2002 Toyota Prius complaints

REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, INCLUDING UNCONTROLLABLE VIBRATION OF STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CAR HAS 39K MILES. PROBLEM HAS RECENTLY GROWN WORSE, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND APPEARANCE OF PS WARNING ON COMPUTER SCREEN DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY PREVALENT IN COLD WEATHER. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DEEMED AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN STARTING TO BACK UP OR GO FORWARD . HAPPENS IN COLDER WEATHER MORE OFTEN <DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT A WARRATY ISSUE WHEN I FIRST APPROACED THEM IN 2004.. HAD 60K MILES ON IT. THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING ISSUE WITH MOTOR ON RACK AND PINION GEAR. TOYOTA PRIUS 2002 YEAR MODEL, THEY WOULDGO T REPLACE IT OF OVER $1000.,,, SAID TO DRIVE IS AND NOT WORRY BUT IF IT GOT WORSE TO BRING IT IN,. WELL RECENTLY I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER PRIUS OWNERS WITH 2001 AND 2002 MODELS AND SOME HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND SOME HAD IT FIXED SO I DEICDED TO GO TO PRIUSCHAT AND FOUND THIS WAS A PROBLEM ,. AND WAS DANGEROUS., BUT THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE ON THIS ISSUE., SO I THOUGHT IT BEST TO LOOK INTO AGAIN AND SEE YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT REGISTERED THIS YEAR.,., IF THERE IS MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MT IMPRESSION IF THE SERVICE MANAGERS AT TOYOTA LIKE TO SKIRT THE ISSUE OF DANGER OR POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS AND TRY TO GET YOU TO REPAIR IT AT YOUR COST,,,,I HOPE YOU FOLKS LOOK INTO THIS MATTER MORE DEEPLY. *TR

WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC HYBRID BATTERY COMPLETELY DISCHARGES CAUSING CAR TO LURCH WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ONCE THE CAR IS OUT OF TRAFFIC THE BATTERY OVER CHARGES CAUSING THE BATTERY TO OVER HEAT AND CAUSE THE CABIN TO FILL WITH A SCARY SMELL OF BURNING. THE HYBRID BATTERY FAN IS ON. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PAID NEARLY $300 FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY COULD FIND NO ERROR CODES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. CALL CHP TO ASSIST IN TOW TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING A FATAL COLLISION INVOLVING A TOYOTA VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOYOTA PRIUS CROSSED OVER A GRASS MEDIAN BETWEEN A DIVIDED EXPRESSWAY AND STRUCK A CHEVROLET BLAZER.

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN STOPS. UP UNTIL YESTERDAY IT DID THIS SPORADICALLY WHILE BACKING AND TURNING. YESTERDAY, IT DID IT DURING WET WEATHER, 50 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, BACKING AND TURNING. THEN IT DID IT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING IN A PARKING GARAGE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS EVER DONE IT GOING FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROX 8 YEARS ON AND OFF. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. *TR

ELECTRONICALLY-ASSISTED POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE ON 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS, PARTICULARLY VEHICLE ID NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2002 TOYOTA PRIUS STEERING RACK FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO THE STEERING IN MY PRIUS BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND PULSATED WHEN TURNING. THE TOYOTA DEALER, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, INSPECTED THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,000. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM INHERENT TO THESE 1ST GENERATION PRIUS MODELS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OPENED A CASE TO SEE IF TOYOTA WOULD OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAIR OF MY CAR. ONLINE AT OWNER FORUMS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM THERE WERE MANY INSTANCES WHERE TOYOTA WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT NO COST TO THE OWNER OR AT LEAST OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE COST. I WAS REFUSED BY TOYOTA WITH ANY HELP OF ANY KIND. I BELIEVE THAT SINCE TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT DURING THE 2001- 2003 MODEL RUN AND CHANGED THE STEERING RACK FOR THE 2004 REDESIGN TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. I BASE THIS ON THE VOLUME OF CARS EXPERIENCING THIS ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT TOYOTA HAD A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN IN PLACE AT ONE POINT THAT REPAIRED THESE AFFECTED VEHICLES WHEN CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS NO LONGER RUNNING THIS REPAIR CAMPAIGN. *TR

