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Problems with 2002 Toyota Prius STEERING

On average, the 2002 Toyota Prius starts to “feel” problems with the STEERING and its various aspects after 104 211 miles.

Components Affected by STEERING Issues

We have classified the 55 complaints from 2002 Toyota Prius about STEERING into the following categories.

RACK AND PINION 8 ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 8 HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2 LINKAGES 1 GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) 1 COLUMN 1

Recently reported STEERING problems on 2002 Toyota Prius

I was driving on the highway and felt a jerking at my steering wheel a few months back, i thought ok maybe the steering wheel loose or something, i was going around 65 mph. fast forward to two weeks ago and the steering wheel completely locks up on me driving to a dr appointment i had to go to. i was going around 30 mph in traffic the steering locked up and the triangle illuminated on my navigation screen and the dreaded trouble sign appeared. once this appeared on my screen the steering wheel felt like it had no power steering. at first i thought, i need to check the power steering fluid, i researched and realized this prius is completely electric power steering. so i arrived at my doctors and turned the car off, when i came back and turned it back on to my amazement the light turned off and the power steering was back. then the week after same problem happened, but i didn't have my obd 2 reader with me, so again i shut off the car and the problem went away. i started to do research and realized this is a serious common problem with ...

My steering wheel starts shaking violently when driving under 32 degrees outside and locks up the ability to steer which can be deadly on the highway which i don't drive much luckily and toyota has no open recalls even though i'm not the only one with this. i've has to hurt my hands wrestling with it to pull over which is dangerous on some roads!!!! very dangerous fault in a car this is the 1 part i rely on to save me! can't believe toyota won't fix it!!! also this happens a few times every week though out the entire winter! it happens when driving on winding road at 10-35 mph and sometimes happens when turning right or left! i need advice!

While driving on the freeway in stop and go traffic the steering wheel started to oscillate back and forth it subsided however a few min later as freeway speeds were approached the wheel tried turning hard left then vibrated center to left. if i had been unaware this would have resulted in hitting the center divider at freeway speeds. a brief research online shows this is not the first known issue.. this was very similar to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv-ul1pxj1u very disturbing situation to be in - at first the ps warning indicator came on then said problem solved only to happen again (less pull the 2nd time but still noticeable.)

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota prius. the contact stated that the electric power steering failed without warning. also, the steering wheel veered to the right, which caused the contact to drive over a curb. the contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v304000 (steering); however, the vehicle exhibited the same failure as listed in the recall campaign. the dealer (larry h. miller liberty toyota colorado springs, 5115 new car dr, colorado springs, co 80923, (719) 419-5832) indicated that the vehicle was excluded from a warranty campaign and the steering gear and computer may need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. the failure mileage was not available. *as

When making a turn at slow speeds there is violent back and forth uncontrollable movement in the steering wheel. you have to bring the vehicle to a stop. the problem is your in the middle of a turn or intersection.very dangerous,there are no warnings when this occurs.

While driving lost of steering momentarily for several months but thought it was belt slippage. today (9/28/ 2018) total lost of steering. was able to get vehicle to side of road and shutoff ignition switch. started vehicle again and had normal steering control again. after reviewing recalls noticed that toyota had two voluntary recalls on same problem but have now removed them. what can be done for this problem. (xxxx) parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle's steering wheel begins to vibrate out of control when attempting turns. this violent shaking poses serious dangers to driver while making turns, and causes driver to pull off of road and completely turn car off. problem noticeable for approximately 1 month intermittently before problem began occurring without fail every single time vehicle was driven. when taken to toyota dealership in bloomington, in, mechanics said entire rack needed replacing, estimating a total much higher than value of car itself. no recall found for this problem, no paperwork provided to customer. once customer paid for diagnostic charges and took vehicle back, power steering warning lights are permanently enabled and steering assist is completely off, causing turning to continue to pose threat, although steering wheel does not vibrate, yet.

I have toyota prius 2002 i was driving yesterday the steering had been making like a rubber-squeak noise when turned to the right at low speeds.i was driving, and the wheel started to sort of pulse in my hands like it was gaining/losing power assist.about 10 minutes later, failed. big ps button on display, with the red triangle by the odometer. this morning i was driving the car when almost hate someone because a lost the control of the car and the steering was shaking.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota prius. while driving 55 mph, the steering wheel vibrated uncontrollably and the power steering warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 00v285000 (steering). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure was intermittent. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

On dec 18, 2015, driving at about 20 mph on a neighborhood street which curved left, the steering wheel on my 2002 prius began shaking violently. i lost control of the car and struck a large landscaping rock. the car had $2233 in damages to the right front bumper, fender, wheel and tie rod. there were no injuries. after repair, the mechanic could not replicate the shaking. prior to the accident, the prius on rare occasion had brief episodes of steering wheel shaking, only while backing out of the driveway on cold mornings. in early jan 2016 the steering vibration occurred again while driving on neighborhood streets and could be stopped only by turning the car off. we ceased driving the car. i talked to our toyota dealer and were advised the probable cause was a defect in the electronic power steering system and to contact toyota. i communicated by phone, email and letter with toyota, provided a video of the shaking, and requested replacement of the power steering system. i got a case number and was scheduled for an inspection by toyota at the dealer. toyota by letter on 3/22/16 stated 'we did not find any ...

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota prius. the contact stated that the steering wheel shook in very cold weather, but operated normally once the vehicle warmed up. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the failure mileage was 140,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota prius. the contact stated that when making turns or reversing at a slow speed, the steering wheel would shake violently. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 147,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota prius. while driving approximately 40 mph and making a left turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn without warning. the failure recurred on several occasions while turning left. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rack and pinion failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v304000 (steering). the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 197,000.

I was driving onto the freeway, turning right onto the ramp that circled into the southbound interstate when the a red hazard triangle popped up and the screen on my car stated ps error. the steering wheel locked for a bit but fortunately i was still able to steer. i got off on the next exit and was barely able to turn. i turned off the car and looked up the error code to find out it was power steering, i checked the fluids and everything was ok. turned on the car and the ps error had disappeared, it drove normally the rest of the way home. *tr

When in cold temperature the steering wheel will violently shake when making a turn at slow speeds. *tr