[debbielo]

the problem we have been haaving w sienna. over 12 phonecalls and multiple visits to the dealership w full warranty and we are constantly blown off.

I HAVE THE FIX!!!!! This was a nightmare for me and after MUCH research, taking my minivan to Toyota Dealer crooks, and 2 independent garages, I got it taken care of. I thought I was going to have to junk the vehicle, but much persistence, I got it fixed.

It was the rack and pinion bushings were badly worn. Replaced rack and pinion for $625 and all the problems were gone. No more alarm, bucking/braking, loss of acceleration. Sure hopes this helps someone else as it was a horrible experience and I will NEVER buy a Toyota again.

Best of luck to you.

 

[O-Five]

I had similar issues and it was scary to drive and the vehicle was breaking by itself at 65 miles an hour into the freeway overpass.
It wasn’t the sensor it wasn’t the traction control itself but it was the steering axle and bushings that needed to be replaced
Most places won’t acknowledge they know what it is because they don’t have the manpower to figure it out. The truth is it took two people to figure this out one standing up on top of the rack inside the car moving the steering wheel while someone underneath was running the back wheels and could check the steering axle and bushings as the car was in motion this seemed to indicate things were not right. Once they replaced all those bushings and the axle. The problem disappeared and I’ve been running it for over a year and a half since then no issues and a lot more confidence as well.

 

[Debbielo5]

I had similar issues and it was scary to drive and the vehicle was breaking by itself at 65 miles an hour into the freeway overpass.
It wasn’t the sensor it wasn’t the traction control itself but it was the steering axle and bushings that needed to be replaced
Most places won’t acknowledge they know what it is because they don’t have the manpower to figure it out. The truth is it took two people to figure this out one standing up on top of the rack inside the car moving the steering wheel while someone underneath was running the back wheels and could check the steering axle and bushings as the car was in motion this seemed to indicate things were not right. Once they replaced all those bushings and the axle. The problem disappeared and I’ve been running it for over a year and a half since then no issues and a lot more confidence as well.

Yes! Toyota will not acknowledge the problem, they know it exists, and many garages automatically depend on "codes" to solve the issue but it's not a coded issue. IT IS THE RACK AND PINION BUSHINGS!. I think it may also be called "the rack" or "steering axle", but the bushings in the part are bad. It runs like a top now that I've replaced the rack and pinion.

 

[O-Five]

Yes! Toyota will not acknowledge the problem, they know it exists, and many garages automatically depend on "codes" to solve the issue but it's not a coded issue. IT IS THE RACK AND PINION BUSHINGS!. I think it may also be called "the rack" or "steering axle", but the bushings in the part are bad. It runs like a top now that I've replaced the rack and pinion.

I’m happy it was solved because it was a nightmare for me as well the first place I took it to could only come up with a code and had no clue what was going on so I did try my dealership and it took a little bit longer than expected but they were the ones who figured it out .
It may be most dealers have a way of servicing their vehicles and serve their clients, but perhaps a few have the expertise and really take their time with the client as they did with me and they figured it out. The problem may be more with how they are managed and how busy they are. Certainly the problem you and I had is a bit complex but it’s not rocket science. it just requires more resource time and expertise which many places do not have either or maybe just one. On the other hand if you have an independent that is super smart that may be the diamond in the rough but even a brilliant mechanic cannot be enough if you need 2 people to really look at the problem. The mechanics at the dealership are not super smart either but when they worked together they figured it out quickly.

 

[Debbielo5]

I’m happy it was solved because it was a nightmare for me as well the first place I took it to could only come up with a code and had no clue what was going on so I did try my dealership and it took a little bit longer than expected but they were the ones who figured it out .
It may be most dealers have a way of servicing their vehicles and serve their clients, but perhaps a few have the expertise and really take their time with the client as they did with me and they figured it out. The problem may be more with how they are managed and how busy they are. Certainly the problem you and I had is a bit complex but it’s not rocket science. it just requires more resource time and expertise which many places do not have either or maybe just one. On the other hand if you have an independent that is super smart that may be the diamond in the rough but even a brilliant mechanic cannot be enough if you need 2 people to really look at the problem. The mechanics at the dealership are not super smart either but when they worked together they figured it out quickly.

I couldn't agree more! I had done hours of research before finding the video on this site whereas the guy on here also said he had been to the dealership as well in search of the fix. After finding the video here and armed with my research, I took it to a mechanic telling him I thought it was the R&P. He said he was pretty sure it "wasn't" the R&P, then said after running codes and 4 days of conferring with mechanics at their other shops, they finally agreed that the bushings on the R&P were bad. They were pretty sure it would not stop all the issues and would only replace R&P "without" guarantee. I took it elsewhere armed with my info, tried a new mechanic...he listened to me intently and said everything I was telling him made sense. He changed out the R&P, the rest is history...I love my minivan now lol!

 

[rrtlaw]

I had the dreaded beeping, front brake slamming on, VSC light coming on, etc. in my 2004 AWD at 150,000 miles, while making gentle bends on a dry freeway at 70 mph, while curving on an offramp at 50 mph, etc. It was happening more and more. Got too scary to drive very fast in that car. The system thought I was sliding but I wasn't, and when the brakes applied it could be a safety issue.

Reading threads on Sienna Chat I saw I was not the only one experiencing this problem. I consulted the dealer and the service advisor had never heard of such a thing. I reset the zero point calibration using a neighbor's scan tool, to no avail. Then I tried the paper clip trick also, to no avail.

So, following the solution that some had discovered worked, I replaced the rack & pinion along with the outer tie rods and it completely cured the problem! I don't know if it was a bad tie rod, bad rack & pinion bushings (although the bushings looked ok to me visually), or just some slop in the rack & pinion itself. But replacing those parts solved it. I did the job myself - spent a Saturday under the car using Toyota parts. Then took it in for alignment.

 

[Firstfruitsdad]

I have a 2005 XLE. In the last month, I have had three instances where it did something very strange: Driving along, once freeway doing 65, once city street doing about 35, and once on a freeway on ramp at about 25, the traction control kicked in, the van braked, and the traction control light on dashboard came on with a beeping sound. I understand how the traction control works, but each time it was dry, level pavement, no rain, no gravel, no conditions that would necessitate the traction control. The last time it happened, the traction control was off, as I was driving it to the dealer to have it looked at. Dealer had it for two days and says they can't find anything wrong with it. Anyone else have this happen before?

I have the same problem. It's not all the time. Not sure what it is, that's why I'm on this chat.

 

[blah415]

I have the same problem. It's not all the time. Not sure what it is, that's why I'm on this chat.

its the steering rack and pinion. about 10 people also mentioned this as well on this thread.