Problems with 2004 Toyota Sienna STEERING

While my vehicle is in motion on city streets and highways at speeds between 35 and 55 mph, on a straightaway and curve, the stability control light/and alarm comes on randomly. sometimes it's just the alarm that sounds, and sometimes the alarm sounds and the brakes activate and the minivan swerves. was the most frightening and dangerous experience ever with my young grandchildren riding with me. i actually had to pull over to the side of the road to calm myself. this has now happened on several occasions with today (7-24-19) being the latest experience.

Steering problem sometime it's hard to steer it's dragging it's too dangerous.i almost got an accident because the steering didn't react when i'm changing lanes

When on a curve the traction control engages affecting the brakes and steering of the vehicle. speed does not seem to matter, it has engaged at 10mph and at 65 mph. last straw was when it engaged on the straight away on the highway at 65mph in the high speed lane dropping the speed down to 35mph almost causing a serious accident. it's been happening for a couple of months and two independent mechanics were not able to figure out the problem even after running a moving vehicle diagnostic. it went off a total of 18 times in a aproximate 15 minute, three mile drive with the mechanic. after watching many videos, and complaints online, why hasn't something been done on this issue that has been going on for over eight years now? i'm afraid to take this vehicle on the highway anymore!!!

Traction control malfunction. while driving on curvy roads there is a beeping alarm, steering locks up, brakes engage. the car seems to think that the traction is off. this has been a problem for over a year. no problems driving in city. only happens on curvy roads.

The vsc is going off randomly, in dry, safe conditions. almost always when i am turning to the left in a long turn. but has also happened on a windy road, driving 15mph or less, on ever single turn sometimes just the alarm, light flashing on dash & engine dethrottling, other times add the steering wheel pulling & brakes pumping themselves. we have had it in 3 different shops & the computer detects no codes, all parts in question (suspension, yaw, rotational position sensor, etc) are in good working order, nothing loose, worn or otherwise not functioning properly. we have had the yaw sensor replaced after reading many other reports of this issue, but it didn't help. we love our van, but it is now a death box. we never know when the vsc malfunction will activate, making the car unsafe to drive. when will toyota acknowledge this & help owners?

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving approximately 50 mph, the traction control warning indicator illuminated and a warning chime sounded. the vehicle lost steering and braking ability, and the steering wheel started to jerk from left to right. the contact continued to drive and the failures went away after thirty seconds. the contact stated that the failures randomly started approximately one year ago and grew worse. the contact also mentioned that the lock on the sliding door showed that it was unlocked; however, no one could exit the vehicle when attempting to open the door from the inside or the outside. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was notified of the failures. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

When traveling at highway speeds and usually on a slight curve to the right, the traction control alarm and breaks go off causing the van to jerk and shake. we have been told this might be low tire pressure but the tires are fine. we have had an alignment, new tires this problem happens randomly and we have not been able to reproduce it for the mechanic. we have been dealing with this for a couple of years maybe happening 20 times. i feel it is just not safe enough to drive or pass this problem on to someone else. i wouldn't want the car on the road with me either i have read online of other toyota sienna's with the same exact problem. this is not isolated and is a safety concern.

Steering do not stay straight while i am driving this vehicle. since i purchased, i went to toyota in the beginning they fix it but issue was not resolve and as of today same problem and i replaced new tires still alignment is the biggest problem. lighting is not strong to see deer on the road.

For no reason the vsc and traction alarm goes off the vehicle brakes on its own dangerously. it is happening daily. usually when going high speed and around a left bend. i went and had the system reset as is called for after alignment. that didn't fix it. i had the steering angle sensor replaced and that didn't fix it. the yaw replaced and that didn't fix it. so now what? this is dangerous for my family.

When i drive my van the vsc and trac off lights come on intermittently and cause the vehicle to bog down and pull towards oncoming traffic. i took my van to the dealership and they suggested replacing the steering sensor. we replaced the sensor and the problem persists. with no codes coming up they say they can't fix my van. it happens while driving around corners at 35 mph mostly but has also happened a few times on the freeway at 70. all times it has happened so far has been on dry pavement. toyota doesn't seem to think that there is really a problem since no codes are coming up on their code reader. due to the frequency of the issue i am having it could be disastrous and end up in a head-on collision. how come this vehicle hasn't been recalled. i have included a photo of my service report from the dealership. also there are multiple complaints in different forums regarding this same issue and as far as i have read there is really no resolving it.

