Steering wheel vibrations at 60+ mph speeds?

Hello, having the same problem 65 mph vibration. Dealer said car is opetative as designed. Not normal prius 2102 got it on 03/16/2012. Put new michelins primacy on 09/12/2012 same problem . I even drove a new prius same problem vibration. I open a case and going to arbritation. It does feel like i am talking to my self at the dealer and toyota. I think this is a safety issues. They don't want to see that. Tires were changed at 29000 miles . Got the car with 14000 miles

 

Vibration is subjective, but I know my Prius runs very smooth, despite its hard life and higher miles.

Have you hit any potholes or speed bumps hard or done any emergency braking?

 

No nothing like That . I am driving like a 100yr old man . I love the car but the vibration is nuts inside the car. what i don't like is what the dealer said operative as designed . I spoke to other Prius driver and they said no vibration at all . I even drove a new one with the master tech at the dealer new Prius it had no vibration . The had already 14,000 when I got it on 03/16/2013 The vibration was there from the beginning . Two week before march 2013 that I had a 2010 blue Prius is in the picture in the back . I had to returned cause the car was mess it had that too. I should gone to the dealer for this sooner . I was tired of debate at the dealer Then I got the red one Prius 2012 . I TOLD MY SELF HOW BAD CAN THIS BE . WOW Thanks

 

Anyone got anymore info on this? I have a 2012 model five that's lowered with 18's for a few months now and jus got a 4 wheel alignment from toyota a few days ago since I lowered it a while back and now today did some interstate driving over +65 and I'm experiencing the same bad front end vibration that was not there before dealership alignment was performed!

It's at merchants tire now checking the Balancing on then since they did that part a while back. Wish I would have found this thread before hand because it would have went back to dealer instead of merchants!

 

My experience says that if you have a mechanical issue (including bad tires...a separating belt will constantly change the tire balance as it deteriorates), the vibration would be CONSISTENT.

If you can do 70 mph on some roads with no issue but have an issue on other roads, odds are it's NOT mechanical. Vibration at one speed but not another IS possible because some balance errors don't show up until the right conditions are met, but they are CONSISTENT at that speed.

Did they do a "high speed" balance on your tires? I know it should be the standard nowadays, but some places do different types of balancing, and one type will correct for tire/wheel defects but NOT correct for stuff that shows up at highway speeds.

If your alignment is good and a tire needs to be balanced more than twice, you have a bad tire. Even then, alignment generally IS NOT the culprit for road vibration. Bad alignment results in steering and tire wear problems...not vibration.

 

Merchants tire jus re balanced all my wheels today and I'm still having the bad vibrations... I would say it was happening above 55mph but now tonight on way to work it was happening around 45-50mph! The tires aren't but a month old. This didn't start happening till after Toyota did a full alighment Wednesday. I wanted to have wheels done today so when I take it to Toyota they don't try to say it's the Balancing of the wheels

 

I started to notice the vibration (starting around 15,000 miles) in the seatback and then extend up through the steering column to the steering wheel. I just brought it in for the 20,000 mile checkup and reported the vibration to the service manager at Pohanka Toyota in Salisbury. He had a mechanic join me in a test ride and he confirmed that there was a vibration. He recommended a forced balance and the Service Manager quickly informed me that that service would cost me $140 since it wasn't covered in the warranty. I made note of the discussion and when the Toyota Service Survey arrived in my in-box a few days later, I detailed my displeasure with the way the complaint was handled. I have no intention of allowing this vibration to continue. If you read your owners manual, there is a clear path to follow to resolution including arbitration and vehicle replacement under state LEMON LAWS. I as a consumer feel the car is unsafe and that will be my stand unless Toyota can prove otherwise.

 

Steering wheel vibrations at 60+ mph speeds?

No

 

Respectfully...having the wheels balanced (regardless the method) is never going to be a warranty item at 15,000-20,000 miles. This is and always has been considered routine maintenance. Go to NTB, Discount Tire or who ever and for $50 +/- you get lifetime...well life of the tires anyway.

 

I'm lost for words. Some people seem to make mountains out of mole hills at the expense of their blood pressure.

A car throws a wheel weight at 15k miles. Take it in and get the wheel rebalanced. It's a £10/$15 job here with our 20% tax, so surely much less over your way.

Just get it sorted and live your life. Or get the lawyers in, call a lemon law, get stressed, fight a battle and end up in an early grave.

Your call.

 

Pavel: Apparently there are a lot of people with the same vibration problem on their Prius cars. I've had the very irritating vibrations at 35 and again at 68 MPH + or - 5 MPH for both speeds. I've spent sooo much time dealing with Toyota and Centennial Dealership in NV trying to resolve this issue. They've road stress tested the tires, they've given me a new set of tires, they've balanced and rotated the wheels multiple times - I've opened a total of 4 cases with Toyota HQ and like many posts here the agents seem sweet and ready to help, but just try to call them! Toyota has no email that you can communicate with the agent assigned to a case and it's ridiculous to try and get satisfaction from Toyota or a dealership. I recently moved from NV to CA and so I tried a new dealership in Oxnard this week. The service manager was very polite and knowledgable, but after the Technician took my car for a drive and actually felt exactly what I was complaining about - he then drove another Prius (a used 2011 with similar specs.) he wrote his report and explained that he felt the same ride as in my car. I drove the same used car he did and felt nothing at all like what happens in my car. The service manager did offer to exchange my wheels and tires for a used set from an older used prius for $400, lol. He also put me in touch with his sales manager who of course wanted to sell me a new prius, lol. My warranty expires in December and I still have vibrations. Unless I can find a shop that can isolate the problem then I'm apparently stuck with this car. I bought it new and it only has 14000 miles on it. I've never had a car before in which the vibration couldn't be isolated and corrected by any tire shop.

I'm reading and listening to anyone who wishes to offer their experience and solutions that they found seems to work.

Thanks everyone,

 

I've been on this forum over 5 years and never heard of vibration problems other than this thread, the contents of which are questionable.

The Prius has some faults and issues but wheel vibrations aren't one. Get your wheel balancing checked - simple.

 

A vibration is most likely a tire issue, imo. Applying brakes and getting vibration would be a rotors issue.

I've had terrible experience with the Toyota service department. I remember they were doing balance/rotation on my camry. I've no idea what they did, but was getting ridiculous vibration at 50mph. I come back and tell them to fix it. Turns out they can't fix it and say my tires are bad. Yea, right... They refund the money and I go back to Sam's club where I bought the tires and it took 15min to get it done. Smooth ride at 70mph. Don't trust Toyota when comes to tires. They are parts changers after all.

 

That applies to all auto manufacturers, not just Toyota. If you want something doing right go to an expert. You want tyres fitting right then go to a tyre specialist.