2003 Toyota Prius Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the steering wheel began to vibrate with an unknown message displayed on the instrument panel. As the failure persisted, the message disappeared, and the contact was able to drive to her destination. Upon restart of the vehicle, the contact received a do not drive message on the instrument panel with the steering wheel vibrating. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective steering sensor. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V304000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred her to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

NHTSA ID

11491025

Incident

Oct 21, 2022

Mileage

176,000 mi

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN BRAKING, THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO BRAKE, THEN LURCH FORWARD A LITTLE, AND THEN BRAKE AGAIN PROPERLY. IT'S DISCONCERTING AT BEST AND SCARY AND DANGEROUS AT WORST. I'VE HAD THIS BRAKE PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT FINALLY REALIZED THAT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT TOYOTA FLAW WITH THE ABS, AND THAT NEWER PRIUSES AND LEXUSES WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. TOYOTA DID NOT RECALL THE 2001-03 PRIUSES AND REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT IT'S ANYTHING BUT THE RESULT OF AGE (AS PER AUG 2020). HOWEVER, I'VE SEEN ONLINE THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEY FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR! I BOUGHT IT USED AND CAN'T REMEMBER HOW LONG IT'S BEEN HAPPENING. IT'S NOT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT CERTAINLY COULD. AND IF I CRASH INTO SOMEONE, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED MY FAULT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY CLEARLY TOYOTA'S FAULT! I'M VERY DISTURBED THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS, THAT TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE REFERENCED IT AS A PROBLEM, TOO, AND THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11352236

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN DRIVING, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL ENGAGE, WITHOUT PRESSING THE E BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, INTERMITTENT ONCE CAR IS PARKED AND DOORS LOCKED, ALARM WILL JUST START GOING OFF FOR NONREASON.

NHTSA ID

11338658

Incident

Jul 10, 2020

Mileage

151,000 mi

IT'S MOSTLY WHEN I'M TURNING RIGHT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WILL COME AND THERE WILL BE NO POWER STEERING. I HAVE SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETIMES AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY OR JUST AS I'M STARTING TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11301927

Incident

Aug 21, 2019

Mileage

136 mi

WE PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS IN JUNE OF 2018. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED GETTING COLDER IN OCTOBER OF 2018, THE CAR EXHIBITED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: CAR STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY FOR SEVERAL SECONDS WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY USUALLY AS WE ARE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE SHAKING OCCURRED AND IT WAS OFTEN AFTER MAKING A TURN AND/OR STRAIGHTENING THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ORDER TO STOP THE SHAKING, THE CAR HAS TO BE STOPPED. WE HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHES ONLINE AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON FOR THE 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. HOWEVER, WE CALLED 3 DEALERS AND THEY ALL SAY THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND THEY HAVE TO SEE THE CAR AS IT IS SHAKING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. SINCE THE WEATHER IS NOW WARMER, IT IS UNLIKELY IT WILL OCCUR UNLESS WE GET A COLD MORNING. WE CANNOT LEAVE THE CAR AT A DEALERSHIP INDEFINITELY. WE WERE PLANNING A TRIP TO IDAHO AND ARE AFRAID TO HAVE THE CAR ON THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT? SHOULD WE CONTACT TOYOTA DIRECTLY?

NHTSA ID

11210648

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

THERE IS NO THERMOSTAT GAUGE IN A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS , THE CAR OVER HEATS AND YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC NEARLY GETTING KILLED. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED, BUT SAY NOT A RECALL AND THEY DON'T HONESTLY CAR CAUSE CAR IS OLD . THAT'S NOT RIGHT , ANYTHING YOU STILL USE FROM CARS OR EVEN MEDICINE HAVE LATER COME BACK TO HURT OR KILLED PEOPLE. THERE IS NO HOT TO COLD GAUGE IN THE CAR , 2003 ONLY . I HAVE INVESTIGATED AND SEE PEOPLE PUBLISH ABOUT THIS BUT LET IT SLIP BY . I WAS DRIVING WITH NO INSTALLED GAUGE AND SURVIVED THROUGH MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN ON A STALLED VEHICLE THAT OVER HEATED AND WAS LATER CHECK BY TOYOTA TECHNICIANS THAT SAID F THERE WAS A THERMOSTAT GAUGE PROBLEM WOULD OF MOST LIKELY BE AVOIDED. SOMEBODY CAN'T KEEP OPEN AND CLOSING THE RADIATOR CAP CAUSE OF THIS MISSING GAUGE . OIL HAS DIPSTICK YOU CHECK !!! SAFELY TOO. NOT GOING FRY MY FACE OR BURN MY HANDS ON KEEP CHECKING THE RADIATOR. PLUS WITH A PROPER GAUGE YOU MIGHT KNOW IF YOUR CAR IS COOLED DOWN OR SAFER TO CHECK. TOYOTA HAD REFUSED TO ADDRESS OR CLAIM ANY ISSUES. CASE# [XXX]. PEOPLE LIVES ON AT STAKE CAUSE THEY WANTED TO A. SAVE MONEY B. DON'T KNOW HOW FORGET TO INSTALL THE PART FOR THE YEAR ON EVERY 2003 PRIUS !! PLEASE HELP , TOYOTA DOES NOT CAR ABOUT MY SAFETY OR ANYBODY ELSE SAFETY - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11011713

