2002 XLE - Steering auto return.

[sundarpn]

When I make a tight turn (i.e. wheels turned all the way to one side), when I get straigth ahead, I expect that the wheel will spin back to center position almost completely automatically....

But I notice that this tendency to auto center is less and I have to help the steering to spring back & come to the center.

What is this problem called, the right term to use so that I can tell any aligment shop to look into...

[TRD VVTi]

It's called self center.

You may have worn strut mounts/bearing plates (or other binding in the steering or suspension).

Caster is the specification that's responsible for self center.

Your expectation may be too high. It's not required to self center, just have a tendency to do so.