NHTSA complaint: 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS — STEERING
I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 15 MPH ON A STREET ON 5/14/20 AND WAS MAKING A SOFT TURN AND HEARD A 'CLICK' NOISE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SPIN FREELY WHILE TOTALLY DISENGAGED FROM THE FRONT WHEELS CAUSING TOTAL INABILITY TO CONTROL DIRECTION OF VEHICLE TRAVEL. THIS CAUSED A MINOR COLLISION WITH ROCK /DEBRIS WHICH CAUSED MINOR FRONT BUMPER DAMAGE. I THEN HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE MAIN BOLT AT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING RACK WAS DISCONNECTED. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE SHAFT AND SPLINES FOR DAMAGE AND FOUND NONE, THEN PROCEEDED TO REATTACH BOLT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THIS MECHANIC THAT TOYOTA HAD TWO RELATED RECALLS: ONE FOR THE STEERING SHAFT, AND ONE FOR THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT EXTENSION. BOTH OF THESE RECALLS HAD BEEN ADDRESSED AND REPLACEMENT PARTS INSTALLED FOR MY VEHICLE. THERE ARE TWO RELATED RECALLS: 06V188000 (STEERING SHAFT) AND 12V537000 (INTERMEDIATE STEERING EXTENSION SHAFT). *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation