The defect
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.
The risk
Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The 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 began during December 2012. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Toyota Prius | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 |
Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR | STEERING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius | 2004 | 610 | 6 |
| Toyota Prius | 2005 | 1,051 | 6 |
| Toyota Prius | 2006 | 1,439 | 6 |
| Toyota Prius | 2007 | 2,003 | 4 |
| Toyota Prius | 2008 | 1,497 | 4 |
| Toyota Prius | 2009 | 502 | 6 |
Other steering recalls in 2012
21 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the steering; Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing filed 245 campaigns in all.
| 12V587000 14 Dec 2012 | Taylor-Dunn Manufacturing Company |
| 12V586000 13 Dec 2012 | Blue Bird Body Company |
| 12V548000 21 Nov 2012 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 12V507000 17 Oct 2012 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 12V453000 14 Sept 2012 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INC. |
| 12V430000 4 Sept 2012 | AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI |
| 12V422000 29 Aug 2012 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 12V399000 10 Aug 2012 | DUCATI NORTH AMERICA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012