NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA08-024: STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA08-024 on October 28, 2008, the day it closed Preliminary Evaluation PE08-041, whose summary cites it, and closed it on July 16, 2009. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004–2006 Toyota Sienna for it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: EA08-024 (also written EA08024)
Investigation type: Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status: Closed July 16, 2009
Opened: October 28, 2008
Closed: July 16, 2009
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Components: Steering; Steering — Column; Steering — Linkages
Vehicles and equipment: 2004–2006 Toyota Sienna

A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA08-024.

try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.

ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY DATA SHOWS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS OCCURRED IN JUST 0.2 PERCENT OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.WHEN THE ANALYSIS IS LIMITED TO SALT-BELT STATES, THE RATE IS STILL WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION (0.4 PERCENT).

IN ADDITION, TESTS CONDUCTED BY ODI AND TOYOTA HAVE SHOWN THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS A MINIMAL AFFECT ON STEERING EFFORTS.ODI INTERVIEWS OF OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE ALLEGED DEFECT INDICATED THAT IN MOST CASES THE PROBLEM WAS PRECEDED BY MONTHS OR YEARS OF NOISE OR A GRADUAL INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORTS IN THE INITIAL STEERING MANEUVERS AFTER FIRST STARTING A COLD VEHICLE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 4 TO 5 YEARS WITH NO CRASHES OR INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REFER TO THE EA08-024 CLOSING REPORT.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA08-024. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Toyota

Toyota Sienna
- 2004, 2005, 2006

All Toyota recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Toyota VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA08-024

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.