2005 Toyota Prius Steering Problems

Some buttons on your steering wheel stopped working due to corrosion inside the clockspring mechanism. While investigating the failed unit, you discovered that corrosion had damaged four electrical lines in the flex cable—three were already non-functional, and the fourth line is part of your airbag's electrical system. There's a risk this corroded airbag line could fail if the airbag deploys during a crash, potentially preventing the airbag from working properly. Fixing this typically requires replacing the entire clockspring assembly in the steering wheel.

THE STEERING ON MY 2005 PRIUS WITH ROUGHLY 119,000 MILES FAILED. FORTUNATELY IT WAS AT A LOW SPEED AND ON A SIDE STREET BUT WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR, IT COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD IF ON A MAIN ROAD OR AT A HIGHER SPEED! THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WITH A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE CAUSE IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. TOYOTA STATED THERE IS NO RECALL OUTSTANDING ON THE CAR AND IT WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. THERE WAS, HOWEVER, A PRIOR RECALL FOR STEERING ISSUES. WHEN IT FAILED, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL.*DT*JB

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THEY HAVE NEVER COMPLETELY RESOLVED THE RECALL ISSUE, AS IT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.*DT CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE, SINCE RECALL WAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. ALSO, CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET A RECALL HISTORY, SHOWS THAT SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*JB

STEERING IS STICKY ON TURNING WHILE DRIVING. KIND OF JERKY. TOYOTA DEALER IN FT. MYERS, FL. SAID THEY DID ALL RECALLS. I DON'T THINK THEY DID. IS THERE PROOF OF RECALLS ON MY CAR? THANKS, [XXX]*DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR*JB

STEERING IS STICKY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED.*DT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND RESTATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 193,000. *DT*JB

TAKATA RECALL, DASH (SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOSSE) WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMP OR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THEN I TOKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT'S STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM.

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND MY STEERING COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. I COULD TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT, BUT MY WHEELS WERE NOT RESPONDING TO THE MOVEMENT. THERE WAS A ROUGH NOISE AS I TRIED TO CORRECT THE STEERING BUT THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING OF THIS (I HAD BEEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN EARLIER THAT DAY JUST FINE - ON BUSY ROADS WITH HIGHER SPEED LIMITS). IT WAS VERY SCARY AND THANKFULLY, I WAS ONLY GOING 5MPH SO I JUST STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT IN PARK. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP IN AUSTIN, TX AND THEY SAID THE SPLINES BROKE WHICH DISABLED THE STEERING (AND THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AND YOLK). I'M GETTING A SECOND OPINION AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY, BUT THIS MAJOR FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY ALARMING. MY PRIUS HAS APPROX 92,000 MILES ON IT, AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. I HAVE PLENTY OF FRIENDS WITH OLDER CARS WITH MORE MILEAGE AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. ADDITIONALLY, MY FATHER SPOKE TO A FRIEND WHO OWNS A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT HOME AND HAS SOLD MANY PRIUS VEHICLES - HE SAID THIS WAS VERY SERIOUS AND UNCOMMON. ....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT OTHER INFORMATION YOU NEED TO ADEQUATELY LOOK INTO THIS. *JS

1) SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION 2) STEERING SHAFT SEVERED 3) DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE ALONG WITH ALL STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS

