Toyota Recalls 2004-2009 Prius Vehicles for Steering Shaft Defect
Toyota is recalling 2004-2009 Prius vehicles because steering shaft splines may be insufficiently hard, risking loss of steering ability and vehicle crashes.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect in the steering system that can result in a loss of steering ability and increase the risk of a vehicle crash, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.
Plain-English summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured between August 5, 2003, and March 30, 2009. The recall involves approximately 669,705 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly with metal splines that connect the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with insufficient hardness.
Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail, resulting in a loss of steering ability. This failure increases the risk of a vehicle crash. The defect is located in the steering gear box shaft sector.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the extension shaft and replace it if it is one with insufficient hardness, free of charge. The recall began in December 2012. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.safercar.gov.
The recalled product
- Product
- TOYOTA PRIUS
- Brand
- TOYOTA
- Manufacturer
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Category
- Vehicle — Steering System
- Affected units
- 669,705
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (1)
- PRIUS
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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