2001 Toyota Prius recalls & complaints

Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER MOLDING OF THE RESIN BODY OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENOR INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK, ENGINE OIL MAY PENETRATE THE SEAL AND ENTER THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY ATTACHED TO THE LOCKING TAB OF THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR.
Consequence: ENGINE OIL INSIDE THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND COULD DEFORM THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE CONNECTOR MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Notes: TOYOTA RECALL NO. SSC 60G. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Component: STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT CAN OCCUR IN THE TORQUE SENSOR THAT CONTROLS THE POWER ASSIST OPERATION OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. THE TORQUE SENSOR COULD SEND IMPROPER ELECTRICAL SIGNALS.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE POWER STEERING WARNING ICON WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THE CENTER PANEL, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE HIGHER THAN NORMAL STEERING EFFORT DEPENDING UPON VEHICLE SPEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR BOX.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 27, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

12/12/2019 · Steering · crash
I WAS GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY AND DRIVING 40 MPH ON THE OFF RAMP, WHEN THE 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS DID A UNWANTED LEFT TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CORRECT THE CAR ANGLE, BUT HE STEERING FORCE WAS TOO STRONG FOR ME TO CORRECT BACK TO STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE LEFT FRONT CAR THE CONCRETE BARRIER, AND THE CAR TURN 360 DEGREE AROU…

09/10/2019 · Steering
STEERING RECALL I CALLED TOYOTA THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO IT AND IT SAYS ONLINE IT'S GOOD FOR 10 YEARS AFTER RECALL DATE.

01/05/2019 · Vehicle Speed Control · crash
THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGH SPEED ON IT'S OWN IN A PARKING LOT AND RAMMED ITSELF INTO THE WALL DEPLOYING AIRBAGS. MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING AND WAS SENT TO THE E.R. SHE WAS SLOWLY BACKING UP WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED FIRST IN REVERSE HITTING A WALL AND THEN SWITCHED IN DRIVE ON IT'S OWN WITH HIGH ACCELERATION RUNNING INTO THE OPPOSITE WALL WHICH…

09/11/2018 · Electrical system
MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING WHAT IS KNOWN ONLLINE AS "THE BIG HAND SYNDROM". WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CHANGES RESISTANCE AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE GRABS THE CAR AND IT DRAMATICALLY SLOWS. YOU THEN HAVE TO PRESS HARDER ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAINTAIN SPEED. WELL ONE DAY, THE CAR STOPPED WORKING, NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE PEDAL IT WOULD…

09/18/2017 · Electrical system · crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND BRAKING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER THE MEDIAN AAND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (TITUS-WILL TOYOTA, 3506 S SPRAGUE AV…

02/10/2017 · Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

10/22/2016 · Steering
PS WARNING LIGHT DISPLAY, CAR WILL NOT START. PARKED IN HOME DRIVE WAY.

11/16/2015 · Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V304000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPR…