at low speed the ADCC. FWRD Collison sensor was triggered and the brakes applied which cause the engine and engine powertrain along with the brakes to lose power and did not function as it was designed. The system was to slow and not enough power in engine to compensate for the TSS to activate and lost control temporary, and the object it was trying to avoid the collision with was a parked vehicle. My engines OIL PRESSURE gage at a low speed will at times go past 3/4- 4/4 (80-95%) and normal operation is 1/2 (50%) . I was driving on highway 90 headed east to work at 730am and while in the fast lane my truck SPLUTTERD and lost power and engine light and dash reading said POWER LOSE and my speed dropped to 55 estimate and would not throttle up. for a few seconds the brakes and engine sounded as it was shutting down and I was able to mange the truck to the slower lanes and made it to work at slow speed. The truck when sits for day at a time and when I decide to use it and start it up the truck SPLUTTERS and shakes for a brief moment until warms up. I have a huge gas efficiency problem and MPG use to read in the mid to high 20 now it reads mid 10 to 18 area. the truck is not meeting its efficiency as stated when purchased. the car hesitates and splutters if the throttle is used and the delay boggles the truck engine performance which can lead to loss of steering. The dealership says it was the airflow sensor yet they never changed it or replaced it and i now know that sense mile 6 of purchase the engine has been failing and Toyota refuses to fix or correct the engine issue or give false or misleading details and information and will not correct issues. TBE claim details and facts and images are ignored and denied by TBE. I can submit images of the dash and speed. As well as the Oil pressure gages which are obvious signs of the engine recall issues.
Toyota Tundra power steering loss problems
51 of the 6,967 owner complaints about the Toyota Tundra describe loss of power steering, most of them for the 2002 model year.
- owner complaints
- 51
- worst model year
- 2002
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,600
- typical mileage
- 90,000
By model year
Often reported together
Loss of power 12Ball joint 9Engine failure 4Check engine light 4Whining noise 2Stalling 2Grinding brakes 2Won't start 1
What owners say
Safety Complaint for 2020 Toyota Tundra The power steering intermittently becomes difficult to operate, as if power steering assistance is lost. The steering wheel does not consistently return to the center position after making a turn. The issue began approximately one and a half month ago and continues to present a serious safety concern. No warning lights or messages appear on the dashboard when the problem occurs. This intermittent steering malfunction may compromise vehicle control and the driver's ability to respond appropriately to changing road conditions, increasing the risk of an accident. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this issue to determine whether a safety defect or recall is warranted.
2024 Toyota Tundra experienced a serious safety event. While travelling on the highway at 60mph speeds in traffic when the truck suddenly blinked a loss of steering warning light then immediately blinked engine failure warning light. The truck lost power and the engine completely shut down in traffic going down a long, steep hill. I was able to reach the bottom and pull over but the truck would not restart. I had to have the truck towed to a Toyota dealership near my home.
The vehicle was purchased brand new from an authorized franchised dealership, sold and contracted as being equipped with a dealer-installed 2.5-inch suspension lift. At approximately 20,000 miles, a severe front-end squeaking symptom developed. The vehicle was brought to a separate authorized Toyota dealership service center for inspection. An authorized Toyota Master Technician formally inspected the vehicle and documented that the selling dealership did not install an engineered suspension lift. Instead, they installed unauthorized, budget aftermarket spacer pucks and non-certified upper control arms. The Master Technician documented in writing that the vehicle "isn't even lifted properly" and a factory front strut has failed prematurely. SAFETY RISK: The unauthorized spacer modification has severely altered and compromised the factory steering and suspension geometry. Because the front suspension, upper control arms, ball joints, struts, and steering rack are forced to operate continuously at unsafe, extreme, out-of-spec angles, the components are subjected to premature, destructive stress. The Master Technician confirmed that this improper configuration creates an imminent highway life-safety hazard, presenting an extreme risk of the front CV axles binding or snapping at highway speeds, which would result in an immediate, catastrophic loss of steering control. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The safety defect has been explicitly reproduced and confirmed in writing by an authorized Toyota Master Technician. The selling dealership management has been formally notified of this safety diagnosis but has actively refused to remediate the unsafe components, leaving a structurally compromised and highly dangerous vehicle operating on public highways.
1) The newly installed rack & pinion rack locks up and tried to turn right when on a continuous or left turn followed closely by another left turn. 2) My safety and the other drivers near me were all in danger when the loss of steering control occurs. The problem makes the vehicle want to turn hard to the right and the hydraulics are too strong to control the steering. 3) The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, but the problem still exist and is repeatable for any needed inspection. 4) The vehicle has not been inspected by any outside entity, but is available for inspection. The problem still exist and can be confirmed. 5) There are no warning lights or symptoms. When it happens, all of the sudden the truck wants to make a hard right and there is nothing you can do to stop it, other than stop and let go the the steering wheel.
