2001 Toyota Prius. Consumer states problem with the rack and pinion the consumer stated not long after she purchased the vehicle. She experienced problems with the rack and pinion steering system, including steering wheel shaking and loss of power steering. The consumer took the vehicle in for service and was informed the entire rack and pinion assembly needed to be replaced. The consumer believed the repair may be related to the pinion shaft problem that was just recently identified under a recall. The consumer is seeking reimbursement for the previous repair. Updated 12/28/11. The consumer stated she began to experience the same problem, as she did in 2006 with the vehicle loosing power steering intermittently. The dealer adjusted the torque sensor and recommended a replacement of the sensor and the rack and pinion assembly, if the problem returned again. A few days after the sensor adjustment, the power steering problem did resume again, and it continues to go out intermittently. Updated 04/16/14

- Keizer, OR, USA

Ltr from senator brown on behalf of constituent, re problems with his 2001 Prius. A safety alert was issued for the failure of the main computer, which resulted in the engine shutting itself off. The consumer stated the computer failed on his vehicle after 1 year of service. It took Toyota 18 months to identify the problem. After a costly replacement of the accelerator pedal, the ECM was finally replaced. The consumer discovered a technical service bulletin had been issued regarding the replacement of the ECM. The consumer stated the ECM was defective when it left the factory, however Toyota was not willing to take any responsibility for the repairs, because the car was too old. The power steering had to be replaced twice.

- Big Prairie, OH, USA

A 2001 Toyota pruis I own has developed an intermittent but severe steering wheel shake over the last 4 months. It is consistent with a warranty enhancement notice we received from Toyota in 2004 (NHTSA item number 10007669). To date the problem has only occurred at very low speeds, mostly when backing out of a parking spot or the driveway. The shaking / rattle is extremely severe, shaking the steering wheel so hard it is impossible to hold on to it. It lasts from less then one to 4 or 5 seconds. If it was ever to occur at any real speed, loss of control is a certainty. Due to the intermittent nature, I have not been able to get my dealer to "diagnose" the problem, when I took it in with this complaint. Since then, I have discussed the issue with fremont Toyota's customer service representative, the dealers service manager, E-mailed Toyota's national headquarters (they recorded it as file number 200706250915); and called Toyota's customer experience center without a satisfactory result. I am told the service center needs to experience the problem before Toyota would authorize a repair. Due to the intermittent nature, I either have to bear the cost of substitute transportation while leaving the car at the dealer for an extended period of time until a diagnosis is made, or continue driving the car until the problem becomes severe enough to cause an accident. Given that this problem is known to Toyota, I fail to see why a repair is not authorized. I cannot believe that this know problem cannot be verified without actually experiencing it empirically.

- San Jose, CA, USA