1. Toyota Sienna
  2. Problems
  3. 2005
  4. Steering

2005 Toyota Sienna Steering Problems

72
Owner complaint records in our dataset

Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.

Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.

Among these 72 stored complaint records:

  • 0 indicate a crash
  • 0 indicate injury
  • 1 indicate fire

What owners report

  • power steering · 21 records
  • steering wheel · 14 records
  • rack pinion · 11 records
  • steering shaft · 9 records
  • hard turn · 6 records
  • steering rack · 6 records

Mileage in stored records

BandRecords
100–150k mi24
60–100k mi19
30–60k mi13
150–400k mi5
1–30k mi4

Complaint records

Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.

  • September 8, 2019 · 157,000 miles

    Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes · Steering

    When driving at any speed above 25 mph, the traction control light on the dashboard will come on, it will beep and the brake will engage without the driver pressing the brake pedal (these all happen at the same time). This in turn locks the brakes at times and the car veers to the right. There is no reason that we can figure out that this happens. It has happened many times and three days ago, it happened twice in…

    ODI 11254297

  • April 21, 2018 · 143,000 miles

    Electronic Stability Control · Steering

    Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota sienna. While driving approximately 30 mph, the stability control warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle decelerated and the rear end swerved sideways. The contact stated that the failure occurred for approximately 30 days and only when driving above 30 mph. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer…

    ODI 11089684

  • June 12, 2017 · 86,000 miles

    Electronic Stability Control · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control

    Takata inflators - when driving in city 30mph or freeway 50-60mph in curvy path, the unti-skid lock turns off even if the road was dry. When it happened frequently and a motorcycle almost slammed from behind, i brought my van to the dealer and it shows no record of the unti-skid lock being on. I insisted to take precautions and they did a zero calibration, changed new tires and realignment but problem persist. I…

    ODI 10994982

  • November 3, 2016 · 107,000 miles

    Engine · Steering

    Crankshaft pulley safety recall - 2005 toyota sienna -recall # 11v539000 more vehicles possibly affected than stated in recall notice. Dealer stated vin did not fall in range of recall, although the defective crankshaft pulley part stamped with mark has been identified on my vehicle. Burning smell related to drive belt while driving and abnormal engine noise. Upon replacing new drive belt, the crankshaft pulley was…

    ODI 10924648

  • October 1, 2016

    Steering

    My steering has been getting stiff for the past few weeks. About a month i noticed that my steering was stiff and then smooth a few days later. Now it feels stiff at cold start and even after warm up from normal driving. I have new belts and no power steering fluid leak. I've read many blogs online and people claiming that the (u-joint) aka "steering knuckle" is the cause. Due to water/dirt/salt from the road -…

    ODI 10924691

  • August 8, 2016 · 112,000 miles

    Steering

    Steering has become intermittently stiff. Steering wheel doesn't self center. It's difficult to turn the wheel either way. After turning the wheel very hard, it suddenly becomes easy. This phenomenon occurs when the vehicle is stationary, and at all speeds. The problem started approximately two months ago, and has gotten progressively worse. The power steering pump is working properly, the belt is in good condition,…

    ODI 10914879

  • July 12, 2016 · 125,000 miles

    Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes · Steering

    While driving around curves with dry pavement on highways and exit/entrance ramps at highway rates of speed (55-65 miles per hour or less) the anti-lock brake system engage,s causing the van to pulse and slow down unexpectedly. It disengages once the wheel straightens. We first tried to trouble shoot with our local mechanic with no success, prompting us to have our local toyota service department attempt to…

    ODI 10970378

  • May 14, 2016 · 215,000 miles

    Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes · Steering

    On several occasions the vehicle stability control on my 2005 toyota sienna xle is activated suddenly and for no reason. It has happened changing lanes on the freeway, on off ramps, and city streets. I was never going over the speed limit, turning sharply, and the road was not wet or slippery. The activation caused my car to rapidly decelerate from 50 mph to 20 mph in a matter of seconds and caused my wife,…

    ODI 10865360

  • March 26, 2016 · 157,000 miles

    Steering

    Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota sienna. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle shook without warning. When accelerating over 40 mph, the shaking worsened. The vehicle made a loud noise whenever turning the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure…

    ODI 10863406

  • March 8, 2016 · 101,000 miles

    Engine · Steering

    My car has the exact symptoms for a recall involving a crankshaft pulley, yet my vin is apparently not involved with that recall. My engine model 3mz-fe is involved with the recall yet toyota service dealerships and toyota customer experience both say it isn't. Currently my car is not safe to drive according to the service dealership and a fee of roughly $800 awaits me. I do not understand how my make, model, model…

    ODI 10846146

  • February 16, 2016 · 96,000 miles

    Steering

    Extremely hard steering has been frequently a problem (accompanied by a loud squeal) during the first minute after start up, particularly in the cold. Now i have noticed a sudden steering difficulty on a turn while driving long after start up.

