RoadVitals

2008 Toyota Tundra Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Oct 6, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 326 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Toyota Tundra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 6, 2022

I have multiple problems with the dash lights going on and off , have taken it to car repair when scanned and had replaced relays many times. I have read many stories of people having the same problem with toyota tundras and no one can figure it out. Toyota should have a recall for this because it is not just one or two people with this same exact problem, it is many toyota tundra owners going through the same problems that i' am experiencing.

NHTSA ID
11488136
Incident
Oct 6, 2022
Body & structureSteering
Filed Jun 9, 2022

There is significant rust on the frame of this 2008 Tundra. I am located in North Central WA State and they use compounds on the roads in the winter here similar to what is used in the northeast US. The rust is also on the steering mechanism and spare tire. I just had a flat tire and had to use the spare tire temporarily. This is a common problem reported on Tundra forums online and this truck should be covered under an ongoing repair mandate since the rust is damaging steering mechanism, brake lines, spare tire support system, etc. These are safety concerns.

NHTSA ID
11468384
Incident
Jun 6, 2022
Steering
Filed May 30, 2022

Toyota dealer reported that this 2008 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4WD had a steering fluid leak, and other issues with the steering mechanism that sounds very similar to the current recall from November 2021.

NHTSA ID
11466636
Incident
Sep 9, 2020
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 29, 2018

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND VEHICLE LOSE OF POWER. DASHBOARD ALL WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. TURNED OFF VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO RESET. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO NEARBY PARKING LOT AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO DRIVE TRAIN. CAUSE WAS POWER STEERING UNIT SENSOR PER TOYOTA. TOYOTA COVERED PART IN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT THIS COMPLAINT. FROM INTERNET, "SOME 2007-2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE POWER STEERING DTCS P0552 AND/OR P0553. THE POWER STEERING SENSOR HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. THE OLD/PREVIOUS POWER STEERING SENSOR IS P/N 89448-34010. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH SENSOR P/N 89448-34020. USING TIS TECHSTREAM, CONFIRM THE CONDITION BY CHECKING FOR DTCS P0552 AND/OR P-553. DISCONNECT THE PRESSURE SENSOR CONNECTOR AND PROCEED WITH REMOVING THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE SWITCH, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE POWER STEERING VANE PUMP AND IS MOUNTED TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FEED LINE. INSTALL THE NEW POWER STEERING PRESSURE SENSOR, TIGHTENING TO 15.2 FT.-LBS. (20.6 NM). WITH THE NEW SENSOR FULLY INSTALLED AND CONNECTED, START THE ENGINE AND CHECK FOR LEAKS. ADJUST POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL AS NEEDED."

NHTSA ID
11114358
Incident
Jul 6, 2017
Mileage
85,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 31, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG AND THE HORN LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE HORN, ABS AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 09/09/14

NHTSA ID
10617901
Incident
Jul 11, 2013
Mileage
180,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 20, 2012

PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME VERY LOOSE. I HAD TO KEEP REPOSITIONING IT. I THOUGHT I HAD TIGHTEN THE SAFETY LOCK PIECE THAT HOLDS THE STEERING COLUMN IN PLACE. THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, AS I WAS GETTING IN MY VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY CAME DOWN. IT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. AS I WAS ON MY WAY THE STEERING COLUMN MOVED UP AND DOWN, AND IN AND OUT. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER. I WAS TOLD TWO PIECES OF THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF. I WAS GIVEN A QUOTE FROM TOYOTA IN THE AMOUNT OF $600 FOR THE PART AND $645 FOR LABOR. *JS

NHTSA ID
10462484
Incident
Apr 29, 2012
Mileage
76,061 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 4, 2012

RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD STRIPPED OUT AND BECAME SEPARATED FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454148
Incident
Mar 28, 2012
Mileage
48,035 mi
SteeringTransmission
Filed Feb 2, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,500. UPDATED 03/23/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. UPDATED 05/10/12

NHTSA ID
10446289
Incident
Jan 25, 2012
Mileage
13,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 12, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RE-ALIGN ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A WORN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,358 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,100.

NHTSA ID
10424767
Incident
Sep 2, 2011
Mileage
32,100 mi
Steering
Filed May 3, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN HE LEFT GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE AND THE FAILURE CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. UPDATED 09/08/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID
10398742
Incident
May 14, 2008
Mileage
10 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 27, 2010

THERE IS A STEERING PROBLEM ON MY 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA SR5 DOUBLE CAB. WHEN DRIVING ON A NORMALLY CROWNED( OR SLOPED) ROAD SURFACE, THE TRUCK WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT ON THE RIGHT LANE, OR TO THE LEFT ON THE LEFT LANE. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS MADE MULTIPLE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, HAS ROTATED TIRES, EVEN SWAPPED TIRES FROM ANOTHER TRUCK. THE PULLING PROBLEM PERSISTS. TOYOTA DISTRICT PARTS & SERVICE MANAGER INSISTS THAT MY TRUCK "IS OPERATING NORMALLY". I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO 2 LOCAL INDEPENDENT ALIGNMENT SHOPS RUN BY LONG-TIME EXPERIENCED MECHANICS. THEY BOTH FELT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK-AND-PINION STEERING UNIT. I HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO GET TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE RACK-AND PINION, THEY HAVE REFUSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314852
Incident
Oct 15, 2009
Mileage
14,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .