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How to handle the recall situation

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by galaxee, May 30, 2006.

  1. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    okay, so we know there's a recall out on the steering system, and we know how people react when they see the word "recall" so i thought i'd offer a bit of advice here.

    first, there have been no accidents caused by this problem. you can keep driving your car, everything is okay. this is a preventive measure, not a reaction.

    second, dealers in the US do not have any information about this recall at all. it has not shown up on TIS, there has been no word about it anywhere. we know techs hear about these things from press releases before they read about it at work, it's happened before.

    third, recalls typically involve the dealerships getting shipments of the parts to be replaced and/or special tools, greases, etc that may be needed. in many cases, these parts are normally special-order and they will not have them in stock for a few days or more.

    so please, please don't waste your time going to the dealership right away and asking for this fix. they don't know what you're talking about and they don't have the parts to fix it. i will send out more info when the dealers receive the recall notice, instructions and parts arrival time estimates. if you do go in and ask for this, you're only going to walk away frustrated. for now just take a deep breath and take it easy. :)

    thanks for your attention.
     
  2. seasidetraveler

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    Thanks for the advice, but after reading related posts about "BUY AMERICAN"- I think the people here are VERY familiar with the process of taking in their vehicles, being that most have owned Ford or GM products :lol:

    I am thinking "Oh, a recall? Hmmm, haven't had to deal with one of those for about a year."

    I have said it before, and will say it again- with all the advanced technology that the Prius features, I expected a lot of recalls and fixes, and have been very impressed at the reliablilty it has shown so far! Ford and GM have been making cars for over 100 years, and they can't even get a regular gas powered engine to work right! SAD! :rolleyes:
     
  3. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    That takes all the fun out of it if you can't go in and run around in circles squealing hysterically :(

    What I usually do is whisper in my Service Tech's ear that there's going to be a recall on X, and then when it comes in to them a month later he just gives me that look :)
     
  4. routeonedog

    routeonedog New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ May 30 2006, 05:05 PM) [snapback]262981[/snapback]</div>
    Have got about 1K miles to go before the next service visit. Would be nice to
    get this handled in the same trip to the dealer.
     
  5. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(routeonedog @ May 30 2006, 08:00 PM) [snapback]263196[/snapback]</div>
    i would guess it is not going to happen. Also if past experience is any gage you my want to wait until the dealer has done X+2 repairs before you bring your car in. Take a deep breath and hang back!
     
  6. Salsawonder

    Salsawonder New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ May 30 2006, 02:05 PM) [snapback]262981[/snapback]</div>
    Thank you and DH. I feel like we have an advantage on PC not only because of the high level of general education on this forum but we even have an insider of sorts in you and DH. You should feel very smug!
     
  7. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    As EPS was introduced, it would have been pretty obvious that
    increased torque would be transmitted through the steering column
    components -- the shafts, the U-joints, the rack-n-pinion box
    itself. Toyota must have considered this and believed that the
    parts as provided in the affected vehicles *would* be robust enough
    to handle the assist torque coming from higher up in the chain.
    There must have been some unanticipated situations [angry american
    drivers hauling on their steering wheels that much harder?] that
    bring the stresses past the level that those parts can safely
    withstand, long-term ... I'll be really curious as to exactly what
    gets fixed once the TSB/SSC is out, and I'm tempted to tool down to
    Gilles Labelle's neck of the woods and just *compare* the steering
    column parts between an '06 and mine to see if I can tell.
    .
    In the meantime, if I go slewing wildly across 4 lanes of 75+mph
    traffic and cause all the SUVs for half a mile to roll over ten
    times and go WHOOF!, PC will be the first to know, ok? wheeee...
    .
    _H*
     
  8. marshaks

    marshaks New Member

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    so please, please don't waste your time going to the dealership right away and asking for this fix. they don't know what you're talking about and they don't have the parts to fix it. i will send out more info when the dealers receive the recall notice, instructions and parts arrival time estimates. if you do go in and ask for this, you're only going to walk away frustrated. for now just take a deep breath and take it easy. :)

    thanks for your attention.
    [/quote]


    You are so right! I had my car in for an oil change this week and the assist. service manager mentioned it before I did and put it on the list. I did leave my car for the day since they had 2 others in front of mine getting the steering problem fixed. My dealer has been great with maintenance and warrenty work.
     
  9. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    ah, thanks for bumping this thread, newtoprius.

    i should update real quickly:

    many dealers do have the parts now, there are still some that are waiting or are clueless.

    the job is not overly difficult or time consuming, and if the dealer has done 2 or 3 they should be able to run them out in an hour or less once they get it into the shop.

    best bet is to call ahead and make sure they have the parts and have done a couple of them before setting up an appointment.