2001 Toyota Prius

Defect. TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001 THROUGH 2003 PRIUS PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 28, 2000, THROUGH MAY 30, 2003. THE STEERING LINKAGE MAY LOOSEN, RESULTING IN REDUCED ELECTRIC STEERING ASSISTANCE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN.

Risk. LOSS OF POWER STEERING, PARTICULARLY WHEN AN OPERATOR IS ACTIVELY INTENDING TO STEER THE VEHICLE, MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE NUTS IN THE STEERING LINKAGE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER MOLDING OF THE RESIN BODY OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENOR INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK, ENGINE OIL MAY PENETRATE THE SEAL AND ENTER THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY ATTACHED TO THE LOCKING TAB OF THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR.

Risk. ENGINE OIL INSIDE THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND COULD DEFORM THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE CONNECTOR MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT CAN OCCUR IN THE TORQUE SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE POWER ASSIST OPERATION OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. THE TORQUE SENSOR COULD SEND IMPROPER ELECTRICAL SIGNALS.

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE POWER STEERING WARNING ICON WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THE CENTER PANEL, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE HIGHER THAN NORMAL STEERING EFFORT DEPENDING UPON VEHICLE SPEED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR BOX.

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.

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.

THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGH SPEED ON IT'S OWN IN A PARKING LOT AND RAMMED ITSELF INTO THE WALL DEPLOYING AIRBAGS. MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING AND WAS SENT TO THE E.R. SHE WAS SLOWLY BACKING UP WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED FIRST IN REVERSE HITTING A WALL AND THEN SWITCHED IN DRIVE ON IT'S OWN WITH HIGH ACCELERATION RUNNING INTO THE OPPOSITE WALL WHICH DEPLOYED THE BAGS. AFTER READING ONLINE ABOUT THESE VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATION SURGING IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING WHAT IS KNOWN ONLLINE AS "THE BIG HAND SYNDROM". WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CHANGES RESISTANCE AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE GRABS THE CAR AND IT DRAMATICALLY SLOWS. YOU THEN HAVE TO PRESS HARDER ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAINTAIN SPEED. WELL ONE DAY, THE CAR STOPPED WORKING, NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE PEDAL IT WOULD NO ACCELERATE. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE REPLACED THE PEDAL AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES, AND REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN. I'M STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUSES AND THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO EXCEPT KEEP REPLACING THE PEDAL CAUSE THATS THE CODE IT IS THROWING UP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE AS I CAN AND DO LOSE ACCELERATION AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IT DOESNT SEEM TO MATTER HOW FAST IM GOING OR THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS COMPLETELY RANDOM, AND CANNOT BE REPLICATED ON COMAND. THE DATE LISTED IS THE FIRST INSTANCE, AND IT HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT OR MAKE RECORD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND BRAKING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER THE MEDIAN AAND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (TITUS-WILL TOYOTA, 3506 S SPRAGUE AVE, TACOMA, WA 98409). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

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.

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

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.

THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING 65+ MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK HYBRID WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR BECAME DANGEROUSLY UNRESPONSIVE, LUCKILY WE WERE NEAR AN EXIT AND WERE ABLE TO COAST TO SAFETY. THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS EXPECTING INFORMATION FROM THE ACCELERATOR, AND WHEN IT DOESN'T RECEIVE IT, EITHER THE GAS ENGINE, OR THE ELECTRIC ENGINE, OR BOTH ENGINES FAIL TO OPERATE. TOYOTA HAS SERVICE BULLETIN 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS UNKNOWN OR OTHER SERVICE BULLETIN 117006 ACTION NUMBER: 635861 SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 117006... REPORT DATE: SEP 12, 2002 COMPONENT: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.... SUMMARY: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MASTER, HYBRID AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1120. ,,, P1120 TOYOTA DESCRIPTION ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR IS MOUNTED ON THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT HAS THE 2 SENSORS TO DETECTS THE ACCELERATOR POSITION AND A MALFUNCTION OF THE ACCELERATOR POSITION. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR IS CONNECTED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BY THE ACCELERATOR WIRE. THE ECM JUDGES THE CURRENT OPENING ANGLE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM THESE SENSOR SIGNAL INPUTS AND IT CONTROLS THE THROTTLE MOTOR BASED ON THESE SIGNALS. IF THE THE P1120 CODE IS STORED, THE ECM SHUTS DOWN THE POWER FOR THE THROTTLE MOTOR AND THE MAGNETIC CLUTCH, AND THE THROTTLE VALVE IS FULLY CLOSED BY THE RETURN SPRING. HOWEVER, THE OPENING ANGLE OF THE THROTTLE VALVE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THROUGH THE THROTTLE CABLE. I HAV

