Power Steering Fluid problems of the 2004 Toyota Sienna

While making a u-turn the steering did not recover to straight ahead position. The steering felt like it was binding. The vehicle kept turning, leaving the road surface, almost striking a stone wall. Nothing was hit. More effort than normal was needed to correct the steering. Air temp. Approx. 20f. Once home I inspected the tires, power steering fluid, power steering belt, alignment, leaks. All were normal. I googled the problem and found the TSB file on the steering shaft knuckle (u-joint) corrosion problems. I crawled under the vehicle and found the steering shaft and knuckle corroded. I liberally sprayed the knuckle and shaft with wd-40 which corrected the problem.

Steering in my 2004 Toyota Sienna is very tight, making it difficult to turn, especially when cold. The problem appeared last spring, while it was still cold outside. Steering improved during the warm summer months. Now that the weather is cool again, the steering problem has returned, but worse. The power steering fluid was changed, without help. Different auto shops, including my Toyota dealership, have offered vastly different opinions of what is wrong. The dealership first wanted to replace a 'leaking' power steering fluid hose, despite a normal fluid level. Then the dealership claimed it's the steering intermediate joint (u joint). An experienced independent mechanic says the intermediate joint is fine, but it's the rack and pinion that needs to be replaced. Online forums have offered various advice, including the aforementioned fixes, among others, including just lubing the u joint. In other words, no one seems to be able to diagnose the problem with certainty. I've read on various forums that other Toyota Sienna owners with the same model year have had identical complaints about tight steering when cold, but Toyota considers the problem 'closed'. Now I'm faced with spending over $1000 to fix a steering problem that Toyota should have addressed long ago. Even then, I can't even be confident that the problem will be fixed, given current lack of concensus among experienced mechanics. I have a young child who rides with me daily, so this steering problem needs to be fixed as soon as possible! clearly there is a manufacturer defect in the power steering for my model year. Poor steering in my 2004 Toyota Sienna is a serious safety issue. This is an accident waiting to happen. There needs to be a prompt NHTSA investigation into this issue (which has affected many Sienna owners), and a recall based on the potential for a serious accident!!.

Steering fluid leak on passenger side eating through rubber boot - requires replacement of rack & pinion & some kind of right & left front bars. This is an unsafe defect in this model year. Apparently, other 2004 siena's have had the same issue. This is a very expensive repair.

Steering on our vehicle slips then becomes very hard to turn, and is becoming increasingly difficult to turn. When completing a turn, sometimes there is overcorrection due to this difficult turning then steering slippage fluid levels are fine, no leaks. Some Sienna's have recalls on crank-shaft pulley that can cause steering problems, but currently our VIN is not included in the recall. Vehicle has 71,000 miles on it ant I am told it needs a $1400 steering rack.

Loss of power steering due to internal leak of fluid into rack. Made high pitched squeaking noise and fluid would slowly leak (internal, could not find external leak) first occurred around 11/08 and repaired first under warranty on 3/09 at 34,749 miles. Now has occurred again at 80,000 miles .