1998 TOYOTA SIENNA Steering Problems

steering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control.

GEAR SHIFTER MOUNT UNIT ON THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE APART, STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

CAR STARTED MAKING CLUNKING NOISES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TEST DROVE IT AND EXAMINED THE STEERING. HE VALIDATED THE CLUNKING NOISE AND SAID HE FOUND THE STEERING RACK WAS BROKEN AT THE MOUNT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY.

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA SIENNA MY '98 BRAND NEW IN MAY 1998 AND STILL OWN IT. THIS CAR ALSO HAS DEMONSTRATED A SIMILAR PROBLEM EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ' VEERING TO RIGHT. THE DRIVER HAS TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR MOVING STRAIGHT. EVEN AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS IN '98, '99, AND 2000, RESPECTIVELY, WERE MADE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BY A TOYOTA DEALER (COPY OF THE PAPERWORK CAN BE FURNISHED UPON REQUEST), THE PROBLEM HAS YET BEEN CORRECTED SUCCESSFULLY AS OF TODAY. THIS PROBLEM INCREASES DRIVING FATIGUE ESPECIALLY LONG TRIPS AND IN TURN MAY INCREASE THE CHANCE OF AUTO ACCIDENTS. *TR

WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS, STEERING WHEEL OFTEN "HANGS" (DOESN'T SMOOTHLY RETURN TO CENTER POSITION), REQUIRING CONSTANT VIGILANCE TO AVOID COLLISION OR LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS WAS REPORTED TO DEALER AT FIRST SERVICE AFTER PURCHASE, AND I HAVE REQUESTED INFORMATION AS TO A "FIX" SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, MOST RECENTLY WITH DERBY AT STAR TOYOTA ON 4/7/04. STATED "NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM". I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE HOWEVER, AND WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AFTER 5+ YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR GOES THROUGH TIRES LIKE CRAZY... PERHAPS RELATED TO THIS PULL TO THE LEFT? I'VE PUT ON A COMPLETE NEW SET PLUS 2 TIRES IN THE 50K MILES I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE.*AK

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 98 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH KIDS ON THE FREEWAY IN A COMUTER LANE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND LOCKED IN LEFT POSITION. AS A RESULT THEY ENDED UP CRASHING IN THE MIDDLE DIVIDER HEAD ON. THE VAN TOOK A 180 DEGREE SPIN AND HIT FROM THE BACK. WE HAVE DONE 99000 MILES ON THIS VAN IN LAST 5 YEARS. THIS IS TOTALLY A MALFUNCTION OR MECHANICAL FAILURE OF STEERING WHEEL. WE HAVE DONE LONG TRIPS WITH OUR VAN IN THE PAST 5 YEARS AND NEVER HAD PROBLEM. ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN UP EVEN THOUGH THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE.

AFTER DECELERATING EXITING OFF A FREEWAY RAMP AND MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP MOMENTARILY AND THEN DISENGAGE. *LA

TRANSMISSION AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.

VEHICLE SKIDDED @40-45 MPH ON WET SURFACE, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL.

STEERING HAS A MODERATE PULL AND DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS. AFTER TWO ALIGNMENTS, DEALER STATED THAT FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES PULL BECAUSE OF DIFFERENTIAL TORQUE.