Steering recall---replaced part had to be replaced

John Hunter · 10-31-2006, 03:02 PM

Hi,

I have a 2005 Prius. When I received the steering recall notice from Toyota Canada I took the car to the dealer, Performance Toyota in St. Catharines, Ontario. The dealer checked the steering, said I would need a new steering part, that they would have to order it. When the part arrived, I took the car in (July 18, 2006) and the part was installed.

Two weeks ago while on holiday in South Carolina, I noticed a clicking in the steering especially when turning the wheel a fair distance, e.g. parking. I took the car to Stokes Brown Toyota in Beaufort SC on October 23. The shop foreman said that the warranty part would have to be replaced. This was done and the problem was corrected. The dealer did not charge me for the part or labour, said they would sort it out with Toyota.

Stokes Brown Toyota spoke to Performance Toyota and the folks there swear they replaced the warranty part.

Both dealers say they have never seen the warranty part fail.

Has anyone else had to have two sets of warranty parts?

Any explanation?

TucsonPrius · 10-31-2006, 10:16 PM

Yes, I've had two. The first replacement failed due to rivet separation, resulting in a loose feel and a clicking when going over bumps. The second has been just fine.

Thanks,
Shawn

brandon · 11-01-2006, 12:17 PM

Sounds more like an incorrect installation. Don't know why they would have to replace the part rather than just reinstall it. Did you get any more information from the dealer?

TucsonPrius · 11-01-2006, 09:50 PM

Rivet separation in the part itself, *not* where it's attached (by bolts I believe).

Thanks,
Shawn

galaxee · 11-01-2006, 10:03 PM

there aren't any rivets in the part... so that's strange. could have left the slider bolt loose, that could cause clicking.

or bad bearings in one of the universal joints. or someone leaving a bolt loose on either end.

the chances of being a bad installation are much higher than the chances of it being a faulty part. not to say faulty parts don't happen, but DH's dealership has done more of these recalls than pretty much any other dealer in the country and they haven't had one faulty part yet. a couple mistakes early on, easily corrected of course.

TucsonPrius · 11-01-2006, 10:13 PM

I obviously can't say for sure; I've never seen the part. All I can tell you is the work order stated:

... Found steering shaft rivet to have separated causing excessive play. Replaced shaft and test drove. Verified now working as per design.

Thanks,
Shawn

John Hunter · 11-02-2006, 11:30 AM

Hello,

Thanks to both of you for your interest in my problem.

The question about whether or not there is a rivet is, well, rivetting.

I gather that I was one of the first Priuses to be handled after the recall and I sensed that the technicians were a bit unsure about how to install the replacement part. So, I suppose it may not have been installed correctly but the puzzling thing is that it was installed in July and the steering worked perfectly until October---and we drove over 2000 miles during that time.

The dealer that installed the second part did not suggest that the first part had been installed incorrectly. They thought that the part had failed.

I am not very autoliterate---so that's about all I contribute.

John

11-01-2006, 10:03 PM	#5
galaxee mostly benevolent Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MD Posts: 9,810 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 331 Times in 85 Posts Friends: 27	there aren't any rivets in the part... so that's strange. could have left the slider bolt loose, that could cause clicking. or bad bearings in one of the universal joints. or someone leaving a bolt loose on either end. the chances of being a bad installation are much higher than the chances of it being a faulty part. not to say faulty parts don't happen, but DH's dealership has done more of these recalls than pretty much any other dealer in the country and they haven't had one faulty part yet. a couple mistakes early on, easily corrected of course. __________________ black 2005 prius, a few mods that make me happy

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10-31-2006, 03:02 PM	#1
John Hunter Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Hi, I have a 2005 Prius. When I received the steering recall notice from Toyota Canada I took the car to the dealer, Performance Toyota in St. Catharines, Ontario. The dealer checked the steering, said I would need a new steering part, that they would have to order it. When the part arrived, I took the car in (July 18, 2006) and the part was installed. Two weeks ago while on holiday in South Carolina, I noticed a clicking in the steering especially when turning the wheel a fair distance, e.g. parking. I took the car to Stokes Brown Toyota in Beaufort SC on October 23. The shop foreman said that the warranty part would have to be replaced. This was done and the problem was corrected. The dealer did not charge me for the part or labour, said they would sort it out with Toyota. Stokes Brown Toyota spoke to Performance Toyota and the folks there swear they replaced the warranty part. Both dealers say they have never seen the warranty part fail. Has anyone else had to have two sets of warranty parts? Any explanation?

10-31-2006, 10:16 PM	#2
TucsonPrius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 160 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Yes, I've had two. The first replacement failed due to rivet separation, resulting in a loose feel and a clicking when going over bumps. The second has been just fine. Thanks, Shawn

11-01-2006, 12:17 PM	#3
brandon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 771 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Sounds more like an incorrect installation. Don't know why they would have to replace the part rather than just reinstall it. Did you get any more information from the dealer?

11-01-2006, 09:50 PM	#4
TucsonPrius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 160 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Rivet separation in the part itself, not where it's attached (by bolts I believe). Thanks, Shawn

11-01-2006, 10:13 PM	#6
TucsonPrius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 160 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	I obviously can't say for sure; I've never seen the part. All I can tell you is the work order stated: ... Found steering shaft rivet to have separated causing excessive play. Replaced shaft and test drove. Verified now working as per design. Thanks, Shawn

11-02-2006, 11:30 AM	#7
John Hunter Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Hello, Thanks to both of you for your interest in my problem. The question about whether or not there is a rivet is, well, rivetting. I gather that I was one of the first Priuses to be handled after the recall and I sensed that the technicians were a bit unsure about how to install the replacement part. So, I suppose it may not have been installed correctly but the puzzling thing is that it was installed in July and the steering worked perfectly until October---and we drove over 2000 miles during that time. The dealer that installed the second part did not suggest that the first part had been installed incorrectly. They thought that the part had failed. I am not very autoliterate---so that's about all I contribute. John