2004 Toyota Prius Steering Problems

While making a gentle turn at low speed, you heard a clicking noise and your steering wheel suddenly spun freely without controlling the front wheels, leaving you unable to steer. This caused a minor collision with debris and bumper damage. A mechanic found that the main bolt connecting the intermediate steering shaft to the steering rack had come loose and reattached it. The mechanic noted that your vehicle had previously had two related Toyota recalls completed for the steering shaft and intermediate steering shaft extension. Reattaching or replacing the steering shaft-to-rack bolt connection should resolve this issue.

While driving at 51 mph, your car suddenly braked on its own (phantom braking), lost power steering assist, and displayed an engine overheating warning message. These issues happened together and have not been diagnosed or repaired. The problem occurred at around 154,000 miles.

Your power steering warning light is turning on in your 2004 Prius. The vehicle was already repaired under a Toyota recall for this issue, but the warning light came back on after the repair was completed. This suggests the recall fix didn't fully solve the problem. The repair may require further diagnosis of the power steering system, possibly including replacement of the steering control module or related electrical components.

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*JB

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 *TP

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. *TR

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 " 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?

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. *JB

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. *JB