MajorCommonFluid Leaks

Toyota Harrier: Power steering rack and high-pressure hose leaks (XU30, shared with Lexus RX330/350)

Power steering rack and high-pressure hose leaks (XU30, shared with Lexus RX330/350) is a common fluid leaks fault on the Toyota Harrier on the 2003–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 26 documented faults on the Toyota Harrier.

Vehicle: Toyota Harrier
Years: 2003–2013
Fuel: petrol
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Toyota Harrier as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Toyota Harrier faults26 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Steering rack yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The XU30 Harrier shares its hydraulic power steering with the Lexus RX330/RX350, which have a well-documented pattern of the steering rack's passenger-side high-pressure seal failing and leaking fluid into the tie-rod boot, plus the high-pressure hose leaking where the flexible hose crimps to the hard line behind the engine. Lexus issued a service bulletin covering leaking racks on 2004-2009 RX. Symptoms are whining steering, fluid loss and drips on the subframe; a seeping rack eventually loses assist. Rack replacement in NZ with a quality reconditioned unit is a four-figure job.

What you would notice

Whining or groaning when turning, especially at low speed
Power steering fluid drips under the front of the car
Steering fluid reservoir needs topping up
One inner tie-rod boot wet or swollen with fluid

How to check it

Where to look. Steering rack across the front subframe; high-pressure hose runs behind the engine from the pump

Check the power steering reservoir level and whether the fluid is fresh or black.
With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock and listen for whining or moaning.
Look (or ask the workshop doing your pre-purchase inspection to look) at the inner tie-rod boots - a fluid-filled passenger-side boot means the rack seal has failed.
Check for drips on the subframe below the engine.

Parts involved: Steering rack.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the steering rack or power steering hose ever been replaced?”
“Does the fluid reservoir ever need topping up?”
“Any whining noise when parking?”

Now check the Toyota Harrier you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Lexus TSB: steering gear assembly may leak from boots, 2004-2009 RX330/RX350
CarSpec MN write-ups on RX330/Highlander steering rack and high-pressure line leaks
ClubLexus RX 2nd-gen power steering rack threads

Toyota Harrier buyer questions

Is power steering rack and high-pressure hose leaks (xu30, shared with lexus rx330/350) serious on a Toyota Harrier?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Harrier. The XU30 Harrier shares its hydraulic power steering with the Lexus RX330/RX350, which have a well-documented pattern of the steering rack's passenger-side high-pressure seal failing and leaking fluid into the tie-rod boot, plus the high-pressure hose leaking where the flexible hose crimps to the hard line behind the engine. Lexus issued a service bulletin covering leaking racks on 2004-2009 RX. Symptoms are whining steering, fluid loss and drips on the subframe; a seeping rack eventually loses assist. Rack replacement in NZ with a quality reconditioned unit is a four-figure job.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Harrier?

$1,200 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Toyota Harrier years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2003–2013 Toyota Harrier. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the power steering reservoir level and whether the fluid is fresh or black. With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock and listen for whining or moaning. Look (or ask the workshop doing your pre-purchase inspection to look) at the inner tie-rod boots - a fluid-filled passenger-side boot means the rack seal has failed. Check for drips on the subframe below the engine. Look here: Steering rack across the front subframe; high-pressure hose runs behind the engine from the pump