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTOR, AND THE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED A YEAR AGO. CAN YOU HELP UP LEARN WHY?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED GREATER EFFORT TO STEER. WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE STAFF ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN PROVIDED WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

WITH NO WARNING OR PRIOR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM, THE STEERING RACK AND PINION BROKE MAKING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY UN-STEERABLE. TOYOTA REPAIR FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP BELT WAS BROKEN AND THE PUMP HAD LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A FREEWAY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND IT WAS JUST FORTUNATE THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON ONE OF THE FEW STRAIGHT STRETCHES AND IT WAS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR

THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WENT ON RANDOMLY DURING DRIVING, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, CAUSING ENGINE SPEED SLOW DOWN AND SLUGGISH ON ROAD, IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. I DROVE SLOWLY TO THE DEALER, IT COSTS OVER $600.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AT TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN AND THE FAILURE WAS RECREATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN

2004 HIGHLANDER - STEERING FAILED ON MAJOR SHOPPING ROAD TODAY. HEARD ONLY A HISSING SOUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH A LARGE PLUME OF DARK SMOKE OUT THE TAIL PIPE. ENGINE DID NOT QUIT BUT WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PULL WHEEL HARD RIGHT TO TURN INTO PARKING LOT. AI/C STAYED ON, DID NOT OVERHEAT, TIMING BELT JUST CHANGED, NO LEAKING FLUIDS BUT MOST OF ALL NO WARNING LIGHTS OR CHECK ENGINE LITE CAME ON. HAD PROBLEM LAST MONTH WITH A/C WHICH WAS FIXED. WHAT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE DRIVING AT 65 ON HIGHWAY AND LOSES ABILITY TO STEER ... INSTANT DEATH TO DRIVER AND PERHAPS MANY OTHERS. BEEN A TOYOTA FAN FOR 30 YEARS BUT THIS COUPLED WITH OTHER MAJOR RECALLS SERIOUSLY FRIGHTENS ME TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN. CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO HAS MAINTAINED THE CAR SINCE 2004. AWAITING OUTCOME OF INVESTIGATION. POSTED 8-9-10....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE WHERE THE NOISE HAD COME FROM. THE CONTACT STATED THE NOISE WAS HEARD ONE ADDITIONAL TIME. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 44,000.

"INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILURES ON 04-05 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER" THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (ST001-06) OF SHAFT REPLACEMENT ON SOME MODELS BUT NEVER BECAME A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. ON TOYOTA PRIUS NHW20 MODEL VEHICLES PRODUCED IN JAPAN FROM JULY 2003 TO NOV 2005 ARE BEING RECALLED. TOYOTA SAYS ON SOME VEHICLE, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY BECOME LOOSE OR DEVELOP A CRACK. WHAT ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANTS TO KEEP THEIR TOYOTA FOR A LIFETIME? MINE IS AN SUV(HIGHLANDER) WITH A HIGHER CENTER OF GRAVITY AND ROLLING FORCE. YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN AND IF THE FAILURE PROGRESSED TO RETURN IT FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 4/22/10 *CN UPDATED 06/01/10*JB

STEERING WHEEL MAKE A NOISE LIKE A BOLT IS MISSING. *TR

2004 HIGHLANDER, HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL OTHER REPORTED PROBLEMS FOR THIS VEHICLE. HESITATION, STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT, 2 WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENTS, LOUSY ORIGINAL TIRES, BAD SODERING OF HEAT/AIR BOARD LEADING TO NOT WORKING PROPERLY, CAN NOT HAVE BACK WINDOWS DOWN DUE TO NOISE AND VEHICLE SHAKING, HAD REAR WIPER MOTOR REPLACED WITHIN 1ST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. WHILE I DID PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH DID COVER THE COST OF THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT, IT DID NOT COVER THE COST OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE TIRES DAMAGED BY THE BAD BEARING - AND TOYOTA DOES NOT CARE. IN THEIR RACE TO BECOME THE NUMBER ONE CAR MAKER, THEY HAVE GIVEN UP ON BEING THE SAFEST, MOST RELIABLE CAR MAKER - AND THEY HAVE CERTAINLY GIVEN UP ON BEING CUSTOMER FRIENDLY. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO, SINCE THEY CONTINUE TO BE POPULAR SELLING VEHICLES. I AM GETTING NERVOUS...

STEERING. LOOSENESS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED PART (45220-48150 SHAFT ASSY) @ A COST OF $387.93 (THIS WITH A 15% DISCOUNT). IN READING YOUR COMPLAINTS FILED, I NOTE THIS WASN'T T/1ST TIME THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED & AS STATED, THERE IS A DEALER SERVICE ADVISORY ON IT. I ALSO TOOK NOTE THAT THERE APPARENTLY HASN'T BEEN ANY ACTION 2 RESOLVE THE MATTER (IE, THE OWNER CONTINUES 2 PAY 4 REPAIRS). SHOULD NOT TOYOTA B REQUIRED 2 COVER THIS TYPE OF REPAIR ? LIKE WE'RE TALKING STEERING HERE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE WHO JUST LET'S THE PROBLEM GO TO THE POINT WHERE HE/SHE LOOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE & THERE IS PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH? I WAS HESITANT TO WRITE THIS UP BECAUSE I DON'T SEE WHERE N INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED (DID I JUST MISS IT?). MY VEHICLE HAS JUST UNDER 55K MILES ON IT (ALL...

