Warning 01-03 Prius EPS steering recall hassles

One of the biggest problems with warranty work is that the labor time is already discounted. Particularly for recalls, there is an assumption that a technician will do several if not dozens of the same job. The third or fourth time a technician does this particular job, it will take 4 hours. The first time? He's got to read the service bulletin; he's got to find the special tools; he's going to make mistakes; he'll have to figure out how some things come apart. That 4 hours of warranty work, which, if not warranty work, would have a labor guide time 6 hours, might well take 8-12 hours the first time through.

It was irresponsible of the service department to not insist that you leave the car at the beginning of the day and provide a loaner.

 

Your lucky it's a Toyota, not a Ford. Seems like they are trying hard to please and your getting a lot of new parts on an 8 year old car. However I understand your hassle factor is great. Hope all turns out ok.

 

Toyota issued a recall on my 2002 Prius. I was not going to worry about it as we don't do lock to lock racing. My wife worried so put the car in for the recommended 4 hour rectification. 2 days later she got the car from them (they had not "seen one before" so took some time. Now the cruise control does not work (or continues to speed up she reckons) and the heater is permanently on trying to blast her to hades. So the thermostatic temperature control is jiggered.
Why is the computer upset with the heater?
I will bet they do not recognise the cruise control in re-assembly because this model did not have one fitted. It has been installed by me thanks to this forum.
Any ideas about how to advise the repair of the repair?

 

Did any of you get a letter extending the steering 'shudder' warranty coverage through 2013?

 

Me, me, meeee!

-Chap

 

great. I see you're in IN, too. Central IN? Who is your preferred dealer for repairs?

 

Unfortunately your experience is the norm across the industry. In the last 15 years i have brought back 2 chryslers, 1 chevrolet and 2 hondas for recalls, the hondas three times. Only once was the car fixed correctly and in the time the dealership advised.

 

Yes, it came with the recall on the steering pinion shaft nut. When I went to Atlantic Toyota in Lynn, MA. They had already done several of the recalls. They were out of the kits to do the recall so the car was there overnight. When I showed them the letter about the extended warranty on the steering box they were a bit confused. They called later in the day to tell me that they were instructed by Toyota to do the recall first and see if my shudder went away. It's not very bad at the moment. I only feel it first thing in the morning when I back out of the drive. I'll wait and see if it gets worse and the extension is until 2013. I've instructed my wife that if I die in a firey crash on the highway in the Prius, that she should collect my life insurance before sueing!!

 

I'm in a bit of a different spot. Mine went out about a month before the recall. My dealership quoted me about 3,500 for the fix, so I told them to piss off, found a remanufactured steering rack and had it installed at a local shop. I then got the recall notice. I took it in, they looked at the new rack, tightened the nuts and declared it acceptable. When I got the letter, I went to Toyota and they told me that I should be eligible to have the costs covered. I sent in my proof of ownership, the invoices and whatnot and should have an answer in a few weeks. Cross your fingers.

 

Brought my 2002 Prius with 235,000 miles to my Minnesota dealer for a 8am
reservation, got a call about 3:15 pm same day that all the work was completed.

The total toyota bill was $3044.00, as far as i can tell electric power steering , nuts
and a new steering rack was installed. total cost yo me was: zero

I have been a customer with toyota for over 30 years and have yet to be disapointed by their service and honesty.

Tom Hendricks

 

Hi Backbob,
Have you gotten your car back yet? Is it working?
I took mine in 3 weeks ago and they have put in 3 new steering columns and replaced the computer as well.
Still the car will not steer properly even after the alignment.
Just wondering what ended up happening for you.....

 

My local dealership has had my 2003 for 3 weeks. They have done the recall 3 times and still my car is not aligning and now they need to bring in a specialist to consult.
Any other similar tales or words of wisdom?

 

My dealer has required multiple trips... trip #1 to "inspect and decide what work is needed", then a delay to "order the parts", then trip #2 "to perform the work"... never mind that I made an appointment specifically to get the work done well in advance of the appointment date.

So far no performance issues, but we will see...

 

Cleo, please do post the name and location of your dealership. If they are not capable of making a factory level repair to a Gen 1, then this is a good place to share that information.

