What 228 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota Sienna

My 2015 Toyota Sienna has “Sticky” steering. When on a curve, like an highway curved ramp, the steering locks in place. I have to pull the steering wheel back to keep the car on track. When it sticks I can literally let go on a curve and it will hold it’s position. Even when driving straight this occurs. The steering wheel will stick in place requiring me to turn it to get the steering wheel to come back to the desired or correct position. I’m seeing that this is a regular problem for Toyota steering across multiple models. Having your steering get stuck in place has the potential to be a very serious safety issue. This may cause an accident and resulting death. The complete repair for this safety issue to the consumer is over $3000.00. This is ridiculous! This is my first Toyota. I think their reliability night be really over rated.

NHTSA ODI 11744995

The power steering has a notch or almost a stickiness when turning. In turns around interstate ramps the steering almost locks in place requiring physical effort to get the steering to straighten back out. Even driving in a straight line one can feel this notch like feeling where the steering wheel is not operating in a smooth manner. This gives me a serious concern over the safety of driving this vehicle. In researching this specific issue it is notable that Toyota issued a large scale recall on other models for steering issues exactly as I’m experiencing on my vehicle. It appears this overall safety concern extends beyond the vehicles listed in Toyota’s original power steering safety issue recall.

NHTSA ODI 11731392

FROM 2016 AND UNTIL HE RECEIVED HIS CONVERTED 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA IN FEBRUARY 2018, OSU OUTPATIENT REHAB WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING [XXX]'S DISEASE PROGRESSION AND ENSURING THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE HIS MODIFIED VEHICLE.*DT*DT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OHIOANS WITH DISABILITIES ADMINISTERS A VEHICLE MODIFICATION PROGRAM, WHEREBY DISABLED CONSUMERS PURCHASE A VEHICLE SUITABLE FOR ADAPTATION AND OOD CONTRACTS AND PAYS FOR VEHICLE TO BE RETROFITTED WITH ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT. UNDER OHIO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 3306-6-02 (MOTOR VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS.WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN OOD'S VEHICLE MODIFICATION PROGRAM, [XXXX] PURCHASED A 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA FOR $37,657.25. OOD CONTRACTED WITH NOW MOBILITY WORKS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT. OOD PAID MC MOBILITY $95,210 IN TWO INSTALLMENTS. THE FIRST PAYMENT OF $89,690 OCCURRED JANUARY 22, 2018. A SECOND PAYMENT OF $5,520 HAPPENED ON MARCH 20, 2018. ON DECEMBER 27, 2018, INGENIUM ENGINEERING'S PRINCIPAL, GEORGE W. HICKS, INSPECTED THE MODIFIED VAN. MR. HICKS IDENTIFIED A FEW IMPORTANT DEFICIENCIES. HE WROTE THAT AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL GUARD MUST BE INSTALLED PER 'OHIO VEHICLE MODIFICATION RULES' AND THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. ON 2-15-18 OSU HOSPITAL MEDICAL RECORDS. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT KAITLIN FINCH MADE NOTES ON PAGE 38 THE VAN SHOULD HAVE FAILED INSPECTION NON-WORKING EQUIPMENT. THE PARAVAN SPACE STEERING DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND VAN RELEASED. MOBILITY DID NOT CALIBRATE PARAVAN STEERING DUE TO BAD INSTALLATION OF COLUMN THE WHEELS TURN MORE LEFT THAN TURN RIGHT. TWO INSPECTION REPORTS WERE GIVEN TO OOD CONTRACTING OFFICE. THE OOD CONTRACTING OFFICE PAID FOR THE HANDICAP EQUIPMENT AND THE EQUIPMENT WAS IN NON-WORKING CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO MR. [XXX]. *AS 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

NHTSA ODI 11311047

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A BEEPING NOISE AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BEEPING NOISE GREW LOUDER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALM BEACH TOYOTA (200 S CONGRESS AVE, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33406, (561) 701-9306), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 11252168

2015 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE 44,802 MILES. HEAR CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DURING LOW SPEED OR STATIONARY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE BETWEEN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION MATING TEETH CAUSING THE NOISE. THEY RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND QUOTE ME ALMOST $800 FOR IT FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I DECLINED. I AM SURPRISED THIS IS HAPPEN TO TOYOTA, THE REASON I BOUGHT TOYOTA IS BECAUSE ITS RELIABILITY. IF I KNOW THINGS GOING TO BREAK JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY IS OVER, I WON'T BUY TOYOTA. THERE ARE OTHER BRANDS CHEAPER BRAND THAT DO THAT. AFTER I TALK TO MY MECHANIC, HE SAID THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS A LOT, EVEN THE OEM REPLACEMENT PART WON'T LAST LONG 40-50K MILES. FOR ME IT SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN ISSUE OR JUST A CHEAPLY MADE PART.

NHTSA ODI 11231675

WHEELCHAIR VAN CONVERSION GONE WRONG. I HAVE IT DOCUMENTED. THE STATE OF OHIO SPENT $109 THOUSAND I SPENT $40 THOUSAND. THE VAN IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE DOCUMENTS FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE STEERING TURN MORE LEFT THAN TURNS TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE MORE DOCUMENTS. *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI 11203230

I HAVE A 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA SE. I AM CURRENTLY AT 49092 MILES AND AM PURCHASING MY THIRD SET OF TIRES. THE TIRE WEAR ON THIS VEHICLE IS ABNORMALLY HIGH. I HAVE PURCHASED HIGH QUALITY TIRES (BRIDGESTONE 80K WARRANTY, AND MICHELIN 60K). FIRST SET OF FACTORY ISSUED TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO 3/32-4/32 IN 24000 MILES, SECOND SET WAS USED TO 4/32 IN 25000 MILES. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE TO ME IN REGARDS TO HANDING, STEERING AND STOPPING AND IT FEEL IT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE ITSELF TO INCLUDE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, FRAME SETUP, AND WEIGHT OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11142399

WHEN I GET INTO THE SIENNA IN A PARKING SPOT (STATIONERY) AND TWIST THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE STARTS BUT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTANTLY. I HAVE TO SIT THERE AND LET THE VEHICLE RUN FOR AWHILE BEFORE THE STEERING KICKS IN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS BASICALLY LOCKED AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP ON ME WHILE I AM DRIVING AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STEER.

NHTSA ODI 11097977

DIFFICULT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING UP FROM STOP

NHTSA ODI 11093428

STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN MAKING IT HARD TO STEER - ALMOST HAVE TO "FORCE" IT TO TURN. HARD TO DUPLICATE - SEEMS INTERMITTENT - INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES DIM, ALMOST DARK. RANDOM ALSO

NHTSA ODI 11052032

I HAVE A BRAND NEW TOYOTA SIENNA AND THE TIRES SEEM TO START SHOWING SIGN OF WEARING OFF IN 6 MONTHS, AS IF IT HAS ALIGNMENT ISSUES OR SOMETHING. THE CAR DOES NOT PULL TO ONE SIDE OR ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE THE TIRE PRESSURE THAT NEEDS TO BE KEPT UP AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE IF THE PRESSURE IS GOOD? ALSO THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES THESE DAYS ARE SOFTER SO THEY DON'T LAST AS LONG? THIS ALL SEEMS A LITTLE HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE. OEM TIRE WARRANTY UP TO 60K BUT NOT LAST LONG . JUST CHANGE NEW SETS OF TIRE WITH ALIGNMENT . TOYOTA ENGINEERING NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11045856