2003 Steering Column Broken?!

That sounds like a scary situation! A quick search came up with this older thread on PC that lists some mechanics in the Dc area. Good place to start. Good luck!
Recommended Mechanics in Washington, DC / Maryland / Virginia | PriusChat

 

You have told the exact story, including "harder to turn left", of the Gen 1 Prius pinion nut, as described here.



There was a recall. If it was never done, you have an easy fix. If it was done and the replacement has now failed, there is no second repair; it needs a replacement steering rack.

Either way, the job is labor intensive. Replacing the nut(s) might sound like less work but it's more: the rack still needs out of the car first, and then the nut replacement was a very challenging job with significant chances of failure, resulting in having to replace the rack. Some people went in for the nut recall and drove home with new racks after the nut procedure had defeated the dealer techs.

 

The steering wheel power transmission also shuts down as an automatic preventive measure and stems from the sensors trying to keep the car from being further damaged by moving. This happened to me when I had problems, thinking it was the steering shaft. It was just the car kicking into extra safety mode and the issue was something else. Find out what the codes are and fix that, and or clear the codes and the power steering should come back.