Toyota recalls Prius models for steering fix

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 106,000 units of its first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle to fix a power steering problem that can make the car difficult to turn.

About 52,000 of the cars were sold in the United States and 48,000 in Japan, Toyota said.

Toyota recalled 2001-2003 model year Prius cars because nuts securing the pinion shaft in the steering gear box can become loose over time. In a worse case, drivers can notice “significant increased steering effort when making a left turn,” the company said.

Toyota says its Japanese operations will be back to 90 percent normal this month, while output in Europe, China and Thailand returns to nearly 100 percent by the end of June.

Toyota said it received the first complaint in Japan in August 2007. Since then, there have been a total of 28 complaints in Japan and one from the United States.

Toyota is investigating one minor accident that may be linked to the problem. The Prius, now in its third generation, is the world's best-selling hybrid vehicle.

Toyota said its dealers will install improved nuts to secure the pinion shaft at no charge to customers. The repair will take about four hours, it estimated.

Meanwhile, Toyota said it is ramping up its return to full production following the March 11 earthquake that paralyzed Japan's automotive supply chain and shut down assembly plants.

By Hans Greimel- Automotive News