While driving the vsc comes on randomly. causing the vehicle to try to pull into oncoming traffic. it happens quite a bit and is potentially deadly.

While driving at 55 mph or faster, generally on a right hand bend, the vsc will activate pulsing the brake and violently pulling the car to the left and towards oncoming traffic. the skid light goes on, and the car beeps until you are out of the turn and then it goes away. this problem has been intermittent for about 6 months but has gotten much worse and more frequent in the previous 2 months. it has been to the dealership several times and they do not know what to do. there are no error codes. the best they can say is "you're going to fast..." which is a wholly unacceptable answer considering we are going the speed of traffic and no more than 0-10 over the speed limit. *tr

The vsc traction control system activates on it's own. driving the van it automatically comes on and brakes the van, dashboard light and beeping noise comes on. brakes you automatically causing the van to veer to the right. this malfunctioning devise with the yaw system is continuing after many trips to the local toyota dealer. they currently have the van and are replacing part after part and the problem still persists. contacted toyota headquarters and filed a complaint with them but they say there is no recall on this van. checked on line and found many other toyota sienna owners who are experiencing the same issues as we are. this is a dangerous safety hazard which can cause an accident. as of today's writing the problem has not been diagnosed by toyota.

Unexpected vehicle stability control activation while driving resulting in automatic braking and unexpected steering pull. i have been experiencing this issue over the past 4-5 years. there have been times where this issue has led to almost striking vehicles around me. i have brought the vehicle to a toyota dealership, but they have not been able to fix the issue. on several online bulletin boards, other owners of toyota sienna have complained regarding the same issue. i just read in the news that similar issues are occurring on 2001-2002 toyota sequoia.

On numerous occasions, we have had the vsc indicator light turn on while driving on dry pavement while on the highway, which caused the car to apply the brakes and also swerve. our car is awd so the first time it happened, we thought there must have been black ice on the road (even though the road appeared dry). it first happened about three years ago, although it is happening more frequently now. we drove home yesterday through the mountains and it happened four times on our two hour drive. it mostly happens while going downhill for us, and has happened at speeds of 70 mph - 30 mph. it has happened while turning (both directions) and going straight. it is very scary for both my wife and i, and i feel unsafe with her driving our car with our four children. we've taken it to the dealership and they want to charge us lots of money to try to fix what they "think" the problem is. i have spoken with other sienna owners who have experienced the same frightening experience so know it is not just our car, driving, etc.

Vsc sudden activation on curves 35 mph. beeping noise slip sensor comes on.

See engineering investigation ea08024; should be re-opened!!

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. while driving at 35 mph, the vsc and the abs warning lights illuminated intermittently. the contact also stated that when the failure occurred, the front of the vehicle began to swerve into other lanes while the rear of the vehicle went in the opposite direction. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the steering sensor was replaced, but the failure persisted. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 264,888.

The steering angle sensor, pn# 89245-08011 failed. the van can not be driven over 23 mph. the brakes come on automatically over 23 mph and the engine will not respond to accelerate. the steering seems strange (anti-lock brake light coming on) but i was able to keep the van in my lane of traffic. i am concerned that this sensor or others will fail and the van will automatically apply the breaks and loose power preventing me from maneuvering the van to the side of the road. i do not know what would have happened if i was travelling at highway speed. i consider this a major safety problem.

Immediately after turning the steering wheel in either direction while driving, it pulls back in the opposite direction in a jerking motion. i have to hold the steering wheel tightly at every turn and anticipate the jerking of the wheel so i do not cross over to the wrong side of the road or off the road. i took my van to diagnose the problem at my local auto repair shop and was informed that the universal shaft was corroded and needed fully replaced. both joints were rusted and stiff which is causing the erratic movement of the steering during turns. *tr

I was making a right hand turn from a highway onto a side street; my passenger side front tire and hub cap scraped the curb when the steering suddenly became stiff, making the turn difficult. the steering fluid level was checked and was within the normal range; we topped it off anyway, in case that was an issue. *tr

I have been noticing that my 04 sienna is very had to steer, it seems that steering is getting stuck if i try to change lane i have to pull steering. *tr

