TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Toyota Sienna steering problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
10injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Toyota Sienna, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗A new repair procedure and overhaul kit have been developed for repairing the power steering rack to improve the overall serviceability and reduce ownership cost. This repair procedure only applies to vehicles where the steering rack leak is originating from the right (passenger) side and is the OEM steering rack assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0030-14 .
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Multiple owners report power steering rack and pinion leaks starting as early as 28,000 miles, with replacements costing between $1,014 and $1,397 including alignment and labor. One owner had to replace the same component twice—once at 28,000 miles and again at 60,000 miles—on a vehicle averaging only 8,000 miles annually. Other owners experienced failures at 41,000, 76,000, and 85,000 miles. Leaks originate from failed seals and torn rack boots, sometimes triggering intermittent loss of power steering while driving.
Steering shaft wear also emerges early: one owner reported a severely worn intermediate shaft at just 30,000 miles, requiring replacement despite this mileage being unusually low for such wear. An alignment problem appeared at 5,000 miles on another vehicle, causing one owner to burn through three tire sets.
Owners note finding "numerous complaints" online about the same defects but state no recalls have been issued. One owner explicitly warns that if power steering freezes due to fluid loss, it could create life-threatening situations. Toyota reportedly refused to cover the steering rack repairs in at least one case.
Same Toyota Sienna steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering rack and pinion seal failure and fluid leak
Rack and pinion assembly develops fluid leaks from failed seals and torn boots. Multiple owners report this occurring at moderate mileage, often requiring complete rack replacement. One owner reported the problem at 28,000 miles and again at 60,000 miles.
When: 28,000 to 85,000 miles; one case repeated failure at 28k and 60k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid leak; Intermittent loss of power steering while driving; Rack boot torn or broken; Seal failure on passenger side
Repairs/costs cited: Complete rack and pinion replacement; costs cited range from $1,014.98 to $1,397.87 including alignment and labor; one owner had to replace rack twice within approximately 32,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota refuses to pay for repair or replacement according to one owner; no recalls mentioned for this issue
Steering shaft wear and intermediate shaft failure
Steering shaft and intermediate shaft wear prematurely, causing vehicle drift and poor steering response. One owner reported shaft wear at only 30,000 miles.
When: 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts to the left; Steering shaft very worn; Poor steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Steering intermediate shaft and shaft assembly replacement; covered under extended warranty in one case; owner states this should not occur at 30,000 miles
Alignment and tire wear issues
Persistent alignment problems reported early in ownership. One owner went through three sets of tires due to alignment issues starting at 5,000 miles.
When: 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Alignment problem; Accelerated tire wear (three tire sets)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple wheel alignments performed by Firestone; owner went through three tire sets
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Toyota dealer said the rack and pinion steering unit was leaking had to be repaired, at a very high cost. Looking online, I find that a lot of other people have had this issue, but there has been no recall. Apparently most people do not know how to report such issues. There is no reason why a vehicle only five years old should be having this problem. I would suspect that newer and older…
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Toyota Sienna?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Toyota Sienna?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 47,500 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 75,347. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,500; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Toyota/Sienna.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.