2003 Toyota Prius

TWO YEARS AGO, MY CAR BEGAN EXHIBITING STEERING ISSUES. WHEN TURNING, BOTH IN REVERSE AND DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHUDDER VIOLENTLY. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE SHUDDERING SUBSIDED AND THE CAR STEERED NORMALLY. THE ISSUE WAS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD AND IMPROVED AS THE CAR WARMED UP. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE ISSUE HAS WORSENED, OCCURRING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AND WITH INCREASING VIOLENCE. THE STEERING WHEEL NOW JERKS UNCONTROLLABLY AS I DRIVE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERS WHEN TURNING, SOMETIMES SO VIOLENTLY THAT I CANNOT HOLD ONTO THE WHEEL OR CONTROL THE CAR. TURNING LEFT IS BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY DIFFICULT; THE CAR PULLS CONSTANTLY AND SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES ON THE CAR WERE JUST ALIGNED. THE 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS ALREADY RECALLED FOR STEERING ISSUES EXACTLY AS I DESCRIBE. TOYOTA CLAIMED THE ISSUE LAY WITH THE PINION SHAFT NUTS. THE PINION SHAFT NUTS IN MY CAR WERE ALREADY REPLACED, PER THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE STEERING PROBLEM PERSISTS AND IS GROWING WORSE. FROM MY RESEARCH, OTHER 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE SAME FAILURE OF THE RECALL REPAIR TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. MECHANICS NOT AFFILIATED WITH TOYOTA HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON, WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA RECALL NOTICE, "IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY AND STRONGLY TURNED TO THE FULL-LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THE NUTS SECURING THE PINION SHAFT IN THE STEERING GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY MAY BECOME LOOSE." (HTTP://PRESSROOM.TOYOTA.COM/RELEASES/TOYOTA+PRIUS+EPS+PINION+SHAFT+NUT+JUNE+2011+RECALL+FAQ.HTM). HOWEVER, MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN GENTLY AND MAINTAINED WELL THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE. DESPITE MY CAREFUL CARE OF THE VEHICLE, IT HAS BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I BELIEVE THE RECALL INSUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSED THE STEERING ISSUES ENDEMIC TO THE 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING HER VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,442.

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING PINION SHAFT NUTS ON THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 10, 2011. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HORN, HE DISCOVERED IT WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, TO INFORM THEM, THE HORN HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED OR MAYBE A WIRE HAD COME OFF. THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HORN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WAS WORKING PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THE HORN BROKE WHILE PERFORMING THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE, THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SHORT POWER SPIRAL CABLE WAS BAD. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUNDED HIS MONEY. UPDATED 09/23/11*JB CONSUMER'S ISSUE RESOLVED 12/6/11 *ET

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHILE IN REVERSE OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHILE ACCELERATING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THE CONTACT STATED PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIRS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO VIBRATE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 10/03/11*JB

TWICE NOW MY STEERING HAS FROZEN AS I AM STRAIGHTENING THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER MAKING A TURN. THERE ARE NO PARTICULAR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, THOUGH THIS TIME MY STEERING HAD FELT STIFFER AND JERKIER OFF AND ON BEFORE THE TIME WHEN IT ACTUALLY FROZE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD IT TOWED RIGHT TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME, I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET IT MOVING AGAIN, BUT IT CONTINUED TO FREEZE RANDOMLY THE NEXT COUPLE OF TIMES I DROVE IT. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE "SOLUTION" IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. *TR

2003 PRIUS HYBRID; STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERS QUITE FREQUENTLY; THIS SHUDDERING HAPPENS BACKING UP AND TURNING CORNERS; SOMETIMES IT SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL IS PULLED FROM YOUR HANDS; WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS; NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED ON THE 2002 MODELS; OUR VEHICLE ONLY HAS 33K MILES ON IT AND THERE IS A PART FAILURE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING A LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT TO TAKE PLACE; TOYOTA AND DEALERSHIP REPS TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE; TOLD WE CAN HAVE STEERING REPLACED FOR ABOUT $3K EVEN THOUGH CAR ONLY HAS 33K MILES ON IT; MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THEY SAID; WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE; THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH CASES LISTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET; TOYOTA REP SAID THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS; THEY KNOW IT EXISTS, BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM; SOME GOVERNMENT GROUP NEEDS TO STEP IN AND MAKE TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR A RECALL OF THIS YEAR VEHICLE AND HAVE THE STEERING REPLACED FOR FREE. *TR

I EXPERIENCED A SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY TOYOTA 2003 PRIUS WHEN BACKING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING EACH DAY. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WHICH COULD LOCKUP AT ANY TIME. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED 01/02 MODEL PRIUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE 03. WHY IS TOYOTA ALLOWED TO LET THIS CONDITION TO CONTINUE WITH FAILURE OF THESE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNITS? HOW MANY LIVES MUST BE LOST BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT ACTS? TOYOTA IS CHANGING $2,500.00 TO $3,500.00 TO FIX A PROBLEM THEY KNOW EXIST IN THESE CARS A WORRIED CONSUMER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.