In 2014, shortly before my 89th birthday, my power steering malfunctioned. I heard there was a recall on this model in 2011 because of the same problem with steering but was given the run around for several months until a dealer said he would fix the problem under the recall. Less than a week after the 'fix' the problem recurred and I discovered that the dealer had only put in a temporary nut to conceal the real repair need which was to replace the engine and power steering because the units are connected in these earlier Prius models and you cannot repair the electric power steering without replacing the engine too. No one would do the replacement despite my writing letters to Toyota, to Consumer Affairs and to Congress. This is scandalous! I became ill in 2015 and have not had the ability to continue to pursue this. I feel like Toyota has mistreated a loyal customer, one of the first to purchase the Prius when it first came to market and I own stock in Toyota. Yet, they deceived an elderly man, me, by telling me they fixed the recall problem when they didn't because they did not want to incur the true cost of repairing the problem caused by a default in their original Prius design. The newer Prius models separate the engine from the power steering mechanism so the problem is less likely to occur and, if it does, it is easier and less costly to fix. Toyota deliberately took advantage of an elderly and ignored me now infirmed man. The fact that Toyota revised the faulty design proves that it knows the problem I am having is their fault and their sole financial responsibility to fix. I was an auto mechanic for 32 years and know cars but am too infirmed to attempt to fix the problem myself. I need help and I need Toyota to replace the engine-steering in my Prius. I made it to my 90th birthday and the problem with my car still renders it unsafe to drive. I was my favorite car!!
In 2014, shortly before my 89th birthday, my power steering malfunctioned. I heard there was a recall on this model in 2011 because of the same problem with steering but was given the run around for several months until a dealer said he would fix the problem under the recall. Less than a week after the 'fix' the problem recurred and I discovered that the dealer had only put in a temporary nut to conceal the real repair need which was to replace the engine and power steering because the units are connected in these earlier Prius models and you cannot repair the electric power steering without replacing the engine too. No one would do the replacement despite my writing letters to Toyota, to Consumer Affairs and to Congress. This is scandalous! I became ill in 2015 and have not had the ability to continue to pursue this. I feel like Toyota has mistreated a loyal customer, one of the first to purchase the Prius when it first came to market and I own stock in Toyota. Yet, they deceived an elderly man, me, by telling me they fixed the recall problem when they didn't because they did not want to incur the true cost of repairing the problem caused by a default in their original Prius design. The newer Prius models separate the engine from the power steering mechanism so the problem is less likely to occur and, if it does, it is easier and less costly to fix. Toyota deliberately took advantage of an elderly and ignored me now infirmed man. The fact that Toyota revised the faulty design proves that it knows the problem I am having is their fault and their sole financial responsibility to fix. I was an auto mechanic for 32 years and know cars but am too infirmed to attempt to fix the problem myself. I need help and I need Toyota to replace the engine-steering in my Prius. I made it to my 90th birthday and the problem with my car still renders it unsafe to drive. I was my favorite car!!
- jbynoe, Arlington, VA, US