2006 Toyota Tacoma: loss of power steering

Filed Apr 18, 2020 · Steering · 234,450 miles · PA

Steering became very stiff while driving in town yesterday. Upon making a right turn at a familiar intersection, it became difficult to make the turn due to very stiff steering. The front end of my truck came very close to a vehicle coming into the intersection from the street I was turning into, and then the usual return of my wheels to straight ahead did not occur as expected, and I had to quickly force the steering wheel back before I ran up over the curb on my right. Luckily the car coming into the intersection had been far enough back from the intersection that we did not collide, and if I had not forced the steering wheel back at the end of the turn I may have hit pedestrians on the sidewalk. Upon investigating this problem with a mechanic immediately after the incident (yesterday afternoon) and at online forums, the most likely cause seemed to be the u-joint on the lower intermediate shaft of the steering column down just before the steering gear, just inside the left front wheel. Per some online forum advice, I used penetrating oil on that u-joint to loosen it, with good results (stiffness is now gone). But this seems most likely to be a temporary fix. I doubt that loosening the u-joint today will keep it from a repeat performance at some unknown and unpredictable time. Clearly this could cause accidents, and per online forums, it has apparently been a known issue for a while. There are no grease fittings on the u-joint, so there is no way to put a more permanent lubricant (grease) into the bearings of the u-joint. Also, the u-joint in question is not protected by a rubber boot, and is completely exposed to all the water, dirt, and salt that splashes up while driving. Others have noted that spraying with penetrating oil or the like is only a temporary fix, and the stiff steering problem returns after a time, making an accident much more likely.

Filed May 23, 2015 · Steering · 106,000 miles · MA

With out warning, my steering got very stiff and the wheels would not return to center automatically. After researching I found that it could be the u-joint on the lower steering shaft. I sprayed lubricant on the u-joint and this temporarily resolved the issue. The binding returns every week or so. The u-joint is not protected from the elements allowing road grime, salt and other contaminants to get into the u-joint. This is a very big safety concern and should be recalled. When I spoke to the dealer they stated to keep lubing it until it stops working. This seems to be dangerous and I will be working to replace it. I am seeing that the cost is ~ $350 to have a dealership perform the repair. Please investigate as this is a very big safety issue and many tacoma owners of the 2005 to at least the 2012 model are indicating having this issue at different mileage.

Filed Apr 13, 2015 · Steering · 130,000 miles · NJ

Steering shaft binds suddenly at lower universal joint, resulting in loss of steering input.

Filed Apr 12, 2012 · Steering · 164,000 miles · PA

The tacoma intermediate steering shaft is unprotected and exposed to the elements under the truck, this problem is common with all tacomas from 2005 to present 1012 model. My steering began to lock while driving at highway speed giving the feel that I could not turn the truck. The problem appears suddenly and for a short time seems to come and go. According to numerous forum websites, this is becoming a wide spread problem. Due to its exposure to the elements, the universal joint fails and binds making the vehicle feel like the steering wheel is locking up. Spraying the joint with a penetrant will loosen it temporarily to confirm that this is the problem. If not corrected, the universal may bind completely or snap, this will undoubtedly cause loss of steering or control at highway speed. I recently had mine replaced by a toyota dealership and I am aware of many others with the same issue. This can be a serious safety issue resulting in a crash or even death! Other manufacturers that I am aware of cover their universal with a plastic cover device to protect it from the elements, toyota does not. My vehicle had this failure at 164,000 miles, but I know of failures with as little as 60,000 miles.

Filed Jul 19, 2010 · Body · 71,000 miles · CA

We heard a loud noise in the engine area, when going over bumps. Took it to our mechanic, and he found a loose fan shroud and tightened it up. Two weeks later the power steering went out while my husband was driving. We towed the 2006 toyota tacoma double cab to the dealership we bought the car from, and they finally told us the frame was broken under the engine area, right next to the power steering. They told us $14,000 to fix the truck. They said we need a full frame replacement. The truck has only 71,000 miles. It has not been repaired...toyota offered to pay 1/2 of the frame cost, which they said is $9800, not including the 40 hours @$40/hr of labor they want to charge to replace it. They will not tell me why my frame is broken. I had my truck towed to an different repair shop, for another estimate, which the dealership hasn't even given me their written estimate. When I asked for it they made up an excuse on why I had to wait for the service rep. To access my account to print it out for me, this is when I removed my truck last week after, they told me to take the deal or get my truck off their property or they would starting charging me fees. My truck has been broken for three weeks now, I have had no loaner, and now help from toyota or the dealer. My husband could have been in a serious accident, when he lost power steering, this is a defective frame, and due to it breaking, it caused the power steering to go out. We have no truck now, and still owe over $10,000 for this broken, defective one.

Filed Jan 18, 2008 · Engine · CA

My 2006 tacoma (14k miles) has a "loud" grinding noise that lasts for approximately one second at start-up.. Approximately one year ago, after numerous visits to the dealer, and one air conditioner compressor replacement, the dealership acknowledges that they heard the noise, and that several "other" tacomas on the lot made the same noise. It sounds like the top of the engine is coming off. The noise appears to be a result of a liquid migration or flood-back condition of liquid refrigerant (instead of vapor) being compressed by the air conditioning compressor. Toyota emphatically insists the noise is a characteristic of the vehicle and that no fixes are available now and none are planned. My contention is that if the A/C compressor seizes during operation, this would result in the loss of the engine drive belt (single belt serpentine system). If the belt separates from the engine, the power steering system would become inoperative and would result in a significant loss of steering control. At freeway speeds, this could have an adverse affect for me, my family, and other motorists.