2011 Toyota Sienna Steering Problems

Your power steering light came on while driving, causing your steering system to suddenly lose power and making it very difficult to turn the wheel—you nearly had an accident. A mechanic found that your steering motor failed and the steering control unit (CPU) needs to be replaced, which costs around $4,000. Your car is not safely driveable until these components are repaired or replaced.

Your steering wheel makes a clunking noise when you turn it. This noise is coming from the intermediate shaft, which connects your steering wheel to the rest of the steering system. The repair will likely involve inspecting the intermediate shaft for wear or damage and replacing worn components or tightening loose connections.

8/27/21 Friday, 5:30PM The steering wheel tightened up, making it extremely hard to maneuver, while the vehicle was in motion. Almost got into an accident when I couldn't turn in time to avoid drifting into adjacent lane. Brought it to my local dealer and they claimed the motor failed, needed to be replaced and since it's attached to the steering column and shaft, I would need to replace the complete system, $4600 before NYS tax, which means it will cost me over $5000 before I can get my vehicle back. The vehicle has not been inspected by any other entity or agency. The issue happened on Thursday night, 8/26/21, very suddenly, as I was pulling out of a parking space, suddenly the steering got really hard, almost hit another vehicle as I pulled out, then the steering wheel light came on as I was avoiding the other vehicle. 8/27/21, Friday, this morning, I dropped off the vehicle dropped off with the dealer's service dept. My service adviser called me this afternoon, about 2 hours ago, and gave me this bad news. I checked online and found other owners of the Sienna model having the same exact issues. Also found out other Toyotas models with same issues had recalls over the years, only the Sienna was never recalled. This is too dangerous an issue not to be recalled by Toyota. I can't afford to get this fixed, what am I to do? See one of the links I found: https://www.autoweek.com/news/a1865486/power-steering-and-electric-issues-cause-toyota-recall-112500-vehicles/#:~:text=Power%20steering%20and%20electric%20issues%20cause%20Toyota%20to%20recall%20112%2C500%20vehicles,-Camry%2C%20Highlander%20and&text=Toyota%20recalled%20112%2C500%20vehicles%20due,model%20years%202014%20and%202015. I will follow up with my invoice after the repair.

The steering wheel is too lose. Even with all the full suspension replace. It not safe at all. It need to recall the steering shaft , and the rack and pinion. Some time it feel hard, sometimes it very loose, uncontrollable. Please recall the steering system.

2011 TOYOTA SIENNA, FRONT SUSPENSION MAKING NOISES AND CLICKING. AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING WHEN CAR IS IDLING. REAR BACKING CAMERA DOES NOT WORK ONLY IN THE NIGHT TIME. . AND IT HAS BEEN AT THE MULTIPLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND THEY CAN. NOT FIGURE IT OUT.

THE VAN HAS EXTREME OUTER TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEEMS TO BE TO WORST. TIRES ARE BEING ROTATED AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS (5000-6000MI) AND AN ALIGNMENT CHECK AND ADJUSTMENT IS DONE AT THE SAME TIME. 60,000MI RATED TIRES ARE LASTING 10,000-15,000MI BEFORE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AND CAUSING VERY POOR TURNING/STEERING, EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AND PULL, AND DRAMATICALLY INCREASED HYDROPLANING IN MILD RAIN CONDITIONS.

STEERING COMPONENT KEEPS GETTING LOOSE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWICE IN 2 YEARS. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS, IF NOT CORRECTED, CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS.

THE POWER MOTOR WOULD TURN OFF FOR A WEEK OR SO THEN COME BACK ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. THE POWER MOTOR NOW DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. THE FINAL TIME IT WENT OUT WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THE STEERING COLUMN NEED TO BE REPLACE AT A CONSIDERABLE COST. I HAVE READ ON-LINE ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT, IT WAS MANUAL/STIFF AND THE HORN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA OF SANFORD, 3321 NC HWY 87 S, SANFORD, NC, 27332) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1710102139. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT ONLY CANADA WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

