NHTSA Complaint #10384505 — 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS

SERVICE VISIT FOR OUR 2006 PRIUS WAS COMPLETED ON FEB 5, 2011 AND UPON DRIVING HOME THE CAR STEERED DIFFERENTLY. A SECOND SERVICE VISIT WAS INITIATED AT OUR REQUEST AND THE DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. ON FEBRUARY 25, 2011 A THIRD SERVICE VISIT WAS INITIATED AT OUR REQUEST AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR REPLACING A "FAILING STEERING MOTOR ASSEMBLY" FOR AN OUT OF WARRANTY COST OF $1950.00 PLUS TAX AND INSTALLATION. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY INDICATED NO AND A CALL TO TOYOTA ON CASE NUMBER 1102251605 ARRIVED AT THE SAME CONCLUSION. OUT OF WARRANTY AND NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. THE RESPONSE TO A QUESTION "IS THIS CAR SAFE TO DRIVE" TO THE DEALER SERVICE EMPLOYEES WAS RESPONDED TO WITH YES THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT IF THIS UNIT FAILS OR PARTIALLY FAILS, EVEN WORSE, AN UN-COMMANDED VEER OR TURN COULD OCCUR. AN OUT OF LANE EVENT IS LIKELY WITH A CORRECTION FORCE TO OVERCOME THE SERVO TURN, AND ADDITIONAL CORRECTING FORCE TO RETURN CORRECT DIRECTION WILL NEED TO BE APPLIED. NOW I UNDERSTAND THIS, WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR AND SHE WILL DRIVE MINE NOW. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND I AM UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE USE THIS INFORMATION TO HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE. I DROVE THE PRIUS YESTERDAY SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AND THE STEERING PROBLEM MADE ME A NERVOUS PERSON BY THE TIME I HAD RETURNED HOME. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. STEERING IS A LIFETIME CRITICAL ITEM AND COMPUTER CONTROLLED SYSTEMS LIKE THIS ARE NORMALLY DESIGNED WITH THE INTENT TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE UNLESS PHYSICAL DAMAGE HAS ALTERED THE SYSTEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED QUICKLY AND OPENLY BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO PREVENT LOSS, I CALL IT MITIGATION BECAUSE YOU NOW KNOW OF THE HAZARD AND SOME OF THE RISKS. ACTION IS REQUIRED. I CURRENTLY HAVE VERY LIMITED RESOURCES. *TR