'01 Prius Steering Column noise

We have the same problem on our '03 Highlander. Dealer has yet to identify the problem. They put some lubricant on the steering column, which gets rid of the noise temporarily, but it returns within a few weeks.

Our 2002 Prius (first non-Ford vehicle we've owned) has developed a pulsing/shake in the steering wheel when the vehicle got to about 40K miles. This condition is most noticeable when driving straight and making slight corrections to stay in the lane. Moving the steering wheel an inch or so would suddenly produce a "pulse" - almost like the power steering assist was giving an unwanted boost. It has been getting progressively worse over the last several weeks. My wife said that the steering also felt very loose. We had the steering aligned about four months ago. At that time there was no identified looseness nor was this steering problem present.

My wife just got back from the dealership and they told her that Toyota already has a quality(?) program to remedy this condition in certain, but NOT all, Prius vehicles. I'm not sure what criteria Toyota used to determine who's Prius was going to get a free repair and who was going to get screwed paying such a huge repair bill - but the dealership said our car was not covered. They indicated that parts alone were going to run ~$1500! <:o

To their credit, the dealership was going to discuss with Toyota's service division(?) the possibility of covering our Prius even though it falls outside Toyota's suspect vehicle population. I'm trying to be optimistic that Toyota will do the right thing and stand behind their product, but my wife is devasted at the thought of spending that much money to fix a Toyota Prius with such modest time in service and mileage. (We had been reveling in her foresight to buy the Prius when it was still this quirky unknown vehicle and gas was still comparatively cheap!)

Toyota obviously has identified a quality issue with certain parts in, or the entire electronic power assist steering system (BTW - there's no hydraulic power steering pump on the Prius like more conventionally powered vehicles).

When manufacturers bracket a specific group of vehicles it's because they believe that there was a specific start and end date to the given problem -"bookends" in the vernacular of the trade. Many times that decision is based on incident rates. That can be an effective way to manage these kind of problems, but you have to account for the same thing happening on a smaller number of vehicles outside of the "suspect population" ... like our Prius and others would appear to be.

Toyota has already determined they have a steering problem with some of the Prius vehicles on the road and have committed funds to pay for most of the problem vehicles if/or when the condition develops. The right thing for Toyota to do for those early customers, who bought their Prius' before it became the popular thing to do and are not covered by the existing program, is provide a no cost repair for what Toyota must have decided are less frequent occurrences. Handle them on an "as-they-come" basis if Toyota thinks that is wise (they should have decided up front to cover all of these failures!), but keep these customers happy. It would be penny-wise-and-pound-foolish not to cover the minor additional costs on the Prius' that are less likely to experience the problem - but still experience the same failure.

Prius owners are as enthusiastic and loyal a customer group as any. It would be ridiculous for Toyota to generate anger in this customer base in order to save a comparatively few dollars. If any Prius owner ends up paying ~$1800 for a steering repair that occurs shortly after the standard 36K mile warranty period ends, but still at very modest mileages - and that same repair is covered on a similar Prius built in the same model year(!) - well that destroys every financial and reliability motive to own and drive their car. That would leave owner feeling betrayed and angry. How would Toyota ever expect these people to brag about either the Prius car or Toyota's famed quality again?

What kind of endorsement is, "Yeah, the technology is great ... but all the money I might have saved getting 50 miles per gallon I just spent because I had to pay $1800 to replace the new fangled steering system that failed at 40K miles ... oh, and Toyota fixed it for free on other Prius' but not mine!"

If Toyota treats their Prius customers like this then they do not deserve to be held in the high esteem that they obviously worked decades to achieve. I really hope Toyota does the right thing for their customers!

Hi, Im in Australia and have a prius also that has this steering shaking problem, Toyota Australia just don't want to know about it and act like it's not their problem, can anyone tell me what the actual fault is. Is it in the steering colum or engine bay or what. Any help would be great.

RECALL... there is a steering system recall on Toyota vehicles.. including the Prius.

Check with your local dealer.

My 2001 Prius has developed steering noise that began at about 95000 miles
and has increased and gotten worse at about 105000 miles. Bought car new and have had it serviced in Boone, NC. They were told about it but were unable to fix. EHL

I bought a new 2002 Prius which has approx. 22,000 miles now. A month ago I began to notice a strange noise (like dragging rubber soles on a rubber mat) when turning the steering wheel to the right (not to the left). This gets louder when the outside temperature gets warmer. I took the car to the dealer, and they could not find anything; they just "removed air bubbles and cleaned the brake linings." The next morning I heard the noise again, and I took the car in again the following day. The "advisor" told me that he was afraid that the steering column may have to be replaced at a cost of approx. $2,000 (for which I would have to pay since the car has been out of warranty since Nov 07). The replacement part has been ordered and will get in next week.
This steering column problem seems to have been experienced by other Prius owners as well, and I am quite upset about it. Toyota should cover the cost of the new part and just charge for the labor.

I was the previous commenter.

I meant to date the post 1/29/2009.

It's my steering that is shaking when turning. But only occasionally.

I just LOVE all these "anonymous" postings.

HEY "ANONYMOUS"... Are you a flunky for GM, or Ford???

Who's paying you to run around the net, trash talking the hybrids?

The same people who killed the electric car?

If you are a Prius owner, or interested in the Prius, have the #$% to put your name on your post!

Gary Schaut

Yep. Me too ! 2001 Prius. Great car EXCEPT it has a steering mind of its own. About ran me into the shoulder on Interstate 5 the first time. Finally figured out it is a electronic (computer) steering issue. They use a set of torque sensors to tell the electric power steering motor which way and how hard to assist the turning.
Only problem is if you're not turning... It wants to turn on its own. This was subject of a major recall in 2001.
Talking to Toyota Corporate Customer Service (Paul, yes I named you ) they fall back on the original 36,000 mile Warranty. Well, we're all far beyond that, No one here in L.A., yes the BIG city except the dealer, will work on this. All parts have to come from Toyota and they only ones who'll fix it are the dealers.
I think the expensive price acts as a deterent for older Prius owners to fix this. 40MPG doesn't balance the loss of life from such a problem. I'm writing to NHSTA. Anyone want to join me ?

We have an 06 Prius. We bought it used with 7k miles. It just ran out of warranty in July.

We also bought it high when gas was spendy, so it's resale value dropped almost $8k in the last year.

The steering is doing the same issue as discussed on these posts at 32k miles.

Toyota has refused to pay for it. The dealer is so embarrassed, they offered to pick up half of it. It's a $1600 repair, $800 to me.

We told them as soon as they fix it, they can buy it. The $860 our cost on this accommodates 10,000 miles of driving at 25mpg How can that pencil?

I think it's time to start Tweeting this issue, as I will not own a Prius (or a toyota) for a LONG time!

I have a 2002 Prius and have been having this same shaking motion in the steering column that occurs only at low speeds when turning right. It has been happening for over a year.

I've had the car since 2005. The car has 165,000 miles and was bought used with 90,000 miles. Other than this low-speed problem I really enjoy my car.

After talking with the dealer in Annapolis, MD I found out that the steering repair would cost $2,000. I don't have this money to spend and have to wait until this car is 10 years old before I buy a new used Prius. Which I plan to do unless another hybrid or electric car catches my imagination.

I am wondering if anyone has had an accident because of the intermittant shaking of the steering column? Has anyone had to "put their Prius down" as a result of the defect?

Thanks.