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

Mileage

123,200 mi

THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES INTERMITTENTLY; THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE TURNING INTO THE "TURN-AROUND" SPOT, IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, THERE IS A NOISE, GRINDING TYPE, COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER SAID THE BRAKES COULD BE DOING IT, SO THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND RE-SURFACED THE ROTORS, (AFTER THE $175) THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHEN I PUT MY VIN INTO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO RECALL BUT ON .NHTSA.GOV/RECALLS#VEHICLE IT IS INCLUDED, BY YEAR AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN MADE BEFORE 12-31-2002 BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE GOT IT. MOST RECENTLY ON 02/27/2017, BUT HAS BEEN GOING SINCE NOV. OF 2016

NHTSA ID

10957368

Incident

Feb 27, 2017

Mileage

174,000 mi

I HAVE NO VEHICLE PROBLEMS, BUT THE SAFERCAR.COM WEBSITE WON'T LET ME ENTER MY VIN [XXX] , SAYING THAT I HAD TO FOLLOW THE FORMAT, EVEN THOUGH A YEAR OR TWO AGO IT WORKED! WHAT CAN I DO??? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10882161

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10874833

Incident

Jun 4, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK INTENSELY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING), BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ID

10783586

Incident

Jan 15, 2013

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID

10715197

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

63,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER FROM HITTING HER HEAD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/2/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE DID NOT REPORT THIS INFORMATION. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATBELTS WHICH WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF. THE CONSUMER DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONSUMER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION TO ENSURE HER INJURIES WERE ACTUALLY MINOR. UPDATED 3/30/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10615326

Incident

Jul 19, 2014

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHUDDER. AT ONE POINT, IT POWER STEERING MAKES A SPONTANEOUS TURN TO THE LEFT, WHICH I PREVENT WITH MY HANDS, BUT NEVERTHELESS MOVES THE CAR TO THE LEFT ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER IS NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION, OR HAPPENS TO BE TOO NEAR ANOTHER CAR. THE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY SHUTS OFF, AND THE REST OF THE TRIP CONTINUES WITH NO POWER STEERING, UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON, THE POWER STEERING IS BACK (UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN). *TR

NHTSA ID

10606672

Incident

Jun 14, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

PURCHASED CAR ON EBAY FROM A PA DEALER, DID NOT KNOW, NOR WAS I TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD NO AIRBAG. WHETHER IT WAS REMOVED OR NOT REPLACED I DON'T KNOW. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND RECEIVED A COMPOUND FRACTURE OF HER RIGHT LEG. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A FEDERAL OFFENSE NOT TO NOTIFY A BUYER OF MISSING AIRBAGS. MY WIFE HAD TO BE AIRLIFTED FOR TREATMENT, AND STILL IS UNABLE TO WALK CORRECTLY. SHE HAS CONTINUOUS PAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604557

Incident

Mar 4, 2014

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. AN ALARM/LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON FOR ABS BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. I HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKES FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID TWO VEHICLES AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE BUS STOP AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOR REPAIR BUT THE REPAIR SHOP CANNOT FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM. FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 36K MILES THIS SEEMS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND A SEVERELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595998