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

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, SHOP SAID IT WAS THE TURBO BRAKE BOOSTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BREAKS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BREAKS PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITH NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SALVAGE LOT FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

2001 PRIUS WAS PARKED IN GARAGE ~6HRS, FIRE STARTED AND SMOLDERED, APPARENTLY USING UP OXYGEN INSIDE THE CAR. I WENT IN THE GARAGE FOR SOMETHING ELSE, NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON AND OPENED THE CAR DOOR TO TURN THEM OFF. WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, ACRID SMOKE POURED OUT, AND THE FIRE WAS GIVEN FRESH OXYGEN, AND IT TOOK OFF. WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM HEAT, LEFT FRONT DASH MELTED. FIRE DEPT PUT OUT THE FIRE QUICKLY, BUT THE CAR IS RUINED AND THE CAUSE UNKNOWN. THANKFULLY NO DAMAGE TO GARAGE, HOUSE OR PEOPLE. I HAD SMELLED A FUNNY SMELL HOURS BEFORE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING OUTSIDE, SO THE FIRE HAD BEEN SMOLDERING FOR SOME TIME. LIGHTS APPARENTLY WENT ON BECAUSE THE FIRE/HEAT HAD SHORTED SOMETHING. *TR

A RENTER FROM RELAYRIDES.COM WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. LUCKILY HE DIDN'T HAVE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY AND WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY GET THE CAR TO STOP WITH THE BARE LITTLE BRAKES LEFT. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER LEFT, EVEN WITH PUMPING. *TR

CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND DID NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL MY FOOT HIT THE BRAKE. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MCGEE TOYOTA AND THEY REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS A $600.+ REPAIR. WITHIN THE YEAR THE NEWS REPORTED ABNORMAL ACCELERATION WITH THE PRIUS LINE AND I QUICKLY CONTACTED TOYOTA MANAGEMENT. THEY DENIED MY CLAIM SAYING THAT THESE INCIDENCES WERE AS A RESULT OF FLOOR MATS? I REPORTED IT TO [XXX](MA) REPRESENTATIVE FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE (THIS WAS OVER TWO YEARS AGO). I RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT YOUR AGENCY AND DECIDED TO FILE A REPORT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

IF THE PRIUS ENGINE DOES NOT START IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE COMPUTER TELLS IT TO, THE COMPUTER STOPS TRYING TO START IT AND LEAVES YOU WITH ONLY THE BATTERY POWER...VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN FAST TRAFFIC OR ON AN ON-RAMP. IT CAN BE RESTARTED IF ONE PULLS OFF THE ROAD AND SHUTS OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTS IT. AFTER NUMEROUS INCIDENTS AND ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE OCCASIONAL NON-STARTS, IT TURNED OUT THAT THE AIR INTAKE FLAP IN THE ENGINE CAN GET DIRTY AND STICK, WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SOMETIMES TAKE SEVERAL TRIES TO RESTART. (THIS WAS INITIALLY MISDIAGNOSED AS A COMPUTER PROBLEM, HOWEVER THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE.) BESIDES MAKING THE FLAP CLEANING PART OF MAINTENANCE, THE COMPUTER SHOULD ALSO BE FIXED SO THAT IT WILL ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, SINCE THINGS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO NOT START ON THE FIRST TRY (SUCH AS SLOSHING FROM LOW GAS.) I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM ON NEWER PRIUSES, HOWEVER AS MORE OF THEM HAVE HIGH MILEAGE, THIS CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM. *TR

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

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.

PRIUS, 2001 BOTH REAR AXLE HUB ASSEMBLIES REPLACED AFTER BEARING FAILURES WITH UNDER 90K MILES ON MY CAR, OWNED NEW SINCE JUNE 2001. THERE ARE NOT OPTIONS TO REPLACE THE FAILED BEARINGS, JUST THE COMPLETE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY THAT INCLUDES THE ATTACHED ABS SENSOR. FAILED ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN RETAINED AND ARE AVAILABLE. I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT MY 2002 PRIUS, AS WELL. *TR

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