# 2008 Toyota Highlander - Steering froze **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota\ **Created:** [November 16, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990 "2018-11-16T22:49:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SherleneThornton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@SherleneThornton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SherleneThornton)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/1 "2018-11-16T22:49:07Z")
My 2008 Highlander has over 200,000 miles on it. No major problems (replaced double fans for air conditioner). Yesterday, the steering froze up (wouldn’t turn to right for a few seconds) 4 different times. The first time my foot was on the gas pedal. After that, it was on cruise control. I’m pretty sure it was accelerating the other 3 times. So far, the toyota technician hasn’t found the problem. Anyone else had a similiar problem? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/3 "2018-11-18T22:13:35Z")
Your Highlander has electronic power steering. [https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2008,highlander,3.5l+v6,1440247,steering,rack+and+pinion,7388](https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2008,highlander,3.5l+v6,1440247,steering,rack+and+pinion,7388) The problem could be with the steering wheel angle sensor, or the motor in the rack itself. Tester ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/4 "2018-11-18T22:17:53Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > Your Highlander has electronic power steering. > > [2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 3.5L V6 Rack and Pinion | RockAuto](https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2008,highlander,3.5l+v6,1440247,steering,rack+and+pinion,7388) > > The problem could be with the steering wheel angle sensor, or the motor in the rack itself. > > Tester Dang! I didn’t think electronic steering existed in 2008, at least not in mass market vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 5:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/5 "2018-11-20T05:05:01Z")
We had a 2008 Malibu with electronic power steering. And…it had to be repaired under warranty. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/6 "2018-11-20T15:11:10Z")
03 saturn vue had elec boost steering too ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/7 "2018-11-20T15:49:12Z")
My 2000 Honda S2000 had electric steering. Not exactly mass market but… ---
**Author:** ![SherleneThornton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@SherleneThornton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SherleneThornton)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/8 "2018-11-20T21:55:21Z")
Thanks! Toyota couldn’t figure it out. It happened after a below freezing temp. night. It hasn’t happened since, so I’m assuming the cold weather had something to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/9 "2018-11-21T02:37:05Z")
Check the u-joint in the steering shaft. When they get dry and old they tend to bind, especially when it gets cold out. In your case the joint is at the end of the shaft. ![Ujoint%20Highlander](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/0/0482fcf2343526a5936f11fc51e3dd671ffa09f8.png) ---
**Author:** ![SherleneThornton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@SherleneThornton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SherleneThornton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-toyota-highlander-steering-froze/128990/10 "2018-11-28T19:58:51Z")
Thank you!!!