2001 Toyota Prius Steering Problems

I WAS GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY AND DRIVING 40 MPH ON THE OFF RAMP, WHEN THE 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS DID A UNWANTED LEFT TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CORRECT THE CAR ANGLE, BUT HE STEERING FORCE WAS TOO STRONG FOR ME TO CORRECT BACK TO STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE LEFT FRONT CAR THE CONCRETE BARRIER, AND THE CAR TURN 360 DEGREE AROUND. THE REAR RIGHT BUMPER HIT THE CONCRETE BARRIER. LUCKY THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME.

NHTSA ID

11288564

Incident

Dec 11, 2019

Mileage

165,000 mi

STEERING RECALL I CALLED TOYOTA THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO IT AND IT SAYS ONLINE IT'S GOOD FOR 10 YEARS AFTER RECALL DATE.

NHTSA ID

11254342

Incident

Sep 9, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ID

10953939

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

Mileage

143,000 mi

PS WARNING LIGHT DISPLAY, CAR WILL NOT START. PARKED IN HOME DRIVE WAY.

NHTSA ID

10918020

Incident

Oct 22, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,620.

NHTSA ID

10790550

Incident

Nov 14, 2015

Mileage

13,620 mi

I HAVE STARTED HAVING AN INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING ISSUE. AS I AM DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE AND I RECEIVE AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THEN THE ERROR CLEARS AND SAYS THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS INTERMITTENT AND SOMETIMES LASTS LONGER. I KNOW IN THE PAST THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING UNIT IN THE PAST. I BELIEVE THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE RECALL SERVICE DONE, BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED WHY MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH MY PRIUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678640

Incident

Jan 12, 2015

Mileage

230,000 mi

2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED NOT LONG AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SHE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM, INCLUDING STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE REPAIR MAY BE RELATED TO THE PINION SHAFT PROBLEM THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY IDENTIFIED UNDER A RECALL. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. *JB UPDATED 12/28/11. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM, AS SHE DID IN 2006 WITH THE VEHICLE LOOSING POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE TORQUE SENSOR AND RECOMMENDED A REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR AND THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY, IF THE PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE SENSOR ADJUSTMENT, THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM DID RESUME AGAIN, AND IT CONTINUES TO GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 04/16/14*JB

NHTSA ID

10428635

Incident

Dec 8, 2006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V304000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE BEFORE PERFORMING REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE, THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT REPAIRS WERE NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10417673

Incident

Aug 3, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING INTO A FREEWAY OUR 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PS AND EXCLAMATION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. MY WIFE PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE ERROR CLEARED. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE PREVIOUS OWNER DONE ALL THE SERVICE AND REPAIR. AS I PULLED INTO THE SERVICE AREA THE VIOLENT SHAKING HAPPENED AGAIN. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THE THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE POWER ASSIST STEERING UNIT DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL THE SERVICE GUY BECAME DEFENSIVE AND SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL AND WARRANTY IS EXPIRED SO IT IS A CHARGEABLE REPAIR. I REVIEWED THE RECALL NOTICE AND WARNINGS BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE VIN RANGE BUT THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AND COST $4000 TO REPAIR. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A FAIR PROCESS IF SOME VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED WHILE OTHERS HAVE TO BE PAID FOR BY OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402702

Incident

May 25, 2011

Mileage

65,704 mi

STEERING WHEEL, UNCONTROLLABLE SHUDDER, WILL LITERALLY RIP ITSELF OUT OF YOUR HAND OR GRIP. USUALLY HAPPENS DURING THE FIRST OF THE DAY WHEN IT'S RELATIVELY COLD. WHILE SLOWLY MOVING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL START TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY, IN AN UN CONTROLLABLE MANNER. SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING WILL JUST ERROR OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET DURING THE DAY, LOOSING ALL POWER STEERING AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379559