1. RECENTLY, THE STEERING STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY PERIODICALLY UPON TURNING 2. THE STEERING PERIODICALLY SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND IT BECOMES DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR 3. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE TOYOTA EXECUTIVE OFFICES AND THEY "DECLINED PARTICIPATION" UPDATED IVOQ 11/02/10 *TR

SEVERE SHAKING IN STEERING OF 2002 PRIUS. ALSO ENCOUNTER LOSS OF POWER STEERING FOR A SHORT TIME 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES !ST TWO TIMES I WAS TOLD IT JUST NEEDED GREASE ON THE STEERING COLUMN. 3RD TIME WAS TOLD IT NEEDED $3400 OF WORKING AND THAT THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 107,000 MILES THE THIRD TIME I TOOK IT IN. AFTER I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORP. THE DEALER CALLED TO SAY HE WOULD WORK WITH ME ON THE PRICE, BUT I CAN NOT TRUST HIM TO DO THE WORK. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET I HAD ASK THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THE CAR WAS SAFE TO TAKE ON A LONG TRIP THE 2ND TIME I TOOK IT IN AND HE SAID YES. IT WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE TRIP THAT I LOSS POWER STEERING DRIVING ON I95. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE UNTIL POWER STEERING RESUMED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. SHE STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A DRIVEWAY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE ENTIRE FRONT STRUCTURE AND WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000.

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONS AND STOPS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE DRIVER ON A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS, ON ONE INSTANCE THE GASOLINE MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS LEFT DRIVING AT LOW SPEED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ONLY. THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 31ST, 2010 WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH ON A FREEWAY, THE CAR LOST THE POWER STEERING OPERATION, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE SCREEN, THE GAS MOTOR SHUT DOWN AND THE SPEED OF THE CAR DROPPED TO AROUND 23 MPH. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RESPONSIVE ONLY IN THE RANGE OF 0~23 MPH. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. REVIEWING THE SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE CARS I FOUND THAT IT PRESENTED THE SAME SYMPTOMS ONCE IN 2006 AND THREE TIMES IN 2008. THE SERVICE CENTER EITHER CLEANED A SENSOR OR COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PART WAS NEVER REPLACED. WHILE RESEARCHING NHTSA SITE I FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS FILE TSBS BACK IN 2004 RECOGNIZING A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR COMPONENT AND IN SOME CASES EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST IN THE COST OF THE CAR REPAIR. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS'S ELECTRONIC MOTOR STEERING ASSEMBLY STOPS WORKING AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1HR OF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AT 75 MILES PER HOUR, WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON AND STEERING ASSIST FAILS. STEERING THE CAR FROM THE ROAD IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, THE STEERING WORKS ONCE AGAIN. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS THE STEERING FAILS UNEXPECTEDLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE FIX WILL COST $3200, WHICH IS OVER HALF OF THE VEHICLE'S KELLEY BLUE BOOK TRADE-IN VALUE. *TR

2002 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCIDENT *GR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS LEAVING A MEETING WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE HER EMERGENCY BRAKE. SHE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND HAS PARKED THERE ONCE A MONTH FOR OVER A YEAR. BEFORE SHE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AT SUCH HIGH SPEED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL IT BY BRAKING. THEREFORE, SHE SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED OVER $10,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. *JB

I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT SHAKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER SEVERAL INSPECTIONS WHERE THEY FOUND NOTHING, I TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE RACK & PINION. THEY FOUND THAT TO BE THE CAUSE. TOYOTA PAID FOR THE NEW PARTS AND I PAID FOR THE LABOR TO GET IT REPLACED. LESS THEN 13 MONTHS LATER, I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF MY POWER STEERING GOING OUT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS A PROBLEM, AGAIN, WITH THE RACK AND SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE IT.

BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. INTERMITTENT FAILURE. CANNOT START CAR EVEN THOUGH FOOT IS ON BRAKE. SOMETIMES REQUIRED AS MANY AS 20 TRIES. CONDITION PERSISTED FROM 2006 UNTIL REPAIRED JAN 2010. AT FIRST ONCE EVERY FEW WEEK AND PROGRESSED TO SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. *TR

SINCE I PURCHASED MY TOYOTA PRIUS IN LATE 2001, IT HAS INTERMITTENTLY SURGED WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. WHILE I DO NOT HAVE THE HIGH SPEED SURGES THAT OTHER DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED, PERIODICALLY WHEN I AM AT LOW SPEEDS AND PRESS THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE CAR WILL SLOW TO A STOP, THEN LURCH FORWARD, REQUIRING ME TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2001 AND 2002, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR A HYBRID, WHICH WAS FAIRLY NEW TECHNOLOGY AT THE TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE FUTURE I MAY HAVE A HIGHER SPEED SURGE. SO FAR MY SURGES HAVE BEEN LOW SPEED, AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THEM BY PRESSING THE BRAKE HARDER. *TR

2002 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM*CW THE CONSUMER STATED HE DIDN'T SEE THE ISSUE AS A BRAKING PROBLEM; RATHER A CONTROL CONFLICT. WHENEVER THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE ON A ROAD SURFACE HAVING ITS SHARE OF PAVING PATCHES, FROST HEAVES, ETC. THE SLIGHT DOWNGRADE CAUSES THE VEHICLES SPEED TO INCREASE, OR PERHAPS AN INTERSECTION APPEARED AHEAD AND FOR WHATEVER REASON THE BRAKES WERE GENTLY APPLIED IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE SYMPTOM WAS A BRIEF INTERVAL AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN NORMAL BRAKING RESUMED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. JUST PRIOR TO THE BRAKE ACTIVATION, THE VEHICLE IS IN REGENERATION MODE, IN WHICH THE ELECTRIC PROPULSION MOTORS ARE ACTING AS GENERATORS, WHERE ENERGY MOTION IS BEING EXTRACTED AND CONVERTED TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO BE STORED IN THE VEHICLES BATTERY. WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ACTIVATED, THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE MOTOR NOW BECOME GENERATORS ARE FORCED BY THE CONTROL SYSTEM TO CONVERT SIGNIFICANT ENERGY OF MOTION INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ABS.

CONSUMERS 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER MADE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ELECTRONIC MODULE EXCHANGE AND THE GAS TANK. HOWEVER, THE ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS AN ONGOING, UNRESOLVED PROBLEM WITH VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND AT OTHER TIMES DURING COLD WEATHER. THE POWER STEERING WILL COMPLETELY CUT OUT AFTER HOURS OF OPERATION, ESPECIALLY DURING HOT WEATHER. *JB

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING WHEEL. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. SOMETIMES NOT FOR MONTHS. IN JANUARY 2010 IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS UNRESPONSIVE SAYING THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED. I DID MANAGE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND FORCED THE WHEEL INTO COMPLETING THE TURN AFTER HEARING A CRACKING SOUND. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY SENSOR AND THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS AROUND. THIS SITUATION OCCURRED 08/15/08. THIS IS AFTER I HAD BROUGHT IN BOTH MY 2002 PRIUS AND MY 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN FOR NUMEROUS SENSOR DEFECTS THAT WERE EITHER FIXED OR REPLACED. I CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AS WELL. THE LAST ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS OIL THE CONSTANT LOSS OF ENGINE OIL. TO BE MORE DETAILED, I LOST 8 QUARTS OF OIL IN APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION GIVEN CONSIDERING THERE WERE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAK OR BURNING. THIS WAS THE REASON I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE BUT UNFORTUNATELY STILL OWN THE PRIUS. [XXX] *TR

2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES HE EXPERIENCED TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURE IN COLD WEATHER. *TGW THE PEDAL FELT AS IF IT WERE FROZEN OR BLOCKED AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN NO MATTER HOW HARD THE CONSUMER APPLIED IT. NORMAL BRAKE FUNCTION RETURNED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE RPM'S INCREASED EXCESSIVELY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE LATE MODEL TOYOTAS HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED REGARDING THE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. JO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 65-75 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SUDDENLY, A STRONG BURNING ODOR CIRCULATED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL, POWER WINDOWS SYSTEM AND CELLULAR PHONE POWER OUTLET BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSAXLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS AND EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT EXHIBITS THE SAME ACCELERATION AS IN THE 2010 RECALL. DURING BRAKING IF I AM TO HIT A MAN HOLE COVER OR POT HOLE THE CAR SEEMS TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO BRAKE AND SKIPS FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED WITHOUT RESOLVE. *TR