 

Getting mine repaired under the recall tomorrow. They are doing the steering recall and also a TPS recall. Providing a courtesy rental too. The 1st dealer offered a reduced cost rental while they did the recall work and I told them it was crazy to pay for another car while yours is being fixed because of their mistake. The 1st wanted to schedule the appointment and then see if maybe the service writer could arrange something. So I called the 2nd dealer and they were more than willing to provide the free rental. The 2nd dealer, if they do the work right, earned my business in the future.

 

WOOHOO! The dealer got both recalls done today. I got a free 2011 camry with TRD wheels as a loaner and gas provided for free too. They aligned it afterwards, which is great because I needed an alignment anyway after the bearings and struts I just replaced. Way to go to Naperville Toyota in Illinois. They earned my business in the future!

 

My wife and I had a similar problem in our 2003. We were aware of the problems in left-hand turns existing in the 2002s when we purchased our car new, so when we started getting the "shudder" in a left hand turn, we knew what the problem was. That was around 18k miles, and the EPS unit was replaced under warranty. It's been fine ever since--until the recall.

Our car was in the shop at Herrin-Gear Toyota in Jackson, MS getting other service performed on items which had worked fine before the car got into their hands. This had prompted a call to TMS out in Torrance, and a resolution from the case manager. TMS authorized the dealer to perform the EPS recall, since the car was already in their shop. The car was released to me noting that, "The steering doesn't return to center from left hand turns." In other words, without wrenching the wheel back to center, left hand turns take you directly into oncoming traffic...

Another issue, so another call to TMS. The case manager bumped the issue up the chain, while we took the car to another dealer, Gray-Daniels. Gray-Daniels told us the only way to fix the problem (couldn't tell if Herrin-Gear "caused" or "exacerbated a pre-existing condition"--which didn't exist) was to replace the unit. We paid about $3,200 to fix a problem we didn't have before the work. TMS balked at covering the expense, saying the work they authorized "shouldn't" have affected the steering in this way. This throws the dealership under the bus for either performing work in an authorized way, or doing something else to the car.

Anybody have an English version of this diagram? I have heard over torquing the replacement nuts can cause issues, but have no idea what they should have been torqued to. I've got the old EPS: Now to pay for a lawyer too.

 

My 2001 Prius is getting the EPS Pinion Shaft Nut Recall work done for the second time now. It was in for something else and the mechanic, Greg noticed that the recall work was not done properly the first time. It is a huge job to reach that little nut and this time I got a free loaner too. It just really sucks that the mechanics lose so much when doing warranty work. I feel fortunate to have a competent dealer nearby. (Chicago, IL)

 

Not sure why they are "Still" replacing the pinion nut when the whole rack assembly can be replaced in 2.5 hours and under the 'current' Warranty Enhancement Program. As stated earlier in this thread, was extended and is available until Dec. 31, 2013.
It seem most dealers are only be aware of the Pinion Nut Recall and insist on going forward by "Putting Lipstick on the Pig", when if the just look up your VIN under the Customer Support Program, they will find this steering vibration addressed there.
Since I first experienced the vibration problem about a month ago on my 2002, with 276,000 miles, I contacted the local small town dealer and intially they scheduled an appointment to. Upon arrival I found they only had the pinion nut replacement kit on hand and hadn't followed through on my request that they look for the above mentioned Warranty Enhancement Program. Service manager (early 30s) claimed he had never heard of this problem in 12 years with Toyota. I cancelled the appointment and went home and did more research and a couple calls to Toyota and found plenty of info, referances and Toyota support and confirmation that the complete replacement of the rack assembly was still covered and I should just refer the dealer to the Customer Support Program and search my VIN. They still resisted, questioning if the vibration or jitters had to be confirmed. I again reminded them that all of my research indicated that the vibration problem has existed or has a strong potential to exist in all Gen1 Prius since 2001. And that the earlier warranty enhancement ran until Dec. 2011 and has since been extended to Dec. 31, 2013.

They called me back within and hour without further question offered to order the replacement rack assemble and followed up a couple days later to let me know that they now had the rack and want me to make an appointment for replacement.

I have yet to follow up, with the holidays rush, etc.. but will call them back today and see if they can do it in a half day.

I'll let you all know and when I get a chance will post all of the research links or PDF files I have downloaded on this topic.

I thank all who have contributed to this thread and feel my journey "may" be coming to an end (assuming that the replacement rack has the Pinion Nut properly installed)

Steve