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

Mileage

148,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 PRIUS. I BOUGHT IT IN 2003. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT, THE STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES WOBBLES WHEN I BACK UP AND TURN THE WHEEL. THIS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE 2003. THIS WINTER, WHEN THE WEATHER HAS BEEN VERY COLD, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY SEVERAL TIMES, WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING FORWARD TWICE, AND NOW THE WARNING LIGHT FOR POWER STEERING IS ON. I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TOMORROW, JAN 21 2011. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE WOBBLING STEERING WHEEL WHILE BACKING UP SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I AM ALSO SEEING THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE, AND MY DEALER DENIES ANY RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378036

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

Mileage

34,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN DOING SO, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE STEERING WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V285000 (STEERING: GEAR BOX -OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

NHTSA ID

10368646

Incident

Dec 2, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS STEERING 'GROANS' WHEN THE WHEELS ARE TURNED FAR LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS DEFECT OCCURS MORE OFTEN IN WARM WEATHER AND AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358567

Incident

Jun 13, 2010

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EASY TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND SHE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE IN ORDER TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED OF A STEERING RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V285000, STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

NHTSA ID

10353479

Incident

Aug 26, 2010

Mileage

103,000 mi

POWER STEERING REPEATEDLY FAILS ON 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS REQUIRING THAT VEHICLE BE STOPPED AND RESTARTED TO CLEAR FAILURE. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING ON ROADS AT ALL SPEEDS AND IN CURVES. OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE DRIVEN MORE THAN 500 MILES CONTINUOUSLY. POWER STEERING STILL FAILING AS OF 7/29/2010. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX DESPITE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE. REQUEST NHTSA ISSUE NATIONWIDE RECALL FOR ALL 2001-2002 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH SIMILAR POWER STEERING PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF POWER STEERING UNIT IS EXTREME HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346219

Incident

Apr 27, 2006

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT TWELVE TIMES WHILE DRIVING FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY A PRIOR OWNER FOR THE RECALL 00V285000 (STEERING: GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 109,000. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/21/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10335007

Incident

Jun 4, 2010

Mileage

109,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. IMMEDIATELY, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE WARNING PANEL FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD VIBRATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE SEPARATE TIMES UNDER VARIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGNS BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THEY WERE UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH ANY FURTHER REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID

10319241

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

116,000 mi

MY 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS' STEERING WHEEL SHAKING VIOLENTLY THIS SYMPTOM HAS BEEN HAPPENED TO MY 2001 PRIUS SINCE 2008. I HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT TOYOTA FOR A REPLACEMENT BUT NO FEEDBACK. LATELY THE SYMPTOM GETTING WORSE UNTIL NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311502

Incident

Feb 17, 2010

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS SUDDENLY STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN I START UP THE CAR. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR DURING COLD WEATHER. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENS BECAUSE STEERING IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE WHEN THE SHAKING HAPPENS. THIS SHAKING HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. IF I LET THE CAR WARM UP FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING IT SEEMS TO REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SHAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311151

Incident

Dec 18, 2009

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE INVESTIGATING THE PRIUS FOR ACCELERATOR ISSUES, I THINK YOU SHOULD ALSO FOLLOW-UP ON THE WELL KNOWN POWER STEERING ISSUE WITH THE '01 AND '02 MODELS. THERE ARE LIKELY STILL HUNDREDS OF THESE VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD. WORSE, EVEN THOUGH THIS ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED BY A FACTORY RECALL (NHTSA ASSIGNED RECALL NO. 00V-285) TOYOTA PLACED A 5 YEAR LIMIT ON THE WARRANTY SERVICE. WHAT IS WORSE, ONCE THE RECALL REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN PERFORMED, TOYOTA WILL NO LONGER PERFORM FURTHER REPLACEMENTS AT THEIR COST. IF THE FAILURE SHOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, AS IT DID FOR ME AS A THIRD OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT (AT OVER $1,300 USD). AT THIS POINT TO MY BEST KNOWLEDGE ANY CURRENT OWNER OF AN '01 PRIUS OR CERTAIN MODELS OF THE '02 PRIUS ARE GAMBLING THAT AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY RELATED COMPONENT OF THE CAR SUCH AS THE ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING WILL NOT FAIL. IT REMAINS COMPLETELY UNCLEAR TO ME THAT THE REPLACEMENT POWER STEERING ASSIST UNITS ON THESE MODELS ARE ANY MORE HEALTHY AND IMMUNE TO THE PROBLEM THAT WERE THE ORIGINAL UNITS THAT WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL, SINCE MINE FAILED ON ME AFTER HAVING BEEN REPLACED. AS FURTHER EVIDENCE I CITE THE OPERATION FLOW CHART I IN THE SSC Y05 TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION UPDATE FROM YOUR OWN WEBSITE AT WHICH SHOWS THAT EVEN FOR VEHICLES THAT FELL WITHIN THE WARRANTY TIME PERIOD, TOYOTA FELT THAT IF THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE ONCE, IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE DONE AGAIN. HTTP://NHTHQNWWS112.ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/DOCSERVLET/ARTEMIS/PUBLIC/RECALLS/2000/V/RCORRD-00V285-3651.PDF IN MY CASE, THE REPAIR WAS EXPENSIVE ENOUGH I TRADED THE VEHICLE RATHER THAN REPAIR IT. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS RESOLD AND THAT IS MY GREATEST CONCERN. I URGE THE NHTSA TO RE-OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE, SINCE THE PRIUS IS ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ACCELERATION ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10305738