MY TOYOTA SIENNA 2011 WAS ON PARKED AND STATIONARY. WHEN I RESTARTED VEHICLE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED. MY STEERING BECAME MANUAL. IT IS HARD TO TURN. I HAD TO TOW MY CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER. AFTER THE CHECK AND BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE, TOYOTA DEALER SAID THAT IT IS AN ELECTRIC FAILURE IN POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I HAVE TO PAY $2032. BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH, TOYOTA SIENNA 2011 HAS THIS ISSUE ON THE MARKET. OTHER TOYOTA CARS WHICH USED THE SAME SYSTEM AND BUILT IN 2011 HAD THE RECALL. ONLY TOYOTA SIENNA 2011 IN NOT IN RECALL. CALLED MANUFACTURER AND TOYOTA DISAGREED TO CALL AS A RECALL ITEM. RATHER THEY PAID ME $750, AND I HAD TO PAY $840 FOR THE FIX. TOYOTA SIENNA 2011 POWER STEERING ELECTRIC FAILURE IS COMMON, SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. TOYOTA SIENNA 2011, MILEAGE 63000.

CLICKING AND CLUNKING SOUND DURING TURNS AT LOW SPEED IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

STEERING LOCKED WHILE LEAVING A PARKING SPOT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER RIGHT OR LEFT. STEERING WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. I WAS A ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TOW CAR TO REPAIR SHOP. THEY FOUND ERROR CODE 1524 AND AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THEY ADVISED THAT STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS 58K MILES. RARE FOR THIS TO GO BAD SHORT OF A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING IN MY OPINION.

THE STEERING COLUMN CLUNKS AND STICKS SINCE ABOUT 55,000 MILES . IT FEELS LIKE IT MAY EVENTUALLY LOCK UP AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE . IT DOES THIS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION . I DEFINITELY FEEL IT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH TIME .SEEMS DANGEROUS ! ALSO MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL . LOOKS LIKE A PART MAY HAVE FALLEN OFF AND IS INSIDE THE PLASTIC TRIM.

FOR EVERY MAINTENANCE SERVICE THROUGH TOYOTA CARE, I POINTED MY CONCERNS ON A STEERING "POP" SOUND WHILE MAKING U-TURNS UNDER VERY LOW SPEED, AND A SENSE OF STEERING INSTABILITY ON HIGHWAYS UNDER WINDY CONDITIONS, AS WELL AS WEARING TIRES RAPIDLY. ALL THE TIME THE DEALERS TECHNICIANS ANSWER WAS: "A GREEN REPORT FOR EVERY SAFETY POINT, SUSPENSION AND ALIGNMENT WAS PROOF OF NO PROBLEMS AT ALL". I AM REPLACING 4 TIRES (TO SERVE 65 000) AT 45 000 MILES TOTALLY WORN OUT WITH UNEVEN PATTERNS SPECIALLY THE ONES AT FRONT WHEELS, EVEN FOLLOWING REGULAR ROTATION PROGRAM. I THINK WOULD BE GOOD TO POST THIS INFORMATION, KNOWING OTHERS CONCERNS IN THE SAME MATTER AND TO BRING THE MANUFACTURERS ATTENTION FOR POSSIBLE RECALL IN THIS ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE STEERING CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT. BRAKES WHERE APPLIED TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. VEHICLE SHOWS NO RECALL FOR THIS AND TOYOTA HAS BEEN CONTACTED A FEW TIMES AND FEELS THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR HAS BEEN PLACED ON COMPUTER AND SHOWS MANY FAULTY CODES, BUT THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN. TOYOTA WILL FIX ELECTRICAL STEERING AT OUR COST, BUT NOT SURE IF THAT IS, IN FACT, THE ISSUE. SEEMS LIKE A COSTLY FIX TO NOT KNOW FOR SURE AND ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WOULD NOT BE CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR, RATHER BY A FAULTY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WE DRIVE OUR CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS CAR AND FEAR THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. TOYOTA STATES THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE. VERY SCARY AND WE FOLLOWED WHAT THE USER MANUAL STATES WHEN THIS SAFETY INDICATOR COMES ON TO CALL TOYOTA AND STOP DRIVING TO PREVENT A FATALITY. PLEASE HELP....2 MONTHS LATER AND NO SOLUTION. *TR

ON NOV 2, 2014 AT AROUND 5:40AM, AFTER TURNING FROM 7TH AVENUE TO W50TH ST FOR ABOUT 200FT AT MANHATTAN, THE POWER STEERING WAS SUDDENLY DEAD. THE POWER STEERING FAULT INDICATING LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN TRYING MOVE THE VEHICLE TO A PARK/STAND, THE VEHICLE STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN.

