Steering rack needs to be replaced after 50K miles - 2019 Tacoma

Hello,
I just brought my 2019 Tacoma (V6 4WD) in for it's state inspection. I was shocked to learn my steering rack needed to be replaced as the stearing fluid was leaking out. I'm retired and mostley drive around locally. I baby the truck, no off road or agressive driving. Has anyone else experienced this kind of failure with only 50K miles on a Tacoma? Thankfully I purchased an extended warranty when I got the truck which just saved me close to $2,300.00.

 

Huh thats weird. My 2009 never had a steering rack problem and it had around 200k on it when I sold it. And ya good thing you have the warranty. Just watch those dealers! They like taking all your $$$

 

Maybe the seals dry rotted

 

Very common on Toyota trucks, I've replaced them first year. It's one of the weak points of tacoma. It's covered so no biggie.

 

Very common. All 4 of my buddies Tacomas (17-19), including mine, have weeping leaks from the rack. boots are wet.

 

Well I need to drive mine hard so I can get it replaced before the warranty is up lol

 

Is that after subtracting the cost of the extended warranty?

 

Anyone know if they beefed them up on the new Tacoma? Mine isn't yet having trouble, but a friend I wheel with has a 4runner and his went pretty quickly.

 

I recently had to replace the rack on my 2019 as well but I figured it was from off-roading the truck. It sounds like it may be predisposed to failure anyway. I also have an extended warranty that saved my butt on this one.

 

Do you typically see oil leaking/puddles from it when it’s leaking? Just noticed this on my 2020 but haven’t noticed any actual leaks anywhere. Passenger side is fine. Wondering if I should be concerned. 45k miles on it

 

keep an eye on the power steering reservoir level, if it doesn't change I wouldn't worry about it. Both sides of mine has looked about like that for years, and hasn't gotten worse.

 

Same here.

 

Just had my rack replaced in August with 40,000 miles on the clock (extended warranty covered it). Drivers side started weeping then the passenger side started a few months later. I cleaned everything and monitored but it came back pretty quickly and my fluid level started dropping slowly. Since you paid for the warranty, I’d use it. No issues since the repair and took it on a 1000 mile trip in September to do some wheeling

 

you saw with your eyes your rack is leaking?

or heard some guy say some words

mine has a slow leak
Older year more miles
I put some StopLeak and it’s fine.

if I ever take it out it’ll either be to slap in a cheap replacement or hopefully better, upgrade.

 

Had the same thing on my 2019 trd sport. Dealers said I needed a new one. Only cost me 2700$. They said that they have been seeing lots of the steering racks leaking on the 2017 -2019 my truck has 113,000km. Next time I will just keep an eye on the fluid levels and top it up.

 

I just had the same on my tacoma 2019 only 80 000 km i just don't understand how companies get away with seeing the same thing with soo many trucks and not covering it. Unfortunately did not get the extended warranty .....

 

Mine started leaking (weep) around 120k. I'll just add some more fluid till it becomes more of a weep then I'll replace.

 

My 2017 is at 119K and it started leaking recently as well. It must be a small leak because the fluid level has remained OK, so I'm just going to keep an eye on it for now.

 

I have so much Fluid Film on my truck, it'll be impossible to spot a steering rack leak. I'll just add power steering fluid as needed, if it ever happens.

 

Mine started to leak around 30k (out of warranty though). I drained the old fluid from the reservoir and refilled with the mazda fluid (

$18 0000-77-112E-01 Transmission Fluid

0000-77-112E-01). From the posts I have found on here, its the same specs as toyota, but is better on the seals.

I put it in, and now at nearly 60k miles I have not had the level drop at all. No seeps, leaks, or drips.