WIFE WAS DRIVING ON CLEAN DRY ROAD. SUDDENLY, THE VCS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE ALARM SOUNDING CAME ON AS WELL. CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED, BRAKES MADE A GRINDING SOUND, AND CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD AND IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 10MPH. IF THE CAR DID, THE ABOVE HAPPENED AGAIN. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR, NOT CONTROLLED BY MY WIFE, THE DRIVER, COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TURNS OUT, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WENT ON THE CAR. FIRST...THE CAR ONLY HAS 53K MILES ON IT. THIS IS NOT A 'WEAR AND TEAR' PART. THIS PART SHOULD NEVER GO WITH ONLY THIS MANY MILES ON IT. GARBAGE. SECOND, THE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE ROAD,...

HEARD A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY HIGHWAY THE STEERING OF MY TOYOTA BECAME IMPOSSIBLE I MANAGED TO GET CAR OFF OF ROAD . HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAD GONE BAD THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SENT OUT ON THIS SITUATION. I JUST FEEL THAT THE OWNERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DANGEROUS DEFAULT. *TR

AFTER STARTING MY CAR AND DRIVING IT TWO BLOCKS, THE VSC LIGHT AND AUDIBLE WARNING BUZZER WENT ON AT THE SAME TIME MY CAR LOST TRACKING AND STARTED VEERING TO THE LEFT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME, BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS SOON AS I DROVE IT 3 BLOCKS TO A SERVICE STATION. DIAGNOSTICS DISCOVERED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE PART WAS REPLACED FOR $630.11. I SEE THIS AS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE WAS IN A PARKING LOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKES APPLIED, AND THAT MADE THE ENGINE STALL. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. *KB THE DEALER FOUND THE STEERING ANGEL SENSOR WAS NOT OUT PUTTING CORRECTLY WHICH CAUSED THE VSC TO ACTIVATE. *JB

LOOSE AND NOISY STEERING SHAFT, DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. *JB

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGAN MAKING A NOISE WHICH COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER A BUMP AT SLOW SPEED. TOYOTA HAS A TSB OUT ON THIS BUT IT IS NOT KNOW TO OWNERS, AND IS NOT WELL KNOW AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS DESPITE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. FURTHERMORE, TOYOTA REPS AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE WRITERS WILL TELL YOU FACE TO FACE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WON'T PUT IT IN WRITING. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY REPAIRED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING SHAFT, I BECAME AWARE THAT PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AS THE VEHICLE NOW TRACK STRAIGHT AND THE WHEEL EASY TO TURN. WITH SUCH SYMPTOMS I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO NOTIFY VEHICLE OWNERS. *NM

NOTICED FREE PLAY AND A CLUNKING IN STEERING WHEEL @15,000 MILES. MORE PRONOUNCED ON TURNS WITH BUMPS. COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT CONDITION AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN SHAFT JOINT. HAD TO WAIT OVER 1 MONTH FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY PART#45220-48150 WAS REPLACED. *JB

IDENTICAL TO COMPLAINT #10114548 MY EVENT HAPPENED JANUARY 6, 2005 WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. NOW, AT 35,750 MILES, I HAVE O2 SENSOR PROBLEMS ON A ROUTINE BASIS(3RD SENSOR ON ORDER FROM DEALER RIGHT NOW). I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THESE PROBLEMS WILL CONTINUE PAST WARRANTY, I HAVE LITTLE FAITH IN THIS VEHICLES SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE -EVERY DAY I CROSS MY FINGERS THAT NOTHING ELSE GOES "BRAKES" WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *NM

I BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I FOUND OUT WE WERE PREGNANT AND NEEDED A BIGGER CAR. THREE MONTHS AND 5000 MILES LATER I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN A CHIP IN THE "MOTHERBOARD." (SOME SENSOR DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE ASC MECHANISM TO FOUL UP.) ANYWAY, ON MONDAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AT 50500 MILES, BUT THIS TIME THE CAUSE WAS A STEERING SENSOR ACTUATOR. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I RAISED CANE BECAUSE TWO MAJOR THINGS HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH BARELY 50000 MILES ON THE CAR. THEY ARE PAYING FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS BUT THAT'S IT. I TRULY BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE ENTIRE ORDEAL, INCLUDING TOWING, LABOR AND RENTAL CAR BECAUSE OF MY INCONVENIENCE AND OBVIOUS DEFECT IN...