NHTSA Complaint #10515347 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN THE PROPER LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST LOSS REMAINED AT ALL SPEEDS INCLUDING STANDING STILL AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE TOYOTA DEALER CHECKED THE STEERING AND "RESET" THE STEERING COMPUTER AND TORQUE SENSOR WHICH RETURNED THE STEERING TO NORMAL. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST RETURNED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THE SAME PROCEDURE OF "RESETTING" THE STEERING COMPUTER WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WENT BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN ! THE DEALER STATED "NO" FAULT CODES WERE EVER PRESENT, AND TOYOTA DENIED HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE 2007 STEERING SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THE STEERING COMPUTER DOES NOT PROPERLY STORE THE TORQUE SENSOR ZERO POINT, THUS SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE TOYOTA DEALER DISAGREED AND TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WAS IN PERFECT OPERATING CONDITION. MY CONCERN IS THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP OR DO SOMETHING TERRIBLE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ! *TR