I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND NEEDED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE BACKWARD IN A PARKING LOT WITH A SLIGHT SLOPE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO REVERSE THE LEVER LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL AND THE ENGINE DIED. THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. THE IGNITION SWITCH ALSO LOCKED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED . I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID TO APPLY THE BRAKES VIGOROUSLY, AT THE SAME TIME PUMP THE ACCELERATOR AND TURN THE IGNITION. I DID AND THE FUNCTIONS ALL STARTED WORKING. NO DAMAGE, NO INJURIES. THIS OCCURRED IN FREDERICKS BURG, TX THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME INCIDENT IN COMPLAINT # 10585286, DATED 3-17-2014. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING BRACKET WAS SEPARATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,505. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE STEERING TRACTION CONTROL AND THE VSC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HEAVY AND HARD TO TURN. WHEN PARKING OR TURNING AT A ROAD CROSS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE STEERING TRACTION CONTROL AND THE VSC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,545 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION AND HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO REGAIN STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

STARTED TO NOTICE THIS BACK IN NOV 2013 WHEN GOING DOWNHILL OR 65 MPH. MY VAN STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AND RATTLE. BROUGHT OVER TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING EXCEPT TO CHARGE ME $125 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. SAYS MORE LIKELY ROTOR NEED RESURFACE. MY VAN STILL UNDER BTOB WARRANTY BUT WE'RE TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. TIME PAST 4 MONTHS LATER, STILL RATTLING. BROUGHT OVER TO DEALERSHIP TO GET IT BRAKE/ROTOR REPLACED AND RESURFACE 3/27/14. STILL RATTLING......VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA KNOWING THEY KNOW THE WORKMANSHIP DEFECTS AND NOT ACCEPTING IT. *TR

WE WERE INFOMED BY TOYOTA SERVICE THAT THE TIRES ARE BALDING AND NEED REPLACEMENT. THEY INFORMED US THAT THIS IS A TIRE ISSUE. WE CONTACTED FIRESTONE, AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE SIENNA PREMATURELY WEARING OUT TIRES DUE TO ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SIENNA. FIRESTONE AGREED TO PAY FOR HALF THE COST OF NEW TIRES. TOYOTA ON THE HAND HAS GIVEN US THE RUN AROUND AND IS NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THROUGH BLOGS THERE ARE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE REPLACING TIRES AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR OF USE (<15K MILES). WE HAVE THE ENTIRE THREAD OF CONVERSATIONS AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS THAT SHOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE VECHICLE'S ALIGNMENT AS VERIFIED BY TOYOTA SERVICE AND OTHER REPAIR SHOPS. THIS IS THE 5TH NEW CAR WE HAVE OWNED, AND TIRES LAST AT LEAST 40K MILES. TOYOTA SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS AND INFORM CUSTOMERS THAT THEY WILL NEED TO REPLACE TIRES EVERY 15K MILES! *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST MINIVAN - A TOYOTA SIENNA XLE 2011- BARELY TWO WEEKS AGO FROM TOYOTA LAUREL, MD. THE SECOND DAY, THE STEERING STARTED TO CREAK WHEN MAKING TURNS. NOW, THE TRUNK DOOR HAS STOPPED WORKING AND THE LOCAL NEW JERSEY DEALERSHIP DCH TOYOTA IS TELLING US IT HAS BEEN "BENT". THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE AND ARE TELLING US OUR INSURANCE COMPANY NEEDS TO PAY TO FIX IT. THE DOOR IS NOT DAMAGED OR DENTED/DINGED IN ANY WAY. IT'S PERFECTLY FINE, EXCEPT IT DOESN'T CLOSE ANYMORE WITH THE REMOTE CLOSING/OPENING BUTTONS. WE BELIEVE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONICS, OR THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT CORRECTLY PUT IN WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING MANUFACTURED. WE HAVE A CHILD AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN IN THIS NEW CAR THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. *TR