Table 1 shows two common steering related problems of the 1998 Toyota T100.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Steering Linkage Connection problems | |
| Steering Rod Relay Connection problems |
: the contact stated while driving 10 mph, the drag link broke on the steering. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road. It was towed to an independent repair shop for steering repairs. Updated 04/06/06.
On July 28, 2004, my 1998 Toyota t-100 4x4 suffered a complete lack of steering control as I started down my driveway. The cause was a steering rod relay that broke in two. I have the failed part. It appears to have been either a two-part failure or a flaw in the original casting. One-half of a cross-section through the break is bright gray steel with the rough surface characteristic of fatigue failures, the other half is comparatively smooth and the same rust-color as the outside of the part. My truck has never been used for rock-climbing, nor has it been rammed into a solid obstacle such as a curb or large pothole. The only trauma it has been subject to is low-speed maneuvering in heavy snow and ice. Although the failure did not cause death or damage, if it had occured a few minutes later, I would have been doing 60 mph on the highway. While I don't think Toyota owes me anything on a six-year-old vehicle, I am worried that this flaw might represent a bad batch of steering rod relays. If so, then there are other t-100s out there that could kill their owners.