Heads up for ladies and gen driving Gen 2 Prius, just received this in my inbox: Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): TOYOTA / PRIUS 2004-2009 Manufacturer: Toyota Motor North America, Inc. Report Receipt Date: NOV 14, 2012 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V537000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A Component: STEERING Potential Number of Units Affected: 669,705 Summary: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness. Consequence: Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the extension shaft and replace it if it is one with insufficient hardness, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in December 2012. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Second recall for water pump failure from corroded coil wire: Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): TOYOTA / FCHV-ADV 2009-2011 TOYOTA / PRIUS 2004-2009 Manufacturer: Toyota Motor North America, Inc. Report Receipt Date: NOV 14, 2012 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V536000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Potential Number of Units Affected: 350,662 Summary: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion. Consequence: The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash. Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will replace the electric water pump, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). I'll upload the documents later.
We just had a water pump replaced about a month ago. I have every reason to believe it was exactly this problem. According to the letter from Toyota, the letter I will receive will say that I should seek reimbursement through "Toyota's General Reimbursement Plan." Has anyone ever done that? I'll go off and Google it, but if someone here has already gone through their reimbursement process, I'd appreciate a quick description of what it entails. Thanks...
Thanks for posting those letters. Here's additional info on this subject: Information on Steering and Hybrid Coolant Pump Recalls C0T and C0U | PriusChat
It's interesting that this thread has been getting activity. I posted the URLs to the documents at Toyota Recalls Certain 2004-2009 Prius models for Steering, Pump Defects | Page 2 | PriusChat. Those URLs might be a better place to check when/if more documents are added.
Not sure, but I happen to work for NHTSA for a year so I have my account setup to receive Prius recalls, I never post them since I wasn't that active on the forum til now. To HeyKB, you should wait for the letter of recall to arrive, it will have information on how to get reimbursement, just make sure you kept all the receipts. You can also check the VIN from the posted documents to see if it includes your car.
Trollbait and Cwernda both gave me the answer. It's a welding issue with the steering wheel yoke in 2005. That's the difference. Toyota Recalls Certain 2004-2009 Prius models for Steering, Pump Defects | Page 2 | PriusChat