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

35,946 mi

VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING IN COLD WEATHER. IT HAS HAPPENED MOST DAYS THIS WINTER WHEN TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW 45F DEGREES. IT WAS MOSTLY AN ANNOYANCE AT FIRST, AND WOULD HAPPEN WHEN STARTING THE CAR, BUT TWICE IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE FIRST NEAR COLLISION FROM SHAKING WAS IN JANUARY WHEN TRYING TO PARK BETWEEN TWO CARS IN A PARKING SPOT AND I COULDN'T CONTROL THE WHEEL UNTIL I PUT THREW THE CAR INTO PARK, TURNED IT OFF, AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN. THE SECOND, AND MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT SO FAR I NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN IN A CROSSWALK WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ON A DAY WHEN IT WAS IN THE 20'S. TURNING RIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY IT BROKE FREE FROM MY GRIP, I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT VEERED LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE TOWARDS A PEDESTRIAN. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND ONLY MISSED HIM BY ABOUT 3 FEET. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A 2 YEAR SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE EPS, BUT THAT THE CAMPAIGN EXPIRED 12/31/13, AND THEY WERE THEREFORE UNABLE TO DO A REPLACEMENT BECAUSE I DIDN'T BRING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE DEADLINE, AND THEY DON'T SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE NEVER CONTACTED BY TOYOTA ABOUT THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN, AND THE ISSUE DID NOT BECOME DANGEROUS OR EVEN PARTICULARLY BOTHERSOME UNTIL NEARLY A MONTH AFTER THE CAMPAIGN EXPIRED. DUE TO THIS NEARLY CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS IN A SHORT TIME SPAN JUST PAST THE CAMPAIGN DEADLINE, AND THE FACT THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL OF PRIUS, I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE ESCALATED TO A GENERAL RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY BASED ALSO ON MILEAGE INSTEAD OF SOLELY ON THE CALENDAR YEAR TO NOT PENALIZE LOWER MILEAGE VEHICLES COMING INTO THE PROBLEM BEYOND THE EXPIRATION OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT MANDATED SERVICE CAMPAIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567895

Incident

Feb 5, 2014

Mileage

113,400 mi

ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OFF. I BROUGHT CAR TO MECHANIC WHO CHECKED BRAKES. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THEN I HEARD A HIGH PITCHED ALARM SOUNDING NOISE WHILE THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WARNING WAS ON, THEN BOTH WOULD TURN OFF THEN ON THEN OFF.....THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TROUBLE. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET, OTHER PRIUS OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AS WELL. SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND AFTER ALL THE "CODES" HAD BEEN FIXED, THE ALARM SOUNDED YET AGAIN. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549568

Incident

Aug 14, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

STARTED VEHICLE , BEGAN TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE TO WAIT FOR STEERING WHEEL TO STOP SHAKING. HAS BEEN DOING IT EVERYTIME I GO TO START VEHICLE . SEEMS TO DO O.K. DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 10 MPH. STARTING TO GET SLIGHT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3400.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10542731

Incident

Sep 2, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE BACKING UP SLOWLY (UNDER 10), THE CAR SUDDENLY SPED UP, UNINTENDED ACCELERATED, TO HIT THE MOVABLE BARRIER AND ANOTHER CAR BEFORE BRAKED.

