2003 Toyota Prius Steering Problems

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.

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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 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.

TWO YEARS AGO, MY CAR BEGAN EXHIBITING STEERING ISSUES. WHEN TURNING, BOTH IN REVERSE AND DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHUDDER VIOLENTLY. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE SHUDDERING SUBSIDED AND THE CAR STEERED NORMALLY. THE ISSUE WAS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD AND IMPROVED AS THE CAR WARMED UP. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE ISSUE HAS WORSENED, OCCURRING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AND WITH INCREASING VIOLENCE. THE STEERING WHEEL NOW JERKS UNCONTROLLABLY AS I DRIVE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERS WHEN TURNING, SOMETIMES SO VIOLENTLY THAT I CANNOT HOLD ONTO THE WHEEL OR CONTROL THE CAR. TURNING LEFT IS BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY DIFFICULT; THE CAR PULLS CONSTANTLY AND SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES ON THE CAR WERE JUST ALIGNED. THE 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS ALREADY RECALLED FOR STEERING ISSUES EXACTLY AS I DESCRIBE. TOYOTA CLAIMED THE ISSUE LAY WITH THE PINION SHAFT NUTS. THE PINION SHAFT NUTS IN MY CAR WERE ALREADY REPLACED, PER THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE STEERING PROBLEM PERSISTS AND IS GROWING WORSE. FROM MY RESEARCH, OTHER 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE SAME FAILURE OF THE RECALL REPAIR TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. MECHANICS NOT AFFILIATED WITH TOYOTA HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON, WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA RECALL NOTICE, "IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY AND STRONGLY TURNED TO THE FULL-LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THE NUTS SECURING THE PINION SHAFT IN THE STEERING GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY MAY BECOME LOOSE." (HTTP://PRESSROOM.TOYOTA.COM/RELEASES/TOYOTA+PRIUS+EPS+PINION+SHAFT+NUT+JUNE+2011+RECALL+FAQ.HTM). HOWEVER, MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN GENTLY AND MAINTAINED WELL THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE. DESPITE MY CAREFUL CARE OF THE VEHICLE, IT HAS BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I BELIEVE THE RECALL INSUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSED THE STEERING ISSUES ENDEMIC TO THE 2003 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

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

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.