NHTSA Complaint #10402702 — 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS

WHILE DRIVING INTO A FREEWAY OUR 2001 TOYOTA PRIUS EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PS AND EXCLAMATION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. MY WIFE PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE ERROR CLEARED. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE PREVIOUS OWNER DONE ALL THE SERVICE AND REPAIR. AS I PULLED INTO THE SERVICE AREA THE VIOLENT SHAKING HAPPENED AGAIN. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THE THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE POWER ASSIST STEERING UNIT DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL THE SERVICE GUY BECAME DEFENSIVE AND SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL AND WARRANTY IS EXPIRED SO IT IS A CHARGEABLE REPAIR. I REVIEWED THE RECALL NOTICE AND WARNINGS BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE VIN RANGE BUT THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AND COST $4000 TO REPAIR. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A FAIR PROCESS IF SOME VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED WHILE OTHERS HAVE TO BE PAID FOR BY OWNERS. *TR