NHTSA ID

10537910

Incident

Aug 24, 2013

Mileage

136,720 mi

MY 2003 PRIUS (FIRST GEN, FROM JAPAN), HAS BEEN THRU A FEW RECALLS - 1 WAS TO SEAL THE BATTERY BETTER EARLY ON (04ISH), THEN IT WAS GIVEN NEW PINION SHAFT NUTS. LATEST ISSUE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ALL ALONG, JUST NOT DIAGNOSED/FIXED TIL NOW. SOMETIMES THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT WOULD COME ON, WITH THE CAR/! /TRIANGLE GRAPHIC ON TOUCH SCREEN. THIS TIME IT DIDN'T GO AWAY. LONG STORY SHORT, IT WAS THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SAID IT WASN'T CYCLING PROPERLY, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE; ALSO A BIG HYBRID BATTERY ISSUE WAS SHOWING UP, BUT THEY SUSPECTED WHEN FIXING WATER PUMP IT MIGHT CLEAR UP BATTERY ISSUE. DID RESEARCH, FOUND THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PRIUS OWNERS. SAW THE CONSUMER REPORTS & THIS STORY, FROM A TOYOTA NEWS RELEASE. THE FOLLOWING IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED, & MY CAR WAS PART OF THE PINION SHAFT NUTS/STEERING COLUMN RECALL, BUT NOT WATER PUMP RECALL!: "TOYOTA IS RECALLING 670,000 OF THEIR POPULAR PRIUS HYBRIDS IN THE US TO CORRECT TWO SAFETY ISSUES. THEY SAY ALL OF THE VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO SEE IF A PART IN THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR. 350,000 OF THESE SAME PRIUS VEHICLES (FROM 2001-2010 IN JAPAN ) ARE ALSO BEING RECALLED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM. TOYOTA SAYS THE PUMP COULD FAIL AND CAUSE THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO STOP RUNNING. THEY SAID ITS DEALERS WILL INSPECT & REPLACE ANY DEFECTS FREE OF CHARGE. RECALL NOTICES WILL GO TO OWNERS IN DEC. 2012. ABOUT 2.77M VEHICLES WORLDWIDE ARE AFFECTED."TOYOTA DID NOT PAY FOR MY REPAIR, $669; THAT WAS WITH A 15% OFF COUPON! I AM KEEPING MY RECEIPT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO INCLUDE MY VIN IN THE NEXT BATCH OF RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP, WHICH HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DAY 1, BUT A SLOW DIAGNOSIS, THAT MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE OVERALL FUNCTION OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM BATTERY PERMANENTLY. NO FUN! *TR

NHTSA ID

10537480

Incident

Aug 10, 2013

Mileage

115,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10483600

Incident

Sep 15, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

I TOOK MY CAR IN A WEEK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE I NEEDED SERVICE AND WAS GOING ON A TRIP TO SAN DIEGO WITH MY 5 YR OLD DAUGHTER. KEYES TOYOTA IN VAN NUYS DID EVERYTHING TO IT AND REPLACED MY FRONT BRAKES AND INSPECTED EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE OTHER BRAKES... SO YESTERDAY, IM ON THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY A PIERCING, LONG BEEP HAPPENS AND 2 WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. " BRAKE AND ABS" ... I'M THINKING " WHAT JUST HAPPENED! I JUST HAD MY CAR MADE PERFECT THE OTHER DAY!!?? .. AND THEN, NOT TWO MINUTES AFTER THOSE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED!! PEDAL TO THE FLOOR NOTHING! :-( ... I WAS SOOOOOO SCARED.... I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND CREPT OVER TO FIND A SHOULDER .... I WEAVED OVER WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THANK GOD SO I GET TO THE SHOULDER THANKFULLY BUT IT'S A SHORT SHOULDER... AND IM PRAYING AS I ROLL TO A STOP .. I'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA CORPORATE THESE PAST 24 HOURS BECAUSE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OVER $2000 FOR SOMETHING THAT IS THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT!!... I COULD HAVE DIED OR KILLED SOMEONE...WHAT IF MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR AND I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION SLOWING FOR A RED LIGHT!!?? OH MY GOD!... SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE... I'M FULLY READY TO SUE TOYOTA...GO TO THE NEWS OUTLETS...LOS ANGELES TIMES...ANYONE WHO WILL MAKE THIS PUBLIC... NO ONE SHOULD DIE BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.... AND NO ONE SHOULD DIE BECAUSE A CORPORATION WON'T OWN UP! ..I'M PUTTING A STOP ORDER ON THE REPAIR TOMORROW MORNING....I'M HOPING YOU CAN HELP ME AND OTHERS WHO COULD POTENTIALLY BE FATALLY INJURED (OR THEIR CHILDREN) FROM AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT JUST FAILS! BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE JUST SAID " WELL, THAT PARTICULAR PART ONLY HAS A 3 YR WARRANTY OR 36,000 MILES AND SO AFTER THAT IT'S THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY. REALLY? IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY IF YOUR CRAZY FAULTY CAR KILLS ME OR MY CHILD? NUTS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10467898

Incident

Jul 25, 2012

Mileage

85,377 mi

NOTIFIED BY DEALER THAT BOTH CV JOINTS ON FRONT AXLES ARE SEVERELY WORN AND IN DANGER OF FAILURE. THE CAR HAS 56,488 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, AND MOST MILEAGE WAS COMMUTING AT SPEEDS UNDER 45 MILES/HOUR. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD NOT OCCUR AT THIS MILEAGE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10455421

Incident

Apr 16, 2012

Mileage

56,488 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10427849

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

104,442 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10424915

Incident

Aug 10, 2011