I LEFT MY HOUSE OFF NOBLE ROAD, CORA, WY AND PULLED ON TO WYOMING HIGHWAY 352 HEADED WEST AT ABOUT 11 AM; MY HUSBAND [XXX] WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AS WERE MY DOGS. THE SLIPPERY ROAD ICON ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THERE WAS A BEEPING NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 10 MPH, THOUGH THE ROAD IS A 65 MPH HIGHWAY. THE DAY WAS SUNNY AND I SLOWED DOWN AS THE ROAD WAS DRY AND THE LIGHT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON AND THE BEEPING NOISE WAS A NEW SOUND FOR THIS CAR. AFTER 2 MILES I MADE A LEFT TURN AND PULLED INTO THE FIRST AVAILABLE DRIVEWAY AT MILE 2, CORA ROAD. AS I MADE THE LEFT TURN AT A SLOW SPEED, THERE WAS NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, THEN I HEARD A SERIES OF CLUNKING NOISES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I STOPPED THE CAR IN THE RANCH DRIVEWAY AND READ THE PRIUS MANUAL REGARDING THE ICON AND BEEPING SYMBOLS. THEN I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR AROUND AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL JUST KEPT TURNING AND DID NOT TURN THE WHEELS OF THE CAR. [XXX], A RANCHER WHOSE ROAD MY CAR WAS BLOCKING, STOPPED TO HELP ME AND NOTED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT WORKING. HE GAVE MY HUSBAND A RIDE BACK TO OUR HOUSE TO GET OUR OTHER VEHICLE. I CALLED THE LOCAL TOWING COMPANY, T AND L TOWING, AND THEY CAME TO THE SITE. THE CAR WOULD GO FORWARD AND BACKWARD BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. TOM NIXON, TOW GUY, AND I WORKED THE CAR AROUND TO A POSITION WHERE I COULD DRIVE THE CAR FORWARD ON TO HIS TOW TRUCK. THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER WITH PRIUS SERVICE IS IN ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING, ABOUT 107 MILES AWAY AND TOM TOWED THE CAR TO THEIR SERVICE LOT. I CALLED THE DEALER IN ROCK SPRINGS TO NOTIFY THEM OF MY CAR EN ROUTE TO THEM AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I ALSO CALLED THE TOYOTA HELP LINE AT 1-800-331-4331 AND TALKED TO SHERYL MEYERS. I EXPLAINED THE INCIDENT TO HER AND SHE ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER OF [XXX] TO MY CLAIM. ON MONDAY JUNE 1, I TALKED TO MY INSURANCE AGENT AT STATE FARM...UPDATED 06-16-15 *BF ...UPDATED 12/29/15 *BF UPDATED 10/18/2018*CN*DT CONSUMER STATED STEERING HAS BEEN REPAIRED IN 2015. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB

THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS), VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), BRAKE LIGHT, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS (4) ON THE PRIUS ALL CAME ON AND VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE WHILE OUT OF TOWN. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND CAR SHOULD BE TAKEN IN IMMEDIATELY FOR SERVICE. SINCE NO DEALERSHIP WAS AVAILABLE AT THE IMMEDIATE LOCATION, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME (60 MILES) IN VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS. UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MIRACLE NOTHING BAD HAD HAPPENED BECAUSE THE "COMPUTER SKID ASSEMBLY" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1570.97 FOR JUST THE PART!!! I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT THE PART WAS READILY AVAILABLE AS IF I WERE REPLACING AN OIL OR AIR FILTER. AFTER CONFIRMING THE COST WITH OTHER DEALERSHIPS, I CONSENTED TO THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED. IS THIS JUST ANOTHER "BUILT IN OBSOLESCENCE" FEATURE? THERE APPEARS TO BE NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THIS NEW PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE PART POSSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN TO CONSUMERS. IN ADDITION, HOW CAN ANY REASONABLE CONSUMER BE CERTAIN THAT THIS PART FAILURE WAS NOT INPUT BY THE MANUFACTURER INTO THE CAR'S CONTROL SYSTEM. MAKES ME LONG FOR THE DAYS OF MANUAL VEHICLES AND SHADE TREE MECHANICS. *TR

STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN CITY DRIVING. RECALL SERVICE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR*DT*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TILTED AND THE ANTI SKID AND ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MERGE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNRELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. *DT*JB

BRAKE, ABS AND (O) WITH EXCLAMATION MARK INSIDE HAVE BEEN ON , THE SELLER WAS NOT HONEST WITH ME ABOUT WHY THE LIGHTS WERE ON, I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, REPAIRS WOULD COST $7000.00. *TR

CPCS:I1410421A. 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA HAS NOT ALLOWED ANY WAY TO ADJUST THE REAR TOE OR CAMBER ON THE PRIUS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN STEERING ISSUES AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH EXCESSIVE OR UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOOSE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING) BUT DID NOT RECTIFY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 03/31/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR 100% OF THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 04/01/2014 *JS

1TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE FROM THE STEERING SHAFT EVERY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V537000 (STEERING). THE PURCHASED A NEW INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FAILURE BUT THE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED, CAUSING THE RATTLING NOISE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH ADVISED OF THE FAILED REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 11-04-13 *BF UPDATED 11/6/2013 *JS

