Suddenly lost steering while driving my Prius

The dealer is full of it. While this may not be a covered item, there's no way it's "normal" wear. You'll probably have to chalk it up to bad luck.

 

I've not had this problem w/my 06 (which has a bit past 70K miles). Some interesting Recall happenings. Need advice | PriusChat has a link to the C0T steering recall procedure.

I'm no repair expert, not even close, but it doesn't seem like a broken spiral cable would cause the problem you experienced. You may want to call Toyota at Support | Toyota.com and open a case. Since this sounds like a safety issue, I'd also file a safety complaint at Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), once you get the final resolution.

I did get the C0T recall work performed (had no issue) and they just replaced a bolt. They didn't need to replace the extension shaft.

 

There is a direct mechanical connection from the steering wheel to the wheels. The Prius does not steer by wire. The spiral cable goes to the buttons on the steering wheel.

What you experienced is directly related to the present recall. I would say that you should not return to that dealership. It sounds as if they are incompetent or worse.

 

+1

The snap was the failure of the steering shaft itself. And that is exactly what the recall is for. Out of curiosity, do you do a lot s of hard full lock steering?

 

I recently replaced the steering gear wrack on my '06, the dealer wanted 925$ for a new one I went with a rebuilt for 175$, and I trust it more than a new one, sad to say.

 

how many miles on her?

 

Yes that actual steering shaft broke first (this is what the recall is for) and then the spiral cable broke due to the steering wheel being turned too far. Once the steering shaft is disconnected you have to be very careful not to over rotate the steering wheel or you then break the spiral cable.

There was another post about this recently. Kind of weird that for years and years there wasn't a single post here about steering shafts breaking under normal operation, then Toyota issue the recall notice and suddenly there's a rash of them.

 

If you literally lost steering and not just power steering boost and your dealer blew you off, then contact Toyota directly. They will definitely take an interest in this.

 

Scary. I was thinking about this post while on the freeway this AM.

 

As previously stated, the loss of steering was due to a mechanical failure in the steering column. Is the repair of that failure covered without charge to you?

The spiral cable failure was a direct result of the steering column mechanical failure. I suggest that your argument should be that the spiral cable failure should be covered since it would not have happened if the mechanical failure did not occur. Escalate to the Toyota Customer Experience Center if you get push back.

 

Toyota should definitely pay for it.

All cars can have mechanical failures. Unfortunate when it happens to you.

It should not happen at high speed because it will happen only when high pressure is on the shaft, like in a turn. Exactly what happened to you. At highways speeds, much less turning is required because everything is nice and banked. The recall was for exactly this potential problem if many full lock steering maneuvers were performed. Did you get this recall work done (announced a couple months ago)? If so, did they replace just the bolt, or the bolt and the shaft? Either way, you should not pay for any of this IMHO.

 

how fast were you travelling?

 

The clockspring (another name for the spiral cable) for an 07 Prius has an MSRP of $311.52 on the Champion Toyota parts site. According to ALLDATAdiy.com the flat rate labor to change it is 1.0 hours. If you are being quoted $2900 to change it either something else is wrong or the dealer is trying to rip you off. The car would drive just fine with a broken clockspring, but you would probably lose the steering wheel airbag and the steering wheel switches would not work.

The clockspring would need to be replaced if the steering wheel had been allowed to turn beyond it's normal range of motion, which would occur if the steering shaft had become disconnected.

If the steering column became disconnected due to the problem that is addressed in the recall, Toyota should pay to fix everything that was broken, including the clockspring. I would take it up with Toyota if the dealer is not supportive.

 

Um, that was a bit of an exaggeration. There was one post very similar to this last week. A guy got the failed steering linkage (mechanical failure) and the clockspring cable broke as a result. Previously I hadn't heard of any cases like this in the three years I've been following this forum, so it seemed a bit odd. But hey, they must have had a reason to recall them so I don't doubt some must have broken. I'll definitely be taking mine in to get the shaft replaced under recall.

 

hi can someone help me here. i rang toyota to book my car in for a cranking noise everytime i turned the wheel left or right, i was told my car is down for a recall for a steering column problem and water pump, when i picked the car up the next day they said the recall was done so i asked about the cranking noise and they said i need a new steering column mine is on amber and they recommend i get a new one. the car has only done 43,000 and could there problem have caused mine? thank you first time user

 

The recall sometimes replaces the steering column, sometimes just the bolt. If you needed a new one, they should have given you one. My BS-ometer is through the roof here though. My guess is the dealership is trying to take advantage of you. Remember that in the US, car dealerships and service centers are mearly franchises of the brand. Toyota has no say over what they do or how they do it. They just have minimum guidelines that must be followed to remain a franchise and display the big Toyota logo but really it is not hard to clean your act up for an inspection.

And what do they mean "it is on amber"? Is this is a colour coded disaster scale, or are there little bits of tree sap everywhere, or what?

 

hi thanks for quick response, i'm in the u.k. and they gave me a checklist with things that need doing and how bad with green being good amber (passed mot but recommended to change) and red and gave me a price of £1,846