Toyota recalls about 320,000 Priuses
Toyota said yesterday that about 320,000 of its Priuses built between 2004 and early 2006 will be recalled because of a potentially faulty steering system component that needs to be repaired, according to an AP story in the Mercury News.
About 170,000 Priuses the will be recalled were sold in the U.S., and letters will go out to Prius owners in mid-June. Not all Priuses sold in the U.S. are involved in the recall. Some Priuses built after November 2005, for example, do not have the faulty part. The recall will also affect eight other Toyota models (none of which were sold in the U.S.) that also have the same steering system. The problem is that the steering part can fall off, "if the steering wheel is turned forcefully to the locked position at low speed or if a front tire strikes a curb or other solid obstacle while the car is in motion," according to the article.
[Source: Mercury News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Glenn A. 9:05AM (6/01/2006)
This will be the first recall for my Prius (a car purchased in July 2005). My car was not included in the software upgrade (recall) of 2004 and very early 2005 cars which anti-hybridists jumped on last year. Remember? Out of tens of thousands of cars, a handfull shut down while running? (In comparison, look to your Microsoft software in the computer you're reading this on and compare it to Toyota software reliability, if you please). The computer I'm on crashes and glitches at least once a week, my new home computer probably more than that. Thanks, Microsoft. (Anyone else seen the Apple ad on TV showing the two guys representing Microsoft and Apple? The Microsoft guy freeze up etc. Hilarious, because it's based on truth, of course).
My 2002 Hyundai has had about 3 recalls, yet I still consider the car excellent, too. One of the recalls involved a decelerometer in the doors which would cause the side air bags to blow if the door were slammed. We were going on a vacation and could not get the car in for the work until after the vacation - and I have two teenage sons (who, as all teens, SLAM doors regularly). Yeah, I admit I was a tad nervous. It worked out fine. Nothing went bang.
I can also remind everyone that there was one imported car sold in the US for almost a decade, which never had one single recall.
It was - the YUGO.
Ergo, recalls or lack of same do not necessarily mean "bad car/good car". It's just one component of the whole picture.
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Lithous 10:25AM (6/01/2006)
Um, if you want to compare Windows problems with that of cars then just about any vehicle made now runs longer without a hiccup than the Windows operating system.
But good point. Maybe Bill Gates doesn't deserve his billions because of the crappy product for which he is responsible. Yes, even iPod screen problems and battery problems from Apple. Maybe all these billionaires should not be billionaires. They are no different. Looks like Sony could have Blu-ray go the way of Betamax. We'll see. No company, technology or person is perfect, American or Japanese or otherwise. Period. Get it right out of your head.
You remind me of Klaatu. He has a Prius and a Hyundai. You two would be great friends I'm sure.
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Glenn A. 3:07PM (6/01/2006)
Klaatu? Isn't his vehicle silver and round, or even, upside-down saucer shaped?
Actually my Prius IS silver. But then, about 60% of them are, I understand.
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Secret Squirrel 7:46PM (6/01/2006)
That is kind of a bad analogy in some respects since the PC has only been around for ~30 years and the car has been around for twice as long and then some, quite a bit of time for maturity of a product.
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