I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A RECALL ON STEERING MECHANISM WHICH RESULTED IN A BOLT REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE ADVISER ADVISED ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE WATER PUMP. THIS CAR ALREADY HAD ONE PUMP REPLACED ON A RECALL, WHY WAS THE OTHER PUMP NOT RECALLED? *TR

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT I HEAD A SNAPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE WHEELS STOPPED TURNING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN, BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. *TR*DT*JB

I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO FUEL UP AND WHEN I LEFT THE GAS STATION I SUDDENLY LOST STEERING IN MY CAR. I COULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. *TR UPDATED 06/13/13*LJ UPDATED 06/17/2013 *JS

PETITION FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECT CONDITIONS IN UPPER IMMEDIATE STEERING EXTENSION SHAFT #2 MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 2004-2009 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLES W/RESPECT TO RECALL 12V-537. *SMD AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CURRENT LOSS OF STEERING ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DECOUPLED FROM THE ELECTRIC- POWER- ASSIST COLUMN OUTPUT SPLINE. A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE DECOUPLED COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE SPLINE OUTPUT OF THE POWER ASSIST COLUMN. THIS ALLOWED A METALLURGICAL FAILURE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY ALLOWED SEPARATION OF THAT SHAFT FROM THE ELECTRICAL STEERING POWER ASSIST COLUMN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE SHAFT SPLINE SHOWED A LONG TERM DETERIORATION OF THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT #2 INSIDE SPLINE AS EVIDENCE BY METALLURGICAL SHARDS OF DETERIORATED SPLINE METAL STILL RESIDING IN THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAVITY. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD CANCEL AND NOT RE-ENGAGE, THEN THERE WERE TIMES, WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DIS-ENGAGE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT OFF COURSE WHENEVER THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD, FOR EVEN A MOMENT. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO STEER THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY OR IT WOULD DRIFT INTO ANOTHER LANE. APPARENTLY, IT WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER ALGORITHM THAT WOULD ATTEMPT TO CORRECT FOR WIND AND ROAD SURFACE ANOMALIES.

WE BOUGHT OUR TOYOTA PRIUS ON JUNE 2006. RECENTLY MY WIFE, WHO IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER, COMPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING OF THE PRIUS. I DROVE IT AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I MADE A TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THAT I HEARD AND FELT A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR NOT IN MOTION, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF MOVEMENT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER I WOULD PUSH IT UP AND DOWN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. HE REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT ASSY PART # 45260-47052. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THIS HAS BEEN A RECALL ITEM OR NOT BUT IF IT WAS I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OR MADE AWARE BY TOYOTA. IT COST US $371 PARTS AND LABOR FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT 35MPH THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO CONTROL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES AND BROKE THE RIGHT THUMB. THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT SUFFERED BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,500. ..UPDATED 12/05/12 *BF UPDATED12/07/2012 *JS*DT UPDATED 4/21/20*JB

I WAS MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEED AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING BUT THE WHEELS DID NOT. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SPLINES WERE WORN. AS A SECONDARY ISSUE, THE FAILURE OF THE SHAFT SPLINES CAUSED UNIMPEDED ROTATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGED THE STEERING CLOCK SPRING. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED IN TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL SSC-60C AND MY VEHICLE HAD (ACCORDING TO TOYOTA) THE NECESSARY WORK RECALL WORK DONE IN 2006. APPARENTLY THE RECALL WORK DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA ARGUES THAT THIS PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEREFORE, NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. I ARGUE THAT (A) IT WAS A RECALLED PART AND THE RECALL CLEARLY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND (B) THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING SHAFT IS A MAJOR, AND UNACCEPTABLE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT (A) THE PUBLIC BE NOTIFIED OF THE INEFFICACY OF THE RECALL AND (B) THAT TOYOTA BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED A REPLACEMENT SPIRAL CABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,500. UPDATED 03/06/12 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, HE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT 5 MPH. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED THE DAY AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,773 UPDATED 12/12/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SRS AND ALL THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS WERE DISABLED. UPDATED 05/31/12 THE CONSUMER CONTACTED AN AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS COMPANY, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE STEERING ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS DECOUPLED FROM THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COLUMN OUTPUT SPLINE. A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE DECOUPLED COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE SPLINE OUTPUT OF THE POWER ASSIST COLUMN, WHICH ALLOWED A METALLURGICAL FAILURE ON THE INTERIOR OF THE UPPER STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY ALLOWED SEPARATION OF THE SHAFT FROM THE ELECTRICAL STEERING POWER ASSIST COLUMN. UPDATED 05/13/13*DT*JB