I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS KNOWN OF THE BRAKING PROBLEM ALL ALONG. I PURCHASED NEW, A 2002 PRIUS. IN 2008 MY ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT. THE SERVICE MGR. TOLD ME IT NEEDED A NEW RELAY, AND HE COULD FIX IT FOR $1700. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE SEEN A RELAY COSTING $1700. MY BRAKES STILL WORKED, JUST NOT PROPERLY SO I DIDN'T SPEND THE $1700. AS LONG AS TOYOTA CAN GET THEIR CUSTOMERS TO SPEND $1700. THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE A RECALL. I HAVE AROUND 47000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND AM ON MY THIRD SET OF ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. MY TIRES ACTUALLY LAST LONGER. I BELIEVE THIS BRAKING PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND FROM DAY ONE. I THINK RAY LAHOOD SHOULD CHECK FREQUENCY OF THIS REPAIR AGAINST CUSTOMERS RECORDS, IT MIGHT REVEAL A CONSISTENT FAULT. *TR

MY 2002 PRIUS HAS BRAKING PROBLEMS WHEN IT HITS A ROUGH PATCH OF PAVEMENT OR ENCOUNTERS SMALL BUMPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED (NEW). IF YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN AND HIT A BUMP OR A SERIES OF BUMPS, THE BRAKING POWER LITERALLY DISAPPEARS FOR A MOMENT OR TWO. THE BRAKING POWER DOES RETURN, BUT IT ADDS CONSIDERABLY TO YOUR STOPPING DISTANCE. I NEVER REALIZED HOW SERIOUS IT COULD BE UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE OTHER TOYOTA RECALLS INVOLVING BRAKES. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I'VE HAD FOR SOME 7 YEARS. THE STEERING IS VERY SENSITIVE MAKING IT NECESSARY TO ALWAYS ATTEND TO ACCURACY IN STEERING. I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A CHACTERISTIC OF THE DESIGN, BUT NOW I WONDER IF THIS IS ACTUALLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE OF REPORTS I SEE ON OTHER MODELS" ""IF YOU TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR A SECOND, THE CAR WILL DRIFT INTO ANOTHER LANE," SAID ONE DRIVER AN OCT. 18 COMPLAINT. ANOTHER DESCRIBES IT AS THE MOST TERRIFYING THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THEM." THIS DESCRIBES MY EXPERIENCE. *TR

I DRIVE A 2002 PRIUS. IN THE SIX YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED MY CAR, I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S A LOSS OF BRAKING, AND EVEN SLIGHT ACCELERATION, WHEN I TRY TO BRAKE OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS ABOUT HALF A DOZEN TIMES TOTAL. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. I NEVER ASKED A MECHANIC TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I NEVER GAVE IT MUCH THOUGHT (I JUST LEARNED TO DRIVE MUCH MORE SLOWLY ON BUMPY ROAD SURFACES). I SAW THAT THE NHTSA ISSUED A STATEMENT ON FEB. 9 ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND MADE THE CONNECTION THAT PERHAPS MY OLDER-MODEL PRIUS WAS ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM. *TR

I DRIVE A USED 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHICH NOW HAS ABOUT 86,000 MILES ON IT. IN NOVEMBER 2009 I WAS PARKING WHEN THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 2MPH, MY FOOT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ON THE BRAKE WHILE EASING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, PRIOR TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING I HEARD THE ENGINE RACE AND THE CAR BOLTED FORWARD, UNRESPONSIVE TO MY BRAKING. I ONLY STOPPED WHEN MY CAR COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A PARKED CAR, WHICH WAS MOVED ABOUT TWO FEET BY OUR COLLISION. IT HAPPENED TOO FAST TO EVEN THINK OF CHANGING GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, BECAUSE I WAS ONLY 5 FEET FROM THE OTHER CAR WHEN THE SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I LOOKED FOR CAUSE AND I DETERMINED THAT NO OBJECT IN THE CAB HAD ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, INCLUDING THE FLOOR MAT. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF DRIVERS EXPERIENCING UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION OUT OF THE MILLIONS OF TOYOTAS SOLD, THAT THE PHENOMENON IS CAUSED BY TWO OR MORE INDEPENDENT ERRORS IN THE VEHICLE ELECTRONICS, OCCURRING UNFORTUNATELY AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONFLUENCE OF TWO UNLIKELY EVENTS HAS EVEN SMALLER PROBABILITY, THEREFORE FEW OCCURRENCES. FOR EXAMPLE IF THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE AND ALSO THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE SIGNAL FROM BRAKE PEDAL TO BRAKE DRUMS, THE COMBINATION COULD BE TRAGIC. THE TOYOTA PRIUS 2002 MODEL WHICH I DRIVE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED; HOWEVER SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE BEEN EVER ON THE ALERT, PREPARED TO GEAR INTO NEUTR

MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES SOMETIMES DON'T WORK WHEN STOPPING AT A SLOW SPEED. IT HAPPENS WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND POTHOLES. THE BRAKE TAKES A SECOND BEFORE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE PAD. IT CAN HAPPEN ALSO WHEN GOING OVER MULTIPLE BUMPS AND POTHOLES LEAVING THE CAR UNABLE TO BRAKE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

2002 PRIUS SUDDENLY SPEEDED UP JUST BEFORE I GOT TO WAIST HIGH BACK DECK OF OUR HOUSE. I HIT THE CLIP ON SUNVISOR. HAD 25 STITCHES IN SCALP. HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MODEL IN RECALL. CAR WAS TOTALED. DID NOT HAVE ON SEATBELT AS I WAS ONLY GETTING THE PAPER AT THE END OF LONG DRIVEWAY EARLY IN THE AM.*JB

TLA*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SUDDENLY, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WITH EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING MECHANISM CHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER FORCED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AS A RESULT OF THE WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME TO NORMAL OPERATION. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE SHAKING WOULD STOP WHEN THE WHEEL WAS STRAIGHTENED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER CHIP. UPDATED 07/19/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRUIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER MANIPULATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SELECTOR SWITCH THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

RIGHT FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS WERE INSPECTED ON 9-3-2009 BUT ON 10-23-2009 GRINDING NOISE BEGAN. PADS AND ROTORS ON FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. TOLD METAL TO METAL CONTACT HAD DEVELOPED AND VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2002. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. INTERMITTENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE MAKING RIGHT AND LEFT TURNS. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND ERROR CODES INDICATED THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR FAILED. A DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $2,000; ALTHOUGH, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V285000, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 89,000. UPDATED 04/05/10 *BF UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB

AT THE END OF AN 8 HOUR TRIP FROM VA TO TN, ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CAR AND IT LOST POWER. WE LIMPED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND LEARNED THAT THE TRANSAXLE (TRANSMISSION) AND INVERTER HAD FAILED. METAL FRAGMENTS WERE FOUND IN THE TRANSAXLE FLUID. THE COST TO REPLACE BOTH IS ESTIMATED AT $7,500. THE CAR HAS 113K MILES ON IT AND WAS DEALER-MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO TOYOTA PLAN. *TR

TIRE THREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 60-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING VEHICLE TO WEAVE NEARLY OUT OF CONTROL. A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED BY THE DRIVER. DAMAGE TO THE FENDER, BUMPER AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. TIRE BRAND WAS BRIDGESTONE INSIGNIA 175/65R14 DOT IC8I E20 1604 EQ8R. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LARGE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE OUT-OF-WARRANTY DIVISION, BUT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS IF THE BRAKES ARE ENGAGED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE BRAKES. BRAKE FLUID WAS ADDED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, BUT THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HIM NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE ACTIVATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. HE REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP IN THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, BUT WAS UNSURE IF THAT WOULD PERMANENTLY REMEDY THE ISSUE. BOTH OF THE DEFECTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 3/11/09 *CN UPDATED 03/16/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE EMERGENCY AND POWER STEERING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, THE WARNING INDICATORS WOULD NO LONGER ILLUMINATE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE LIABILITY OF THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 96,000. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN OCCASSIONAL SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. UPDATED 03/19/09.*JB

WHILE ON A TRIP AND AFTER START UP ON A COLD MORNING, I LEFT THE HOTEL PARKING LOT AND WAS PROCEEDING TO THE ON RAMP FOR THE INTERSTATE. WHILE I WAS TURNING LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT SUBSIDED. I NOTICED THIS SHUTTERING OR STIFFNESS A FEW MORE TIMES BEFORE WE RETURNED FROM OUR TRIP. AFTER RETURNING HOME, WE TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND STATED, "CHECKED TO FIND POWER STEERING RACK & PINION GEAR IS CAUSING PROBLEM EST $2160.85. WOULD NEED TO ORDER PART # 44200-49055." *TR

BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKES LOST COMPLETE BRAKING ABILITY. LUCKILY WE WERE ON A HILL OFF THE INTERSTATE EXIT WHEN THIS HAPPENED SO THE CAR COULD NOT GO FURTHER, THOUGH IT ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF US (THAT PERSON TURNED OFF ROAD). THIS IS 100% DANGEROUS! THE CAR CURRENTLY SITS AT MY HOUSE. TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN BRAKE PADS WERE CHECKED LAST I WAS TOLD BRAKES WERE 80% NEW, SO IT IS CLEARLY NOT THE PADS. *TR

ON COLD DAYS WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE CAR HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET IT TO STOP. THIS CONTINUES WHEN RESTARTED. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THIS SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING IN THE CAR, I SHUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. I THEN TURN ON THE AIR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. FINDING LATER THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING CONNECTOR UNDER THE DASH HAD BURNED UP, ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. (I HAVE PICTURES WHAT HAPPENED). *TR

2002 TOYOTA PRIUS, THIS CAR SUFFERS FROM AN INTERMITTENT STEERING SHAKE. WHAT HAPPENS: OFTEN AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS AND SOME TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING PULSES VIOLENTLY AND STEERING CONTROL IS TEMPORARILY LOST. *TR

INTERMITTENT SEVERE STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT AT LOW SPEED AND STEERING FAILURE WHICH ILLUMINATED THE PS FAILURE LIGHT. STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AFTER FAILURE. SYSTEM RESET AFTER IGNITION TURNED OFF. STILL HAVE SEVERE WHEEL VIBRATION. TOYOTA DEALERS STATE AN INTERNAL FAILURE IN THE RACK AND PINION.

ON MAY 4TH, 2008, AT OR AROUND 12:30 PM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS NORMALLY. THE HYBRID SYSTEM GAVE ME A TROUBLE LIGHT PRIOR TO LEAVING AN AUTO PARTS STORE PARKING LOT; HOWEVER, I ATTRIBUTED THE WARNING LIGHT TO A RECENTLY REPLACED CHARCOAL CANISTER AND DISMISSED THE WARNING LIGHT, BELIEVING IT TO BE RELATED TO THE RECENTLY REPLACED PART. I LEFT THE PARKING LOT AND PROCEEDED ON TO MY DESTINATION, WHICH WAS MY HOUSE, ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY FROM THE STORE. WITHOUT WARNING, AND SAFELY ON A STREET WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC, AS I WAS DRIVING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE HYBRID SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO RUN PRIMARILY ON THE ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVING THE WHEELS AND USE THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE (ICE) FOR ADDED POWER WHEN THE ELECTRIC MOTORS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER. HOWEVER, IN MY SITUATION, THE CAR NEEDED MORE POWER, AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THE ENGINE TO START BY CYCLING THE GAS PEDAL, BUT TO NO AVAIL - THE ICE STILL WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO PULL THE CAR OVER, SHUT IT OFF, AND RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE ICE RUNNING AGAIN. NORMALLY I WOULD NOT BE THIS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAD THIS ISSUE OCCURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN A HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD - THE LOSS OF THE ICE IN A CRITICAL SITUATION COULD LEAD TO AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF ICE POWER IS LOST AT A CRITICAL TIME, SUCH AS ACCELERATING ONTO A BUSY FREEWAY. BECAUSE OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY IS

I GOT THIS VEHICLE IN 2005 FROM MY FATHER. I HAVE SINCE THEN HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES OF THIS CAR MANY TIMES AND I HAVE ALWAYS REPLACED THEM WITH THE TIRES RECOMMENDED FOR THE CAR. SINCE THIS CAR IS A HYBRID, THE CAR REQUIRES TIRES MADE TO WITHSTAND THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR BATTERY AND THEREFORE THEY COST 100 DOLLARS OR MORE PER TIRE DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU PURCHASE THEM FROM. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED IS MY MOST RECENT TIRE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND BEGAN FLASHING A WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILED. THE COST OF THE PART IS $1,800. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.