    ODI 10838513

  • February 11, 2016 · 166,000 miles

    Steering

    Very stiff when turning. Steering seems to lock and making a turn and returning to normal driving position is faulty, i took it to two mechanics and they both said it was the rack and pinion that had to be replaced. In looking at the database i see that this problem does exist with the toyota sienna. Recall should be initiated as this poses a very serious problem.

    ODI 10839066

  • December 13, 2015 · 113,000 miles

    Electronic Stability Control · Service Brakes · Steering

    Very dangerous situation: toyota sienna 2005 vsc (anti skid system) kicks in unexpectedly for no reason. Numerous times i have been driving straight along dry roads only to have my abs (antilock braking system) suddenly come on, the van slow down, with the vsc alarm going off, and the vsc light blinking. It's very scary, especially on the highway, and it becomes hard to control the van. This has happened at high…

    ODI 10809895

  • December 1, 2015

    Steering

    STEERING PROBLEM.

    ODI 10822120

  • November 10, 2015 · 100 miles

    Steering · Wheels

    DEVELOPER TESTING

    Fire reported

    ODI 10789483

  • October 1, 2015

    Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · Steering

    2005 toyota sienna. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle brakes malfunction. *smd the consumer stated while driving down the highway at normal speed, the anti-skid activated on a dry road. The consumer stated the incident happened several more times, each time as the road curved to the right. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic. However, he was unable to find a problem, except for over-inflated tires. The consumer…

    ODI 10677130

  • August 1, 2015 · 185,000 miles

    Steering

    Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the traction control warning light illuminated and an audible alarm was activated before the steering suddenly jerk the vehicle to the left and right. The contact indicated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions and would only last a few seconds. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired.…

    ODI 10894289

  • June 29, 2015 · 139,350 miles

    Steering

    Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota sienna. While driving at 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,350. Updated 11/3/2017*cn

    ODI 10731434

  • February 20, 2015 · 107,000 miles

    Steering

    Car difficult to turn at all speeds. Dealer states bad power steering rack and shaft may also be bad. *tr

    ODI 10689692

  • December 17, 2014 · 119,000 miles

    Power Train · Steering

    I noticed a clunking noise when turning into a parking spot. It also felt like my van was diving into the parking spot. I took my van into toyota for another reason and was told at the time it was leaking at the rack and needed a new drive shaft and boot to the tune of 1200 dollars. We are still debating what to do and are very disappointed in toyota. We purchased this vehicle based on toyota's reputation for…

    ODI 10743620

  • December 11, 2014

    Steering

    When backing out of driveway steering wheel locked (wouldn't turn); had to wait about a minute before steering wheel would turn. Took it to the dealer to fix a couple of recalls and they did an inspection at which time they told me the power steering rack & pinion was leaking and it would cost $1800 to fix. Checked online and found a lot of people are experiencing same problem. *tr

    ODI 10702516

  • November 3, 2014 · 110,000 miles

    Steering

    Steering problem involving a "freezing" of the wheel and then a gradual ability to resume steering. Problem increasingly happening while making a turn and not just at start up. *tr

    ODI 10683956

  • July 14, 2014 · 148,000 miles

    Steering

    Steering wheel would suddenly be hard to turn at certain spots while driving. *tr

    ODI 10667689

  • June 17, 2014 · 28,723 miles

    Engine · Steering

    First, i noticed some oil stains on my drive way, then i drove my minivan to a local toyota car dealer for check up and routine oil change. Next day, i noticed a bigger oil stain. Anyway, i had an appointment and have to drive my minivan to my dentist office, on the highway, i saw smoke came out of my front hood. Then, i drove it to the same toyota dealer afterwards. It was quite scary driving and seeing smoke came…

    ODI 10599056

  • March 7, 2014 · 95,000 miles

    Steering

    2005 toyota sienna: power steering fails intermittently, resulting in a loss of power steering and sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash. Driver is at risk if sudden steering away from an event is necessary due to the effort and inconsistent nature of the steering. There are many complaints about this that can be found on various forums on the internet. It is a serious problem that…

    ODI 10712070