STEERING FAILURE ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. 2007- SERVICE CAMPAIGN 60C PERFORMED ON THIS PRIUS TO INSPECT/REPLACE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND COMPONENTS. MAY 6, 2011- NOTICED WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEN DRIVING ON SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. MAY 20, 2011 - TOOK PRIUS IN TO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR: 1] SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE,(OIL/LUBE, ALIGN FRONT SUSPENSION, CLEAN/ADJUST BRAKES, ETC), 2] SNOW TIRE CHANGE-OUT 3] REQUESTED INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEM WITH STEERING WOBBLE. ITEMS 1 AND 2 WERE COMPLETED. ON ITEM 3, DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND STATED IT COULD BE RELATED TO SNOW TIRES OUT OF BALANCE. MAY 26, 2011-COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AT ABOUT 15 MPH ON A SMOOTH CITY STREET. THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF TIMES TO LEFT AND RIGHT WITH NO EFFECT ON THE WHEELS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. MAY 28, 2011 -DEALER COMPLETED REPAIRS. THE INVOICE SAYS THEY REPLACED: 1 04005-72147 SHAFT KIT, STEERING 1 84306-0E010 CABLE SUB-ASSY SPIR, AND PERFORMED ALIGN FRONT SUSPENSION FOR A TOTAL COST OF $798.22. THE SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED THE SPLINES AT THE END OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WERE WORN AND THAT THE TECHNICIAN HAD ONLY SEEN THIS ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE. A COMPLAINT REGARDING SAFETY AND COST HAS BEEN FILED WITH "TOYOTA HELP" (TOYOTA USA). TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT SUPPLY ANY INFORMATION ABOUT INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE ON OTHER PRIUSES. NEITHER THE SAFETY NOR THE COST COMPLAINT HAS BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. REPORTED JUNE 20, 2011 *INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

I DROVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS VIN#[XXX] UNTIL 5/13/2010. AT AROUND 10AM I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY IN THE LFT LANE. WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON GOING 75MPH. I HAD A GPS ON AND NAVIGATING. AND I HAD MY BLUE TOOTH EARPIECE ON. THEN ALL AT THE SAME TIME MY BLUE TOOTH SHUT DOWN. MY GPS SHUT DOWN. AND EVERY WARNING LITE CAME UP IN THE CAR. EVEN THE DISPLAY THAT USUALLY SHOWS HOW THE HYBRID SYSTEMS WORKS WAS BLINKING PROBLEM!! PROBLEM!! SO I LET OFF THE GAS AND STARTED TO MOVE TO THE RT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THATS WHEN I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THERE WAS AN EXIT COMING UP SO I LET THE CAR SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 50MPH. AS I STARTED TO EXIT I PUT MY FT ON THE BRAKES. THATS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF AND VIBRATING. I WAS COMING TO A BLIND INTERSECTION AND I HAD THE RED LITE. SO I PUSHED ON MY BRAKES. INSTANTLY I COULD HEAR SCREACHING TIRES. SO I LOOKED IN MY SIDE MIRROR. AND TO MY SUPRISE IM LOOKING AT A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM ME! MY REAR TIRES HAD LOCKED UP AND MY FRONT TIRES WERENT DOING ANYTHING. SO I STARTED FISHTAIL BACK AND FORTH LIKE I HAD MY EBRAKE ON. I PUT ALL MY WT ON THE PEDAL CAUSE THE INTERSECTION WAS REALLY GETTING CLOSE. AND WITHOUT POWER STEERING IT WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM CRASHING. I CAME TO A STOP JUST BEFORE THE LIGHT. THEN DROVE MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALER AT IN BERKELEY CA AT 10MPH. I TOLD THEM EVERYTHING. EVEN ABOUT MY BLUE TOOTH AND GARMIN. THEY GOT ME A RENTAL CAR THEN 4DAY LATER THEY SAID IF I GIVE THEM $2000 FOR A PART AND $1000 IN LABOR IT MIGHT FIX IT BUT THERE NOT SURE CAUSE THEY NEVER SAW THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. AND THEY WERENT GOING TO PAY FOR MY RENTAL CAUSE THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AFTER 36000MILES. I HAVE HAD EVERY SVC DONE AT TOYOTA. AND IF THERES A COMPUTER PT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS CAN BRAKE EASILY. WHICH THEY DO. THATS WHY ITS ONLY WARRENTY TO 36000MILES. IT SHOULDNT RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS!! I COULD OF DIED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA PRIUS 2005. PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2004. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I HAVE NOTICED THERE IS A ACCELERATION LAG WHILE MAKING TURN ON RIGHT OR LEFT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS NOT CONTINUOUS ACCELERATION AND FEELS LIKE, CAR MAY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE MAKING A SUDDEN TURN ON RIGHT OR LEFT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS PROBLEMS TO DEALERS ATTENTION BUT THEY NEVER TOOK MUCH INTEREST. I STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. RECENTLY IN JANUARY OF 2010, STEERING TIE ROD CAME OFF WHILE REMOVING A CAR FROM THE SHOPPING MALL. NO BREAK,IT COMPLETELY CAME OFF WITHOUT HAVING ANY DAMAGE TO TIE ROD THREADS. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG DISASTER. I STILL HAVE A TIE ROD WITH ME. *TR

STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. HAD WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECKED, NO PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO THE VENTURA TOYOTA, THEY CHARGED US OVER $200 AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS LOOSE SCREWS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS QUITE SCARY AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAD PURCHASED BUMPER TO BUMPER 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, THIS WAS NOT COVERED. THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY LOOSE SCREWS. WE FELT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF IT HADN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, WE WOULD HAVE HAD STEERING FAILURE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB

I WAS BACKING UP FROM A PARKED POSITION, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO PROCEED FORWARD AND HEARD AND FELT A CRUNCH. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND HAD TO STOP BEFORE HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT GOING IN THE DIRECTION I STEERED. I SOON REALIZED THAT I HAD LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. I HAD IT TOWED AND MY LOCAL MECHANIC EVALUATED THE STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY DEFECT. THINKING THAT MY CAR MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED I MADE SOME CALLS AND RESEARCHED THE INTERNET. I FOUND THAT THIS CAR HAD A RECALL PUBLISHED 6/2006 FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. I AM THE 3RD OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT IT FROM A REPUTABLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WITH THE LOGO "CERTIFIED USED" ON THE SALES RECEIPT. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE HAD BEEN PUBLISHED. IT APPEARS THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHECK FOR RECALLS BEFORE "CERTIFYING" THIS VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT AT HIGH SPEEDS FOR ME, MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE DRIVING BY ME AT THE WRONG TIME. I WILL SUBMIT A SECOND COMPLAINT IF THE DEALERSHIP AND/OR TOYOTA DOES NOT HANDLE THIS APPROPRIATELY. *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT SOUTER'S IN BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, NOT HONORING THE RECALL NOTICE ON 2004-2006 TOYOTA PRIUS STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT. I TOOK IT IN WHEN I GOT THE FIRST NOTICE AND SINCE I HAVE TO USE HAND CONTROLS TO DRIVE I HAVE THESE CONTROLS INSTALLED IN THIS PRIUS. SOUTAR'S SAID THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON THE DEFECT UNLESS THE CONTROLS WERE REMOVED. OR THEY WOULD CALL A TECHNICIAN TO COME UP FROM LA TO REMOVE THE CONTROLS AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. IT WOULD HAVE COST TOO MUCH. THEY SAID THEY WERE SORRY. *TR

2005 PRIUS TOTALED. WHEEL SUDDENLY JERKED TO RIGHT AND PULLED VEHICLE OFF ROAD. NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS, AS NOTHING HIT, POLICE REPORT TAKEN BY HIGHWAY PATROL, WITNESSES FROM BOTH DIRECTION TO PHYSICAL ACCIDENT. NO ONE HURT. VEHICLE CONSIDERED TOTAL. INSURANCE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR TO CHECK IT OUT. CASE ALSO FILED WITH TOYOTA, WHO IS SENDING PERSON TO CHECK OUT VEHICLE. ALSO, COMPLAINT ON THIS WEDSITE, AS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IN AND GET BULLETIN ON RECALL RELATED TO FAULTY STEERING FOR PRIUS.*AK

