Highlander 2011 steering problem

New Highlander Limited 2011. Got it 3 weeks ago. Steering feels overly -- and irregularly -- heavy when you

turn the wheel. Sometimes is is harder, some times not much, could not find a pattern.

Also I have to turn the steering wheel quite a lot to

make just a small change in the driving direction, especially at slow

speed. I have to turn it about 30 degrees to one direction and back

about the same after the Highlander had changed its heading for a few degrees.

Went to dealership, they say it is how it should be with the new

electrical power assisted steering. The driving experience is just terrible.

Anybody experiences this problem and feels the same about the steering?

Reply 1 : Highlander 2011 steering problem

I agree that it feels terrible, but I was willing to live with it that way (we rented one awhile back while our '05 was being repaired). The things I don't like is the dry-bearing noise when you turn it fast after backing out of a parking spot, and the feeling when you come out of a turn in that it doesn't seem to straighten out smoothly (it feels as if there's a point where it wants to stay in a turn which is probably why so many say that it isn't a "fun" vehicle to drive.). But I have to agree that it's normal (just one of the downsides to electric steering maybe?). And realize too that how much you have to turn the wheel for a given degree in turning is dependent upon the size of the steering wheel too. The larger the wheel, the more it feels like you have to turn it further. But having driven Toyotas forever, the amount of turning the steering wheel for a given turn feels completely normal to me.

Reply 2 : Highlander 2011 steering problem

First of all you need to be aware that the steering is Electronic Power Steering

http://sumbiz03.home.comcast.net/%7Esumbiz03/steer.pdf



Second there have been problems with the intermittent shaft in the past on Toyota's. You usually hear a clunk



My recommendation would be to go back to your dealer and drive another HL. If it steers differently then it is a service department issue.



If it steers the same it is the nature of the beast

Reply 3 : Highlander 2011 steering problem

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05Moose I agree that it feels terrible, but I was willing to live with it that way (we rented one awhile back while our '05 was being repaired). The things I don't like is the dry-bearing noise when you turn it fast after backing out of a parking spot, and the feeling when you come out of a turn in that it doesn't seem to straighten out smoothly (it feels as if there's a point where it wants to stay in a turn which is probably why so many say that it isn't a "fun" vehicle to drive.). But I have to agree that it's normal (just one of the downsides to electric steering maybe?). And realize too that how much you have to turn the wheel for a given degree in turning is dependent upon the size of the steering wheel too. The larger the wheel, the more it feels like you have to turn it further. But having driven Toyotas forever, the amount of turning the steering wheel for a given turn feels completely normal to me.

Hi, I went to the Toyota service today and drove a car together with their tech. He says I am not the only one complaining, but nothing can be done. There are no parameters to adjust and if there was something wrong I would get a warning light. His advise was to get used to it. My previous car was RAV4 Limited, build in Japan, now I have started to regret that I gave it to my daughter. The steering in the RAV4 was excellent.

The Toyota service also looked at the toe-in and said it was off spec. After the adjustment the HL became a bit lighter on turns, but still far from what I would like it to be. I owned may be 10 cars in my life, not one of them was so unpleasant to drive.

I called the Toyota Canada head office. Their reply was predictable: The car was build according to the manufacturer specifications. If there is a fault, it will be repaired.

I did ask the dealer how much it will cost me to return the car, they wanted $9200. My HL still has only 700 km. Will probably have to get used to it for now.

Reply 4 : Highlander 2011 steering problem

Quote:

Originally Posted by summerwind First of all you need to be aware that the steering is Electronic Power Steering http://sumbiz03.home.comcast.net/%7Esumbiz03/steer.pdf Second there have been problems with the intermittent shaft in the past on Toyota's. You usually hear a clunk My recommendation would be to go back to your dealer and drive another HL. If it steers differently then it is a service department issue. If it steers the same it is the nature of the beast

Hi. Thanks for the technical info. It is always good to know how things work. I did try another HL, it feels the same. A tech from Toyota says I am not the only one complaining, so this is how it was designed to be.

I think the steering can be improved just by updating software in the control module.