I took my 2004 sienna in for two recalls to a toyota dealership last saturday. upon doing their standard inspection on the entire vehicle, the service advisor informed me of a serious safety issue with a corroded universal joint on the steering shaft that could seize. i declined this service and am investigating what to do. i came across toyota tsb st001-07 that states 'in areas where road salt is used during winter months, some customers may experience a slight increase in steering effort, which may gradually become more noticeable over time'. this describes my sienna's operation for past winters, but i never gave it much thought. what troubles me is that the service adviser insisted i replace the shaft right away, whereas nhtsa action number pe08041 states that 'toyota has not determined that a safety defect exists in the steering system of the toyota sienna vehicles and provided test data showing that the effect on the steering effort is minimal, even for parts with relatively severe corrosion.' as an interim solution, i will spray the universal joint with a penetrant, a recommendation i read online. *tr

Beginning in winter of 2014, my steering wheel began to squeak when i turned it and seemed harder to turn. my steering wheel did the same thing this past winter,2015. noticed squeaking and more difficulty turning when just beginning to back out and beginning to drive forward and for a few blocks after.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while driving at 5 mph through water, the steering wheel seized. the contact stated that the failure was intermittent. the contact stated that the failure only occurred when the vehicle was driven through standing water. the vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure was 140,000.

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. *tr

The steering on my 2004 toyota sienna was not working correctly. the steering was binding, requiring an increased effort to turn the steering wheel from neutral or return to neutral after turning. i checked the power steering fluid. it was fine. i looked up the issue and realized that this has been investigated. according to the report, my problem has been caused by the steering intermediate shaft. it is binding/locking because of the corrosion of the steering intermediate shaft universal joint. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the brakes seized. the vehicle resumed normally after sittng for a couple of minutes. the failure was recurring. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering angle sensor would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage 143,339.

While driving on interstate vsc warning light came on, beeping and alarms heard. engine slowed down and i felt like the vehicle was out of control. the vehicle swerved like it was hydroplaning on a dry highway. called our repair shop immediately. car was towed and research was done on the history of the problem in other toyota mini vans. i was told there were reports of this happening in other vehicles but not enough for a recall to be issued by toyota, recommendation by the report they found was to replace a sensor which is what was done. that was just over a month ago and the same problem occurred again tonight on a side road going approx 30 mph on dry road. van is back at shop again tonight. i will be calling the 1-800 number for toyota, i do not understand why there is not a recall on this issue. both incidences could have resulted in an accident. tonight i was driving with my child in the van. this issue could have placed her life in danger had there been an accident. *tr

My 2004 sienna is experiencing the exact same issues as described in the 11/09/2011 voluntary safety recall. the belts have been squealing and the steering becomes difficult to turn at slow speeds. the recall applies to certain sienna models but my specific vin is not included in the recall. all new belts have been replace and the issue continues. is it possible that this recall should be expanded to include other vins in the 2004 sienna series? http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/toyota+voluntary+safety+recall+toyota+lexus+vehicles+replace+crankshaft+pulley.htm. *tr

The steering became difficult at times. it was almost like losing your power steering from time to time. intermediate steering shaft was replaced which corrected the problem. *js

Steering became very jerky and tight while driving van with family. problem got worse over the course of 2 days and i had to stop driving the vehicle because it became dangerous. mechanic told me it was problem steering intermediate shaft. *js

At varying rates of speed, on dry roads, my van's vsc and traction control icons will illuminate on the dash, the acceleration will cease and the brakes will pump 2-4 times, and the steering will stick. originally, this occurred only on roads that curved however the frequency of occurrence is increasing and it now occurs on straight roads as well. *tr

In this initial incident, i was traveling on a curvy road at posted speed limit of 30mph. my vehicle suddenly slowed, as if i was applying the brakes, which i was not, and my steering was compromised. in addition the vsc indicator and symbol flashed on my dashed and beeped. the road was dry. this has occurred 10+ times since. i have brought it to my mechanic, without turning the engine off after the occurrence so that he could "read" the computer but there is no evidence available. we have brought it to the toyota dealer. they "rebooted" the sensors and said it should be fine. it has continued to happen, on the freeway going uphill at 55 mph, going downhill at 60 mph and has been close to causing a rear end collision each time. *tr

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 consensus 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!! *tr

Steering shaft intermediate shaft steering & suspension power steering not working all the time. seems to get tighter and tighter from time to time. very difficult making left or right turn... *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the power steering assist failed without warning. the steering wheel became hard to turn. the contact also stated that both passenger side windows were inoperable. the vehicle was taken to independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was not aware of the problems. the approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna. the contact stated that while turing the vehicle at 20 mph or when parking, the steering wheel would seize. the contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or local mechanic. the contact did not call the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 190,000.

