I got into my car to leave the grocery store about an hour ago, went to back up and it was impossible to steer and the power steering warning light was on. Luckily I was able to make it home but it was insanely difficult to steer being that I'm a small female with little upper body strength. This is a 2008 Scion Xb with 82K miles on it. I haven't had any issues until now and then suddenly this"?" my husband is going to look at it but after reading all the other complaints, looks like it'll be an expensive fix..

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

My wife and I bought a Scion/Toyota expecting better reliability. While my wife was in a parking lot the steering light came on and lost power assist. She was unable to drive the car in this condition. It is going to be a fairly costly repair. It is unfortunate Toyota has not done something to help its customers. Due to the fact it is a known problem with a high failure rate.

- Lathrop, CA, USA

I was driving at 20mph off a ramp onto another road and the steering locked up and I had to jam on my brakes to stop my car fast or the car would have went off the side down a hill and crashed. Thank god I was not going fast or I wouldn't be here. That was the first time here we go again 2nd time after I fix it replaced the steering computer behind the steering wheel under the dash, worked great for about a day, now I start the car the power steering light on dash comes on I put the car in drive and the light goes out but I have steering. Put the car in neutral light comes on, put the car in reverse light goes out. Im so pissed off about this I still owe money on this car and nothing but trouble. What kind of cars do Toyota sell. They should pay for these steering problems not me. There should be a recall before someone gets killed.

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

My 17 year old daughter was driving 30 mph through an intersection, attempting a turn, when the power steering went completely out. She wasn't able to complete turn, almost had a wreck. She was completely overwhelmed and scared out of her mind when she made it home(her calls to me on cell weren't coming through for some reason). We purchased this car used, but had been very well maintained and had only 24K miles on it, so didn't think an extended warranty was needed. Unfortunately, it had 71K on it at the time of incident. I have seen multiple cases of this make/model with this same issue. Is someone going to have to die before this part gets recalled"?" it could've been my daughter!

- Burleson, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Scion Xb. The contact stated that while parked, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the electronic control unit would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

Power steering died without warning car became very hard to steer dealer says it is the power steering esu failure and that it is very unusual for this to happen but I see numerous complaints here have to wait to get it replace due to the very high cost to replace this part.

- Mercer, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Scion Xb. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the power steering failed making it very difficult to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the electronic control unit that controls the electric steering failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure and current mileage was 106,000. Updated 03/20/13 the consumer stated his son was driving, when the steering became extremely difficult to operate. As his son pulled into the repair shop, he could barely turn into the parking space. The steering warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. Updated 06/13/13

- Matthews, NC, USA

Total loss of power steering. Warning light was displayed on the dash. Toyota is aware of this issue. There was a tsb issued but I'm told my VIN isn't one effected. Problem is a defective computer (ECM) under the driver dash. Loss of power steering is a major safety concern. Toyota downplayed it as an isolated incident. It only took me 4 minutes to diagnose the problem because of the amount of complaints.

- Pekin, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Scion Xb. The contact started the ignition and attempted to turn the steering wheel however, here was no response. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who advised that the steering computer was faulty. The vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 33,000.

- Bonney Lake, WA, USA

Steering problem on the 2008 Toyota Scion Xb we bought a 2008 Scion Xb that have been working fine until this scary problem took place. We cannot explain how problematic the electric power steering can be. We are filing this complaint because safety is our main concern and the steering problem is life threatening. As we started the car, the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel and the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to turn. Immediately we contacted the dealership. We spoke with their service manager and he confirmed that the problem is not unknown and there is nothing they can do. We asked for a price estimate and he said that without warranty it will be proximately $800. We towed the vehicle to a very well experience mechanic. He confirmed that the electric power steering needed to be replaced and it should be taken directly to dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. Imagine such problem taken place while driving on a major highway!!!!!! in all fairness if they've designed something that's prone to failure, the ultimate pricing should clearly reflect that fact. They should be held responsible not only for the repair damage but for every innocent lives that were lost. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Apopka, FL, USA

My Xb was bought on April 2008. 1.on November 2009, the vsc light was on. Dealer fixed it by replacing #3 ignition coil. 2.on December 2009, the vsc light was on again, this time dealer replaced #2 ignition coil. 3. on March 2011, the vsc light was on again and dealer replaced #1 ignition coil. 4. on September 2011, the electric steering light was on and steering will not turn. This time I was out of warranty. The dealer replaced "power steering ECM (computer) and charged me $863.36 including $75 rental during repair. The dealer said there was 4 ignition coil in the car, so 3 of 4 of them failed within the first 3 years. He also agreed that the steering problem is life threatening. However he said he couldn't do anything and it was an individual case.

- Corvallis, OR, USA

After pumping gas in my 2008 Scion Xb, I proceeded to turn the engine of my vehicle on and tried to pull the steering wheel to the right. The steering wheel had become very rigid and extremely difficult maneuver, in that moment the electric power steering light came on. Miles on the vehicle when failure occurred is 89,000.

- Yucaipa, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Scion Xb. While the vehicle was parked the contact placed the vehicle in drive and attempted to control the steering wheel but the power steering would not function. The contact noticed a power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to drive the vehicle without power steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the computer module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Dade City, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Scion Xb. While braking at an unknown low speed, the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel and the steering wheel became very stiff and difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the electronic control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileages were 40,000.

- Dade City, FL, USA

I own 2008 Scion Xb which currently has 87000 miles on it. 4 weeks ago today I was pulling out of my driveway and from 1st gear to second gear the car jerked hard and all vsa, ABS, check engine lights came on, and car wouldn't shift out of gear and steering began to act funny. I had vehicle towed to mechanic in fear of driving it ant further. Mechanic ran diagnostic on car and code read transmission sensor no good. They replaced and problem is still occurring, lights on as well. Mechanic had 3 other mechanics come and evaluate and as well inquired with local Toyota dealership who suggested only that it may be wiring harness below battery which is a recurring problem, also that they would gladly look at the car for 90 per hour! mechanics looked at harness and all looked to be in good working shape. The car is still parked and not repaired 4 weeks later.

- Greenwood, IN, USA

I bought a 2008 Scion xd in September 2008. 6 weeks after I bought the car, I totaled it when steering on an on-ramp to the highway. It spun three times and finally stopped after hitting the guardrail. I was alone. I got whiplash. I am a very experienced driver but the car lost absolute control at a low speed (under 25 mph) but on wet blacktop in the fall in new england.. the car was $30 from being classified as a total. The body shop was owned by the dealer - not sure if the $30 discrepancy had anything to do with that. They also said the frame/unibody was slightly off and left me with a totally valueless car with 3,000 miles on it. Since then I do not trust the steering of the car. It does seem to swim at speeds over 55 - 60 mph - almost a hydroplaning feel to the steering on dry pavement. I wonder what it will take for it to be recalled?

- Winchester, MA, USA