Toyota recalls Prius models for Steering Problem

Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) has announced that it planned to begin a global voluntary recall of about 320,000 of its hot-selling Prius gasoline-electric hybrid sedans to repair a potentially faulty steering system component.

The move will affect about 986,000 vehicles across 10 models, sold worldwide, including 170,000 Prius hybrid models in the United States, said spokesman Sam Butto of the Japanese automaker's Torrance-based U.S. sales unit. The figure represents about two-thirds of the 268,000 sold since the hybrid's introduction here in July 2000.

Company reported that more than half such models are in Japan.
The recall is made by the company to replace faulty parts that could cause drivers to lose steering control.

Auto Traders had sold 2,158 Prius models this year in United States at the end of March, according to Polk figures.

TMC - A Japanese multinational corporation- that manufactures automobiles, trucks and buses, said no injuries, accidents or crashes linked to the problem have been reported in the US or elsewhere, so far. The company said that it would start sending letters in mid-June to owners of 2004 through early 2006 models of the popular hybrid.

Shafts and yokes in the recalled car models lack the required strength and could distort or crack under strong pressure, causing drivers to lose control, the Japanese automaker said in a statement. It said the Prius recall does not involve any of the car's propulsion system components but a potentially under strength piece of the steering-shaft assembly that could loosen or crack.

Toyota said no U.S. owners had complained about the fault, found in vehicles sold in Japan that use the same steering component.
The steering part can sink if the steering wheel is turned forcefully to the locked position at low speed or if a front tire hits a curb or other solid obstacle while the car is in motion.

In Japan, the recall affects 565,756 auto models made and sold under the Wish, Isis, Prius, Corolla, Corolla Runx, Corolla Fielder, Corolla Spacio, Allex and Ractis names between September 2002 and November 2005.

Although motorists generally view recalls as a blemish for an auto company, but Dan Gorrell of San Diego-based market researcher Strategic Vision says, “when an extremely strong brand sees a problem and fesses up right away to the problem, it generally is a positive thing," adding further that “This shouldn't hurt Toyota at all," and “They will spin it as something they did even before anyone told 'em to."

The affected model owners will be asked to take their cars to a local dealer for diagnosis and repair once they receive the formal recall notice.

Problem fixing will be done at no cost to owners, Spokesman Butto said.

Toyota has announced that it will recall 320,000 of its vehicles for an apparent power steering problem.