The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving 51 MPH, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and a loss of power steering assist with the engine overheating message displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,079.
2004 Toyota Prius steering problems
10 complaints (2% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 135,265. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 10
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 135,265
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Hydraulic power assist system1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Toyota Prius steering problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Toyota Prius steering
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Steering: gear box: shaft sector
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.
- Risk
- Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- 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 during December 2012. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 12V537000 · Recall details
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- The intermediate shaft and sliding yoke in the electric power steering system can crack when large forces are applied and the connection may separate or the sleeve may fracture.
- Risk
- This could result in a loss of steering control of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Toyota will replace the steering intermediate shaft and inspect the sliding yoke and replace it if necessary. The recall began on june 9, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 06V188000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI: 1.Reviewed the petition and its enclosures; 2.Reviewed the subject steering system layout; 3.Examined the Petition Vehicle?s history, including its repair history; 4.Reviewed and followed-up potentially related consumer complaints; 5.Assessed Safety Recalls 06V‑188 and 12V‑537; and, 6.Requested and examined complaint, claim, field report, service history, and warranty information from Toyota.ODI's review revealed that the petition vehicle had been recalled (Recall 06V188) to remedy a defect in the system identified in the petition with the remedy taking place prior to the failure that prompted the petition. Circumstances point to incorrect reassembly of the petitioner's vehicle by those who performed the recall remedy.ODI examined the issues raised by this petition to identify any related safety defect trend in the general subject vehicle population.That review identified a low rate of related consumer complaints (twenty-five over a eight year period from a population of over 600,000 vehicles) and no pattern that would identify either a safety defect not already covered by the two existing steering safety recalls by Toyota or a systematic problem with either recall remedy.Based on this evaluation, ODI does not believe that additional investigation will lead to a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For more information, see the Federal Register notice in the public file for this action select the federal safety agency ID, enter: DP13001)The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed on-line under the following the federal safety agency ID numbers:10407520, 10418710, 10429551, 10473654, 10478195, 10478053, 10437229, 10489425, 10510722, 10639984, 10648277, 10499778, 10712626, 10723196, 10787530, 10808124, 10838803, 11071646, 11098144, 11099507, 11102659, 11160767, 11192607, 11287550, 11287606
DP13001
What 2004 Toyota Prius owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was driving approx. 15 MPH on a street on 5/14/20 and was making a soft turn and heard a 'click' noise. Immediately after my steering wheel began to spin freely while totally disengaged from the front wheels causing total inability to control direction of vehicle travel. This caused a minor collision with rock /debris which caused minor front bumper damage. I then had vehicle towed to nearest mechanic who determined that the main bolt at the intermediate steering shaft and steering rack was disconnected. The mechanic checked the shaft and splines for damage and found none, then proceeded to reattach bolt. I was also informed by this mechanic that toyota had two related recalls: one for the steering shaft, and one for the intermediate steering shaft extension. Both of these recalls had been addressed and replacement parts installed for my vehicle. There are two related recalls: 06v188000 (steering shaft) and 12v537000 (intermediate steering extension shaft).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota prius. The contact stated that the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v537000 (steering) by balise toyota (1399 riverdale st, west springfield, ma 01089, (413) 306-3037), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the power steering warning indicator illuminated after the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.
For the last couple of years there is a clunking sound from the steering column when turning the steering wheel from side to side, either stationary or when moving.*dt
Contacts stated water pump and alternator stopped working twice on I'-5 towed to toyota tacoma where they flushed fuel billed $500 car broke down on way home towed back to toyota told charge would be 2500 to fix .. Flatbed dedicated car to bron's auto hoses and coolant system was melted payed $1500 to replace in tire coolant system and still owe 600 to synchrony car care card now returning home last week turning around to back up there was a loud crunch steering broke steering wheel crunches when turned wheels do not turn at all moving down the road called toyota they said they fixed both on recall to fix it myself it wasn't there problem parts wore out kick rocks the parts didn't wear out they broke 5 minutes sooner id have been head on in traffic on hwy 405 instead of backing up on the city street. Unable to steer into our driveway I'm already stuck making payments on coolant system repairs that were recall*dt
My daughter borrowed my prius for a drive from layton, utah to seattle. Within an hour of leaving my home in layton, utah she called concerned about a vibration in the front end of my prius as she approached 80mph. When she returned to utah, I had the tires checked, rebalanced, and the front end realigned. Soon after that, my husband and I left for the tahoe area. We experienced a vibration whenever we eased the steering from either a left or right pressure to neutral. Then at low speed going over a rough road with potholes, it sounded as if the steering column was going to fall apart. I have a recording of the rattling noise it made. I returned to the dealership I purchased my prius from. They found that the intermediate shaft was loose and recommended replacing it. Parts #45260,45209, and 45221 were replaced. The vibration and rattling noise have been eliminated. The cost to me was $1003.84. According to my VIN number, there has been no recall for the parts used to assemble my prius. I urge you to look further into the quality of the parts used to assemble the steering mechanism in my prius.
Lost power steering control
During normal service at dealer service advisor indicated that steering yoke sub assemble and shaft assembly needed to be replaced because of binding. Dealer indicated that they had done the steering recall " the federal safety agency campaign number: 06v188000 " in 2006 on this car. Is the current issue (which we had repaired at a cost of almost $1000) associated/or as a result of the prior recall?
Consumer complaint concerning 2004 prius transmission. *ts the consumer had problems starting in low gear on a hill. The consumer received a notice regarding the intermediate shaft, however when he arrived at the dealership, he was told there were no parts available. The dealer eventually replaced the steering shaft.
I have a 2004 toyota prius I purchased used last feb (06). Starting the car does not immediately bring up the dash display. It remains blank, however I can shift into gear. The power steering is off as well. I restart and restart and eventually the dash will pop on. The car is drivable but all the warning lights are not. Not at once though. The red triangle with the ! In between is always present but sometimes it is joined by the check engine light or the ABS failure light. The toyota dealership is still trying to figure out what's going on.
Questions about the 2004 Toyota Prius steering
Does the 2004 Toyota Prius have steering problems?
Owners have filed 10 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Toyota Prius, 2% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Prius steering problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 135,265 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Toyota Prius steering?
Yes, 2 recalls: 12V537000, 06V188000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Toyota Prius have bad steering?
The Toyota Prius model years with the most steering complaints are 2002 (80 complaints), 2001 (45 complaints) and 2003 (39 complaints).
Other 2004 Toyota Prius problems
Lights 184Electrical 177Engine 98Brakes 76Acceleration 52Transmission 34Airbags 18Driver assistance 13Fuel system 13Visibility 10Seat belts 5Tires 3Body 2Locks 2Suspension 2Seats 1Wheels 1
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