Clunky Steering!

Could be the engine coming on. It will shut down at every stop unless it is trying to warm up.

 

I have 12k miles on mine and have not noticed any clunk .. however my first thought would be a sway bar bushing...
as the body rolls and the torsion load gets put on the front sway bar, it could bind a little in the bushing.... then "release" the tension as the wheels straighten back out ... usually only occurs on a car with some age as the rubber bushings wear... high performance ones are usually a neaprieme or polyester/nylon base.

I have noticed a small clunk if I crank the wheel hard - but I'm sure thats just hitting the steering stop - when backing into a tight parking spot - other than some wind noise, that I think could be damplened a little more - i'm pretty happy with mine so far ...

just wish they would come out with a suv hybrid that still had towing ability.

 

I noticed a simular clunking while taking a right turn into raised drive/entry ways with the brakes partially applied at about 5 MPH. Also, within a few days I noticed while parked a different interior clunk coming from the steering column while turning the wheel quickly right to left. I brought it to the dealer and they kept it for 3 days due to the New Year holiday (on day free rental car, and two days paid rental car). What they found was a loose steering column rear hanger bolt. The hanger bolt was re-torqued and the sound has not come back in either the front while turning right or while turning the wheel quickly at stop. I am bring it back today as since the repair, the mileage has dropped over 10 MPG. It almost feels like the brakes are applied. My thought is the parking brake when reinstalled was not adjusted properly.

 

Its appears to be like suspension problems wishbones or bushes loose strut anything on the front suspension could cause clunking.. You need to check the suspension by some expert or you can DIY if you have proper tools for it. I am sure the problem is that. Good Luck

 

Just curious - what date did you purchase your v ... that you're having this problem ...
I wonder if it were early production models ... (late 2011) ... maybe they made a running change during production.
I have yet to experience this - and I have 13k miles -- and I got mine in july last year. 2012

 

I took my 2004 Prius in for a free recall to replace a lock nut on the steering assembly which was great. While there they found I needed to replace the water pump and V-ribbed belt in the engine. Plus they replaced an axle seal after draining the trunsmission fluid and such. Cost $794.16. My Prius has 113,000 miles on it. Question were this maintenance about normal. Has anyone else experienced this type op repair. The only other repair I've had to make to my Prius was the electric water pump that was covered by a recall, no cost to me.