Is it worth it to spend $3,000 plus to replace the rack and pinion steering on my 2002 Prius with 116,000 miles. No other problems and the symptoms have been around for almost three years. As it gets colder, turning either direction, forward and backwards, the steering wheel vibrates during the turn violently until I have made three or four turns. What will happen if this is not replaced?
Yes, we got the recall and they replaced a bolt or something. Seemed better for about two days and then back to the violent shaking on first turns in the morning.
Have the dealer re-check the work they did. If they cannot make it right find a used rack from a Prius recycling yard and a shop who can install for you.
Went ahead and replaced the rack with the expectation of paying $3000. When they called to say it was ready to pick up, they said that the warranty on the rack had been extended to 2013 and was covered so I paid nothing! Nice early Christmas present.
We need to sticky that somehow. It's been discussed but the question keeps coming up and people aren't finding the threads about it. Lenna, you've got a great dealer who looks that up for you and applies it without being asked! -Chap
Yay Lenna! Please write an effusive thank you letter and send it to the shop and higher Toyota levels. They need to be reminded that continuing to 'stand behind' the novel Prius technology is a good decision. We want them to be in a good mood next time somebody gets the wacky racky. Chap you are so right that this needs to be stickified. Mods, come to the rescue!
I contacted Toyota customer experience about my rack and pinion vibrating issues and they replaced it for free as well! 210,000m 2001 model.
I guess the above is a must, the toyota dealership we contacted was dumbfounded by any rack warranty extensions. Hopefully, this is not a per case basis only. We had no known problems last year until the nut recall. Now worse than ever.
Slight variation on this. Our 2002 Prius triggered the PS warning display while on a long road trip last month. We'd just had its 120,000 mile service done at our local Toyota dealer, but apparently they didn't notice the power steering fluid level being low. Fortunately, there was a gas station with power steering fluid a mile down the road, and we got almost all the way home before the alert triggered again. I added a bit more fluid, and we've had no problems in the two weeks since. To be sure there wasn't a leak, I had our dealer check into this ($60 diagnostic fee, grrrr!) and they found no leak, but think it may have instead been triggered by a slightly-out-of-spec sensor at one end of the power steering rack. Measured 1.9 when it should have measured at least 2.1, if I recall correctly. They did not think the above recall would apply to this, and suggested it wasn't dangerous and we should just live with it, rather than spending $3K to fix a part on a car that may no longer be worth $3K. Since we're having no further problems, that's OK with us for now. We haven't had any of the other symptoms reported above, and did have the dealer specifically check to be sure that recall work had been done on our Prius.
Hmm! "Power steering fluid"?? I'm kinda a Newbie but it is my understanding that the Prius power steer it purely electric/mechanical. No hydrualics/fluids involved. If someone is noting low fluid level, they must be checking some other system. Please varify where this fluid was added and let us know. Steve
UPDATE: Our dealer contacted Toyota Representative today and called back to claim they will only take $1,000 off the $3200 repair bill. Wth! Screw owners over with repair bills when they mess the rack up! NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER right now. Why don't they allow other mechanics to purchase the racks?? DEALER STEALER!!!
It sounds familiar!! Just like my dealer, I took mine in for an appointment to deal with the steering vibration and found them all prepared to replace the Pinion Nut under a Recall item, dealing with the Pinion Nut. I refused to let the proceed since that was not going to fix the Vibration/Shaking problem. I contacted Toyota and they agreed that my 2002 was covered under the warranty extension (until 2013). I took all my research and contact info back to the dealer and made a new appointment. Intially they didn't want to beleive it but called back later and agreed to replace the entire rack assembly. In part of my research I found that the labor for doing the Pinion not was about 8.5 hours and to replace the entire rack assembly is only 2.5 hours. My guess, in you situation, is that they didn't get warranty replacement authorization on your pinion nut as Recall Work and now they could only get Toyota to cover the rack replancement under the Warranty extention for the Rack assembly replacement. I'm sorry to hear that the did this to yet another customer. If you want to contact me off forum, I will give you the links and phone numbers that I went through that ultimately led to there resolution of my dealer problems. Steve
It took a letter addressed to Mr. Lentz - CEO to get anybody to do the research on the matter. Today we received the call that the dealership will be doing the work under a pilot program that apparently few know about throughout the dealerships. They will be picking up the vehicle and providing us a loaner while the work gets done. The nice Executive gave us a direct line to follow up that the work gets done.
Could you tell me what steps you took to get this response? I am having a similar problem with my 2003 Prius. Was not having any problem when they changed the nuts but have been ever since.
Mine is at the dealer right now. Pinion nut service has already been done. New rack is likely needed. The dealer doesn't seem to know anything about the warranty, although that could change when they call me back in the next hour or so. If they tell me there is no extended warranty on it, what is my best course of action? I'll try calling Toyota Customer Service... but does anyone have a TSB # / claim #/ something/anything I can have them look up that applies to this to simplify the process? There seems to be very little data regarding this particular repair floating around the internet.