Start having problems with the car steering wheel, it is hard to move while moving and it doesn't go back to straight position by itself. have to move the steering by force to get it to the right position. this is dangerous and can cause an accident. *tr

Our 2004 toyota sienna began having difficulty steering while my wife was driving our kids to an event in october 2013. she stated the steering felt "lumpy" or intermittently difficult. the effect was more pronounced when the car was cold, but improved somewhat when warmed up. now in december, the steering problem is such she will not drive the van anymore for safety reasons. the van was difficult to maneuver in traffic and posed a danger to my wife and other vehicles. i drove the van and confirmed this problem and do not want her driving the van either, as the steering was difficult for me and keeping the vehicle in the traffic lane was hard to do at times. research on line indicates this is a known problem. not sure what to do now except have the steering component replaced so van is drivable again. *tr

In the early summer of 2013, i was traveling north on i-15, approx 5 minutes to st. george, utah on a beautiful clear day when the car began to swerve and the yellow skid light came on and the emergency beeping sound alarmed and the car slows down on its own--i no longer have control over accelerating the speed of the car. it frightened and alarmed me and my passengers. within about 5 seconds the light went off and the alarming beeping sound stopped and now i have control of the speed of the car. i have traveled that road several times since and the same incident has occurred at approx the same spot. however, in 2014, during my travels to and fro on this same highway where the speed limit is 65-75mph, the incident occurs in several other spots along i-15 north and southbound. the skid light and the alarming beeping sound even went off when coming to a stop going approx. 5mph. the indicator light and alarm sound seems to be getting more and more sensitive. the same incident has been occurring this year every day on my way home from work at the same spot on i-215. even though the speed limit is 65mph, i have to slow down to less than 50mph in order to avoid this occurrence. this creates a very hazardous situation since i am slowing down for apparently no reason to the cars behind me who are traveling at the speed limit. *tr

Intermittent hard steering. will be driving around even slight corner will be fine then steer hard and be fine again around same corner. or, will steer very hard around one corner then steer ok around the next. *tr

Complete loss of power while in motion entering freeway. previously had noticed steering difficulty at times and engine light going on, but had always stopped after a short while. after the failure it was diagnosed as failure of crank shaft pulley. we found that toyota had done a recall for this issue, but had not included our vehicle in the recall or notified us. toyota denied coverage of the required repair. driver and two small children in care at time of failure, just about to enter freeway. over $800 in repairs. *tr

While driving there was a very loud screech from the motor, on and off, then the power steering went out, very hard to turn steering wheel, luckily i was able to force it the few miles left home. then i noticed the a/c was not cold, this was intermittent, now, no a/c at all. just hot air. this stalled of failed while in traffic, i could have had serious problems like getting hit because i could not turn the vehicle readily, or easily. *tr

I was driving 10 mph towards the grocery store parking lot when suddenly the steering wheel will not turn. i almost hit a tree since the car went over the curb. i had to stop the engine. this happened again on my way home that night. it was very dangerous. i immediately called toyota the following day (1-800-331-4331) and was told that there had never been no record of any complaint with a similar issue on the 2004 siennas. but tonight , i am so surprised that there had been a lot of complaints about this. *tr

Toyota is not reliable anymore like it used to. one problem after another not covered by warranties and too expensive to fix. there should be strict laws to force toyota to fix loads of design issues for free independent of warranties. big companies like toyota always find work around and play with words in order to escape. my steering wheel started making screeching sound everytime i turn. the power steering fluid level is fine. its hard to turn the steering. this is a safety issue and can cause an accident on the road or highway. these types of minivans are occupied by families and toddlers where multiple deaths can occur if a parent is not able to turn the steering freely to escape an accident. there should be a safety recall and have toyota fix this for free without any deadlines and independent of warranties where they say this part is covered and this part is not. *tr

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 sienna's have had the same issue. this is a very expensive repair. *tr

On freeway interchanges, entrances and exits vsc and abs suddenly engagess. van is not aggressively driven and when turning on mountain roads and switch backs vsc and abs engages despite the slow and controled steering.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota sienna . the contact stated while driving 45 mph the brakes started to engage. there was a beeping sound as the traction warning indicator illuminated. the failure recurred approximately ten times. the dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the steering angle sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

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. *tr