Incident

May 17, 2007

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. HE HAD TO STOP AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AT EACH FAILURE IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING TO RESET ITSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V285000, STEERING GEAR BOX, OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 105,256.

NHTSA ID

10299020

Incident

Nov 10, 2009

Mileage

105,256 mi

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. SPORADICALLY, THE STEERING WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. MECHANICS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WHEN ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. IT CAME BACK ON WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR SO IT MAY BE A COMPUTER GLITCH. THE SHAKING IS GETTING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294971

Incident

Dec 4, 2009

Mileage

59,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BACKING WHEN BACKING UP AFTER MORNING START UP, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CONFIRM PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND WE NOW HAVE LIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN MOVING FORWARD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN A STRAIT LINE THIS MOVEMENT IS A SLIGHT TUG FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE WARNING INDICATOR HAS COME ON AND IS RESET WHEN RESTARTING, LOOKING AT THE 2000 RECALL IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258719

Incident

Jan 2, 2009

Mileage

122,000 mi

LTR FROM SENATOR BROWN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2001 PRIUS. *NJ A SAFETY ALERT WAS ISSUED FOR THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN COMPUTER, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE SHUTTING ITSELF OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE COMPUTER FAILED ON HIS VEHICLE AFTER 1 YEAR OF SERVICE. IT TOOK TOYOTA 18 MONTHS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. AFTER A COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ECM WAS FINALLY REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ECM WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN IT LEFT THE FACTORY, HOWEVER TOYOTA WAS NOT WILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TOO OLD. THE POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10250308

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN 2002, WE EXPERIENCED A SHUTTER AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR-ASSISTED POWER STEERING (EMPS) RACK HAD FAILED AT 13,396 MILES. TOYOTA REPLACED THE EMPS RACK UNDER WARRANTY. IN 2006 AT 65,427 MILES, WE REPORTED TO TOYOTA THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE MAKING A TURN AND THE INSTRUMENT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. TOYOTA REPLACED THE SECOND RACK AT NO CHARGE. IN 2008 AT +105,000 MILES, WE EXPERIENCED A NOISE IN THE FRONT END THAT SOUNDED LIKE RUBBER BUSHINGS SQUEAKING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. TOYOTA INFORMED US THE EMPS RACK HAD FAILED A THIRD TIME. TOYOTA ALSO TOLD US THAT IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE NEW PARTS AND NOT THE LABOR. A CHECK OF THE INTERNET BLOGS INDICATES THAT FAILURE OF THE EMPS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST GENERATION PRIUS, FIRST INTRODUCED IN 2001. NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE REPORTED EMPS FAILURE ON THEIR VEHICLES. SECOND OWNERS OF THE PRIUS APPEAR TO BE LESS LIKELY TO GET A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM FROM TOYOTA THAN FIRST OWNERS. UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE CAN BE A SCARY AND UNEXPECTED EVENT POTENTIALLY LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PERSONAL INJURY. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235448

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

65,427 mi