WE OWN 2 TOYOTA PRIUSES. ONE IS A 2003 (THE OLDER STYLE) AND A 2005. IN 2004, I WAS DRIVING THE 2003 ON THE FREEWAY. A PANEL TRUCK WAS TO MY RIGHT. IT STARTED TO COME INTO MY LANE SO I SWERVED TO AVOID GETTING HIT. THE CAR STARTED TO SKID AND SLIDE. THE CAR FIRST FISHTAILED, THEN WENT TO THE HARD RIGHT (I THINK) , THE LEFT AND THEN I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR DID A 180 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. WHEN IT CAME TO A STOP, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR AROUND AND CONTINUE DOWN THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF SO I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THIS PRECARIOUS POSITION. I ALSO LUCKED OUT B/C THE FREEWAY WAS NOT BUSY AND THE OTHER CARS WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME. YESTERDAY, OUR ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE 2005 PRIUS. WE WERE ON TWO LANE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE WERE IN THE FAST LANE. A POLICE CAR CAME UP BEHIND US WITH LIGHTS FLASHING. BY THE TIME MY HUSBAND SAW HIM FAST APPROACHING, THERE WAS NO WHERE TO GO. THERE WAS A CAR TO OUR RIGHT. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO GO ONTO THE SHOULDER (PROBABLY HIT SOME GRAVEL) AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. IT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND FISHTAILING , THEN I THINK WE WENT TO THE RIGHT, THEN LEFT AND THEN SLAMMED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND INJURIES WERE EXTREMELY MINOR (BUMPS AND BRUISES). I AM CONCERNED B/C BOTH CARS QUICKLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHEN SUDDEN MOVES WERE EXECUTED. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS BEFORE. I HOPE IT IS JUST A COINCIDENCE BECAUSE WE LOVE THESE CARS. *JB

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF A POSSIBLE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT DEFECT LAST SPRING, ABOUT THE TIME I BROKE MY RIGHT FOOT. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE FOR 8 WEEKS. WHEN I THEN CALLED MY DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE BACK-ORDERED. I KEPT CHECKING. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 2007, MUCH LONGER THAN IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT. *NM

THE CAR'S PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD WAS CRACKED, MOST LIKELY SINCE THE DAY OF MANUFACTURING. THE CAR SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES. THE CAR ROLLED THREE TIMES AT 75 MPH. WIFE HAS MEMORY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS SOME PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS. TOYOTA SAID THAT THE CAR HAVING LOST THE PASSENGERS SIDE TIE ROD WOULD HAVE REMAINED CONTROLLABLE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AND I THINK TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT. *NM

TOTAL FAILURE OF STEERING. STEERING WHEEL JUST SPUN FREELY LIKE A TOY CAR. FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING PARALLEL PARKING, SO THE SPEED AT THE TIME WAS SLOW AND NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE RESULTED. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN DEATH HAD THE TIMING OF THE FAILURE BEEN DIFFERENT. STEERING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED UNDER EXISTING RECALL APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO. I HAVEN'T HAD TOYOTA LOOK AT THE PROBLEM YET, HOPING THAT A 3RD PARTY INVESTIGATION WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL IN SAVING LIVES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL AND THE RECALL PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THEREFORE, AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 29, 2006 FOR THE REMEDY REPAIR. ON THAT DATE, THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED AT THE DEALER (ABOUT 65 MILES AWAY). WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR HAD NOT BE MADE BECAUSE THE PART WAS STILL UNAVAILALBE AND WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE PART IS AVAILABLE HOWEVER THE SERVICE DEPT WILL FOLLOW UP TO RESCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT LATER THAT DAY. THE CONTACT WAITED 6 HOURS AND STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT TO RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT. THE SHAFT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL IS NOW BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WILL NOW HAVE TO BE DRIVEN WITH A BROKEN SHAFT.

(1) DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-75MPH ON SMOOTH FLAT ROADS (2) VEHICLE SWAYS OR "FLOATS" SIDE TO SIDE, ESPECIALLY DURING CROSSWIND CONDITIONS (3) REPORT TO DEALER, NO REPAIR WAS DONE BY DEALER AS THEY THINK IT WAS CAUSED BY GROOVES IN THE ROAD