ubject: URGENT SAFETY INCIDENT REPORT: Engine Seizure at Highway Speeds – Case #xxx To the Toyota Safety & Compliance Department: I am writing to formally report a critical safety incident involving my 2024 Toyota Tundra (VIN: [XXX] ). Incident Description: While traveling at highway speeds, the vehicle’s engine suffered a catastrophic internal seizure and shut down completely without any prior warning. This resulted in an immediate loss of motive power in the middle of high-speed traffic. Because the engine died, I also experienced an immediate loss of power steering assist and power brake vacuum, making the vehicle extremely difficult to control. I was forced to perform an emergency maneuver to avoid a rear-end collision and struggled to steer the truck toward the shoulder while other vehicles swerved around me at high speeds. Safety Hazard & Manufacturing Defect: This failure is identical to the conditions described in the federal safety agency Safety Recall 24V‑381 (Toyota Recall 25TA14). The dealership's diagnosis at AutoNation Toyota Weston confirmed that the bearings are discolored and "spun," which is a direct consequence of the manufacturing debris that Toyota has already admitted exists in these engine blocks. Bad-Faith Warranty Denial: Despite the life-threatening nature of this event, the dealership is attempting to blame "abuse" based on a software log from the Brake Override System. They are ignoring the fact that a metallurgical failure of the main bearings has no mechanical link to pedal input. Using a safety software record to deny a repair for a known manufacturing defect that nearly caused a fatal accident on the highway is unacceptable. Requested Action: I demand that this case be immediately reviewed by Toyota’s safety team. My vehicle manifested the exact defect described in the federal recall during a high-risk situation. I am requesting an immediate resolution to remove this dangerous vehicle from the road and to honor the terms of the INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FO
Steering is intermittently difficult, almost as if no power steering. Steering wheel does not return to center after a turn. There were no warning lamps or messages displayed on the vehicle. This is a safety issue in that it could an accident by not responding properly to driver input. Took vehicle to Toyota dealer who diagnosed problem as "Intermediate Steering Shaft Binding." Toyota dealer replaced steering intermediate shaft. Dealer kept old steering shaft.
The power steering went out during routine around-town driving. One moment it was steering fine, the next moment it became extremely difficult and sluggish. There were no warning lights or warning of any sort until the steering wheel started jerking unevenly as I tried to turn. I was able to get control of the vehicle and pull it to the side of the road. There was no difference in the engine noise, and I couldn't see any noticeable fluid leak. I was able to drive the vehicle home, make an appointment with the Toyota dealer, and get the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. The dealership told me after inspection, that the rack and pinion steering was binding internally, and that there was seepage from the right boot. Initially, they told me that the pump should be fine. I authorized them to replace the rack and pinion steering. After which, they told me that the problem seemed to still persist some, and that the pump would have to be replaced also. My total bill came to $3,200, which seemed not unfair. But this whole issue seemed like something that should be noticed as part of a recall. I found the federal safety agency recall number. 21V‑920, and my truck seemed to match exactly the symptoms spelled out is this recall , but Toyota refused to acknowledge it. My VIN number did not fall within the specified VIN for this recall. I've driven several Toyotas, including another Tundra, a Tacoma, 2 Highlanders and a Sienna, and have been pleased with each vehicle. This Tundra is 10 years old with 95,000 miles, and I've only done expected maintenance and a couple of occasional minor repairs. Those being: - Having the brakes resurfaced - Changing out the alternator In the end, it wasn't a devastating amount of money, but it was an issue that I felt Toyota should have taken care of. I did reach out to them, but because I had already paid for the repairs on the vehicle I needed to drive for work, they refused to talk to me any further. I have the estimate and final bill.
On September 4, 2025, I brought my 2001 Toyota Tundra to Midas at 5325 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002 for an oil change and inspection. Midas advertises a “Closer Look Vehicle Check,” which includes checking steering, suspension, and wheels. Their inspection report marked the steering system as “OK” and only noted mild shock wear. Less than a month later, while exiting the highway, the lower ball joint failed completely, causing the front suspension and wheel to detach. I immediately lost steering control. Fortunately, this occurred at low speed; had it happened moments earlier on the highway, it could have caused a major collision or fatalities. The failed component (lower ball joint and related suspension parts) is still available for inspection. An independent mechanic later confirmed that the joint was severely worn and the failure appeared to be due to long-term deterioration that should have been detected during Midas’s inspection. No warning lights or indicators appeared before the failure. The incident endangered my life, my passengers’ safety, and other drivers on the road. The business has refused to take responsibility or cover repair costs, which currently total over $2,400, despite their advertised inspection and guarantee. This raises serious concerns that Midas and potentially other service locations may be failing to properly inspect critical suspension components, which poses a major public safety hazard.
Vehicle completely shut off on remote 2 lane country road while traveling. No warning lights were noted or noises observed before the engine failure. Truck power steering failed to operate at optimal due to the engine cutting off. Was hard to get vehicle off into the grass as there were no shoulders to pull off to. Vehicle behind me as coming up a hill when this occurred had to break as well. The vehicle was towed to a dealership and they have confirmed catastrophic engine damage, and found metal in oil pan. This same problem occurred with the 23 Toyota Tundra's as well. The vehicle is currently at Bruner Toyota in Brownwood, Texas and a Toyota technician has been brought in. The truck has 47,698 miles on it.
Related recalls
Steering: hydraulic power assist system
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
- Risk
- An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
Recall number 21V920000 · Recall details
Questions about the Toyota Tundra power steering loss
Which Toyota Tundra years have loss of power steering problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2002 (7 complaints), 2011 (6 complaints) and 2004 (5 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix loss of power steering on the Toyota Tundra?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,600 (median of 11 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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