10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
121,703 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Toyota Prius steering problems

steering problem

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2004 Toyota Prius Owner Comments

problem #9

Jun 092022

Prius

  • 154,079 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Eureka, CA, USA

problem #8

May 142020

Prius 4-cyl

  • 135,265 miles
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).

- Lynnfield, MA, USA

problem #7

Apr 092019

Prius

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA 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.

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #6

Jun 012016

Prius 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Palo Alto, CA, USA

problem #5

May 092018

Prius 4-cyl

  • 217,029 miles
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

- Yelm, WA, USA

problem #4

Aug 012014

Prius 4-cyl

  • 113,700 miles
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.

- Layton, UT, USA

problem #3

Aug 142014

Prius

  • 116,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Lost power steering control

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #2

Aug 062011

Prius

  • 101,254 miles
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 " NHTSA 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?

- Laguna Beach, CA, USA

problem #1

Sep 062006

(reported on)

Prius

  • miles
Consumer complaint concerning 2004 Prius transmission. 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.

- San Juan, PR, USA

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