2016 TOYOTA TACOMA Steering Problems

During a safety inspection, it was found out that the steering rack was leaking. In a quick research on Google, it appears that many people that own this particular year and tacomas are experiencing the same issue. It is the first time for any car that we own and we keep our cars for more than 10 years. To us, this could be a manufacturing defect that should be investigated and a recall issue. We had it fixed so it can pass inspection, but something just doesn't make sense.

POWER STEERING ISSUES, LEAKS, CORRODED. CAN LEAD TO ENTIRE RACK AND PINON REPLACEMENT. STEERING IS TIGHT, ACTIVE FLUID LEAK(S); TOYOTA DEALER THAT IT WAS PURCHASED FROM KNEW IT WAS LEAKING BUT REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. PER TOYOTA, POWER STEERING LEAKS CAN CAUSE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL LEAK IS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT LOCATE THE LEAK AND REMEDY, LET ME DRIVE KNOWING IT COULD BE POTENIALLY HAZARDOUS.

During routine maintenance at a independent shop, the driver side power steering rack boot was found to be leaking. I was informed by a former Lexus master technician that this was a problem with some of the similar Lexus models previously. The vehicle currently had 47,xxx miles which seems very low for a power steering failure. I can provide images of the leak as needed and the vehicle has not been repaired as of this filing.

VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND BOUNCES UP AND DOWN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS(65 MPH) INTERMITTENTLY.