2003 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 MA

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

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

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

WHEN I PUT CAR IN REVERSE, OR SOMETIMES IN TURNING, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO VIBRATE. AT TIMES I HAVE TO STOP AND LET IT FINISH, AS I CANNOT KEEP MY HANDS ON IT. THIS STARTED HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AFTER CAR WAS RECALLED FOR STEERING ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHILE IN REVERSE OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHILE ACCELERATING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THE CONTACT STATED PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIRS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO VIBRATE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 10/03/11*JB

TWICE NOW MY STEERING HAS FROZEN AS I AM STRAIGHTENING THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER MAKING A TURN. THERE ARE NO PARTICULAR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, THOUGH THIS TIME MY STEERING HAD FELT STIFFER AND JERKIER OFF AND ON BEFORE THE TIME WHEN IT ACTUALLY FROZE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD IT TOWED RIGHT TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME, I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET IT MOVING AGAIN, BUT IT CONTINUED TO FREEZE RANDOMLY THE NEXT COUPLE OF TIMES I DROVE IT. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE "SOLUTION" IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. *TR

CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE BEGAN RACING WILDLY, ACTING LIKE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED. DRIVER STATED AS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DURING THE ALLEGED EVENT. CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING ON STEEP UPHILL GRADES AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO OPERATE WITH 6-7 REOCCURRENCES THROUGHOUT 100 MILES OF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE HOWEVER 6 MONTHS EARLIER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WOULD STALL REPEATEDLY. CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE AS RELATIVELY TROUBLE FREE WITH A HISTORY OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. (NOTE: THIS RECORD WAS RECEIVED VIA TELPHONE BY AN ODI INVESTIGATOR RATHER THAN THROUGH OUR HOTLINE OR ONLINE FORM. IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO OUR COMPLAINT FILE IN RESPONSE TO A THIRD PARTY REQUEST.) UPDATED 05/03/12*LJ UPDATED 05/04/12

2003 PRIUS HYBRID; STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERS QUITE FREQUENTLY; THIS SHUDDERING HAPPENS BACKING UP AND TURNING CORNERS; SOMETIMES IT SHAKES SO VIOLENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL IS PULLED FROM YOUR HANDS; WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS; NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED ON THE 2002 MODELS; OUR VEHICLE ONLY HAS 33K MILES ON IT AND THERE IS A PART FAILURE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING A LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT TO TAKE PLACE; TOYOTA AND DEALERSHIP REPS TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE; TOLD WE CAN HAVE STEERING REPLACED FOR ABOUT $3K EVEN THOUGH CAR ONLY HAS 33K MILES ON IT; MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THEY SAID; WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE; THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH CASES LISTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET; TOYOTA REP SAID THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS; THEY KNOW IT EXISTS, BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM; SOME GOVERNMENT GROUP NEEDS TO STEP IN AND MAKE TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR A RECALL OF THIS YEAR VEHICLE AND HAVE THE STEERING REPLACED FOR FREE. *TR

I EXPERIENCED A SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY TOYOTA 2003 PRIUS WHEN BACKING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING EACH DAY. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WHICH COULD LOCKUP AT ANY TIME. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED 01/02 MODEL PRIUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE 03. WHY IS TOYOTA ALLOWED TO LET THIS CONDITION TO CONTINUE WITH FAILURE OF THESE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNITS? HOW MANY LIVES MUST BE LOST BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT ACTS? TOYOTA IS CHANGING $2,500.00 TO $3,500.00 TO FIX A PROBLEM THEY KNOW EXIST IN THESE CARS A WORRIED CONSUMER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS--HEADLIGHT LENSES CLOUD UP, RENDERING THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE TRIED THE DYI KITS TO REMOVE THE CLOUDINESS, BUT THEY ONLY IMPROVE IT SLIGHTLY AND ONLY TEMPORARILY. WITHIN 3 MONTHS, THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AGAIN. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AS IT IS. NEW LENSES ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AS IT IS EVIDENTLY A DEALER ITEM ONLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING THREE MONTHS AGO. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A LEAK AND THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED BECAUSE SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ON DECEMBER 3, 2010, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS STEERING FAILURE - WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN LOS ANGELES, TURNING LEFT AT A STOP SIGN THE STEERING SYSTEM LOCKED. I RESET THE CAR AND COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL UNTIL PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND THEN PULLING FORWARD AGAIN. THE CAR THEN CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY LOCK IN THE LEFT TURN POSITION AND YOU MUST USE FORCE TO TRY TO CENTER AND STEER AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM HAS FAILED $3500.00 TO REPAIR. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE STEERING CAN BE REPAIRED, I REALLY LIKE THIS CAR BUT DON'T KNOW IF I CAN EVER PUT MY FAMILY IN IT AGAIN. THE STEERING FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAD NO WARNING. *TR

2003 TOYOTA PRIUS - DEVELOPED RATTLE AND TOOK TO THE DEALER. AFTER A LONG EXAMINATION, DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER STEERING RACK. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCIDENT AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE. THE REPAIR COST QUOTED WAS $3,500, ONE HALF OF THE RESALE VALUE OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR HAD APPROX. 62,000 MILES, THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE ON THE REPAIR PRICE. *TR

ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND BEEPS, AND BRAKES BECOME SQUISHY ON MY 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. TOYOTA DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON DIAGNOSTICS, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING. I HAVE NOTICED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ABS LIGHT PROBLEM, AND SQUISHY BRAKE PROBLEM. TOYOTA DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THEY HAVE HEARD NOTHING OF THIS PROBLEM FROM THE TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY TIMES FOR VARIOUS SAFETY FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE FROM BATTERY TO GASOLINE POWER WHEN WARRANTED, AND THE CONTACT INTERMITTENTLY WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE HE ADVISED THAT THERE MAY BE ENGINE OIL IN THE THROTTLE CAUSING THE STALLING ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A HYBRID EXPERT TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,300.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. TWICE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON AN ICE COVERED ROAD. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATED TWICE WHILE DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED AND UP TO DATE PRIOR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN LEFT AND RIGHT AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING. FIRST TIME, NOVEMBER 2007, STEERING RACK REPLACED FREE (STILL UNDER WARRANTY). SECOND TIME, OCTOBER 2009, STEERING RACK REPLACED FOR $1200. UPON COMPLAINT, TOYOTA REIMBURSED ME FOR HALF OF THE COST OF PARTS ($350). BOTH TIMES THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED, BUT I THINK IT MAY NOT BE REALLY THE FAULT OF THE STEERING RACK, BUT A COMPUTER ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION WHEN ON THE FREEWAY. 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

ELECTRONIC: STEERING IN MY TOYOTA PRIUS SHAKES AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT SOMETIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHEN THIS BEGAN LAST FALL AND THEY TOLD ME THE STEERING COMPUTER AND THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS BUT IT SCARES ME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT RECALLS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I MADE LEFT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK AND I WOULD HAVE TO JERK IT BACK TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THE STEERING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS APPROX. $2800. I AM MAKING A REPORT IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE OTHER PRIUS' THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AFTER THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.UPDATED 03/30/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/28/10

I OWN A 2003 PRIUS. WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BEFORE I EVER DROVE IT (WAS SNOW AND ICE) DEALER TOLD ME TO BE CAREFUL OF THE BRAKES. HE SAID, WHEN APPLIED, IT MAY FEEL FOR A SPLIT SECOND THAT I WAS SPEEDING UP OR NOT STOPPING. THE CAR DOES THIS ON SLIPPERY AND ROUGH RD AND ALWAYS HAS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE HYBRID AND HAVE LEARNED TO DRIVE ACCORDINGLY BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A TRYING SITUATION. *TR

WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND MANUAL SAYS DO NOT OPERATE VEHICLE, PARK IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAPPENED ON MY 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS IN DECEMBER. FORTUNATELY THE DEALER WAS OPEN AND WHEN REPORTED SAID IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL, THE CARE WAS DRIVABLE AND SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. IN SERVICE FOUND MASTER WARNING LIGHT CODES P0300, 301, 302, 303, 304, -3191, P33101, C1202 THEN NOTED "FOUND WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT TO CLEAN THROTTLE BODY (EG9016.5 01.99). WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND WAS PARKED IN DANGEROUS LOCATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ASCERTAIN WHAT STEPS TO TAKE IN LIGHT OF THE "DO NOT OPERATE VEHICLE" WARNING IN THE MANUAL. SAME SITUATION AROSE IN OUR 2002 PRIUS THIS DATE AND AWAITING RESULTS OF DEALER'S ANALYSIS (ALTHOUGH WHEN THE LIGHT WENT OUT THEY SAID WE COULD JUST AS EASILY CANCEL THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT). IN BOTH CASES SERVICE DEPARTMENTS SEEMED FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM (AND MY SERVICE ADVISOR REFERRED TO IT AS A "SILENT RECALL".) *TR

ABS BRAKE FAILS FOR A SHORT TIME WHEN SLOWING AND HITTING A BUMP. THIS HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE PURCHASE (NEW) IN 2003. *TR

I HAD A 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH. UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND I WAS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN A NEIGHBOR'S YARD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE STEERING WOUD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $1500 OR MORE. SINCE THE CAR HAD ALMOST 120,000 MILES ON IT, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT. MY DEALER SUGGESTED I WRITE TO THE TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, WHICH I DID. AFTER A LOT OF WRANGLING, THEY SENT ME A CHECK FOR $1,500 TO COVER THE LOSS OF MY TRADE-IN VALUE BUT ONLY AFTER I AGREED TO PURCHASE A NEW TOYOTA VEHICLE. AT THE TIME, I LET IT GO, BUT REALIZE NOW WITH ALL THE CONCERNS BEING RAISED, THAT PERHAPS MY STORY IS IMPORTANT. THE STEERING FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH OR WHILE EXITING A HIGH SPEED RAMP. WORSE, IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE, WHICH I HAD CROSSED JUST 15 MINUTES EARLIER.

2203 TOYOTA PRIUS CST BRAKE LIGHT GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY HAD BRAKES REPLACED BY DEALER. BRAKES DID NOT FEEL OK BUT TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY BUT NO BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER CAR SLID THRU RED LIGHT AT INTERSECTION, CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK. DEALER SAID BRAKE HOSES WERE SOFT & SWOLLEN AND BRAKE CONTROLLER STICKING. REPLACED BRAKE HOSES, FLUSHED LINES CAP. BLEEDER PLUG ACTUATOR ASSY. CAR HAS 67,000 MILES. *TR