Well, my 2007 TCH was getting a little sloppy in the handling department, so I decided to bring the car into the dealership today. All 4 struts were leaking and need to be replaced. I now know why I purchased my extended warranty as I am at 37K. The dealer will replace under the extended warranty.

The roads here are pretty rough and I admit I take some country roads on occasion, but I am wondering if anyone else out there has experienced similar problems?

 

No, not in particular, (although it has always seemd a little more softly suspended then I prefer) but it is worth me having a look underneath, as I am at 35,750 miles.....and do not have the extended warranty. Dave, thanks for the "heads up"!

 

Mine are really soft @60,000 miles.

Just checked... mine are not leaking

 

My 2007 has *always* been just a little bit mushy even though I run ~38 PSI in the tires. Plus it does have a tendancy to drift easily on the highway with even the slightest crosswind.. I've not had it in to the dealer for these though. Maybe I should..
The drifting indicates to me that the steering has either a zero degree toe-in setting or it's toed out slightly..

 

Face it - this TCH is way too soft from day one. I have looked at after market struts like Koni (I had them on two Accords) but nothing available that I can find. KYB makes a strut that they say is a little stiffer than original but they don't make their KYB AGX Adjustable Strut for the TCH. Too soft but otherwise a great car.

 

Yea, I always noticed it takes more input corrections on the highway than my Sienna. Attention all your nasty "texters" out there, the TCH is NOT for you

 

The struts on my '94 Corolla were good till 150,000 miles. I sold the car at 185,000 miles. I talked to a lady parked in a K-Mart parking lot. I asked how the car was doing and she said just fine. She only drives in the the city. This was 4 years after I sold it to her.

I would think the toyota struts on the TCH would last near the same. I do know they seem much softer compared to the 2003 Corolla I drove for a year. The TCH seems to have more of a family car ride to it. I had owned big, heavy GM cars in the past and guess i'm used to the soft ride.

 

And the lack of toe is a 'fuel economy' measure - makes the tires roll easier. Does not do great things for straight-ahead stability, as you stated.

 

The thing I noticed is that your profile is in a cold-weather area. Strut seals + cold weather + rough roads + speed = leakage. I suspect the leaks were 'encouraged' by viscous fluid from cold and rapid movement of strut from a rough road. For better longevity of the components, slow down, especially in real cold weather.

 

Agreed - and it's the only reason I haven't rectified it....