HELP!!! Steering issues with 2002 Prius

Hi there, I just bought a 2002 Prius from a dealer and everything is working perfectly except this crazy vibration in the steering wheel when I turn sharply to the right. It happened once while I was pulling into my parking stall and once while I was parallel parking. They put brand new tires on it before I took it home. Please help. I'm freaking out.

Hi,

There is a problem with an embedded torque sensor in the steering gear. This was found in the earliest fleet studies and appears most frequently in the 2001-02 Prius but has shown up in the 2003 Prius.

The problem is correction costs ~$1,100-1,500 dollars. The steering assembly has to be replaced because the torque sensor is embedded in the assembly.

Do you have the option of returning the car? Do you have any warranty on it from the seller? There is no known Toyota warranty on this part but you are free to ask.

Can you provide more details about the deal? How long ago? Miles on the Odometer?

Bob Wilson

This happened to me after having the steering rack replaced. Sorry I don't have any resolution, though I've learned to turn right slowly... For more info on this, see
http://priuschat.com/forums/generat...5-2002-prius-needs-new-steering-rack-98k.html

Hi new poster and sorry you got bit. The steering assembly is available from salvage dismantlers at a substantially lower price. But their warranties are not necessarily in the buyers' favor, and one still needs a shop to do the installation.

It is a faint hope that calling Toyota 800-331-4331 would improve your proce on a new replacement aswsembly. But it would be worth your effort to try. Maybe one of their phonesters is having a really good day