Toyota Motor Company announced that it will be issuing a voluntary recall of certain models. First up is the 2001 to 2003 U.S. spec Prius Hybrid. Affecting approximately 52,000 first generation models, the recall is being put in place to take care of an electric power steering issue. The steering pinion shaft nuts have the potential of coming loose which could result in a complete steering failure. Toyota will cover the cost of the repair and will begin notifying owners early July.
A separate but smaller recall will affect a limited number of Venza AWD and Sienna AWD models. The problem with these vehicles is an insufficiently heat-treated front right-hand driveshaft. This could result in the driveshaft breaking and bringing the Venza and or Sienna to a stop. Notification will happen mid June and Toyota will take care of the repair.
Read Toyota’s full press release below.
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Torrance, Calif., June 1, 2011 – Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. (TMS), today announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall involving approximately 52,000 2001 through 2003 Prius vehicles sold in the U.S. to replace the electric power steering pinion shaft attachment nuts. This announcement is for U.S. vehicles included in Toyota Motor Corporation’s global recall of 106,000 vehicles.
If the steering wheel is repeatedly and strongly turned to the full-lock position, there is a possibility the nuts securing the pinion shaft in the steering gear box assembly may become loose. If the vehicle is continuously operated in this condition, over time, the customer will gradually notice significant increased steering effort when making a left turn.
Toyota dealers will install improved nuts that secure the pinion shaft at no charge to the vehicle owner. The repair will take approximately 4 hours depending upon the dealer’s work schedule.
Owner notification letters by first class mail will begin in early July, 2011.
The separate recall announced by TMS involves 34 Venza AWD and 16 Sienna AWD vehicles to replace an insufficiently heat treated front right-hand driveshaft. All of these vehicles are recently produced 2011 model year. Only 38 are expected to have an insufficiently heat-treated driveshaft.
Due to insufficient heat treatment, there is a possibility that the front right-hand driveshaft may break. If this occurs, engine power will not be transmitted to the wheels and the vehicle will coast to a stop.
No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in these recalls and the driveshaft recall only involves vehicles in the U.S. and Canada.
Owner notification letters by first class mail will begin in mid June, 2011.
Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
