Two problems with Toyota’s Prius hybrids have led the company to recall 670,000 of its 2004-9 cars in the U.S. This is part of a worldwide recall of nearly 2.77 million vehicles. The news was reported in Wednesday’s New York Times, which attributed the story to the Associated Press quoting Toyota representatives in Japan.Toyota reported two problems to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):A loss of steering ability could occur because a metal part could become fatigued. That might happen if the“steering wheel is frequently and forcefully turned to the full left or full right” while driving slowly.The electric water pump could fail and cause the loss of the hybrid powertrain system. Although Toyota attempted to fix the problem in 2010, the pumps continued to stop working.The first report Toyota received in the U.S. about loss of steering was made last February. In Japan, the company said it had its first notice in February 2010, but follow-up tests left the issue open to doubt.The automaker said he recently discovered the cause of the issue was a coil wire that could become corroded and break.Although the company said the recalls were “voluntary”, The New York Times said companies have a five-day window to report such problems to the NHTSA or be penalized legally.Source: The New York Times –http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/toyota-recalling-670000-prius-hybrids-in-u-s/
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If you are injured in an auto accident caused by a defective or recalled part, you may be eligible for financial compensation. To speak with an attorney about a possible defective auto part claim, contact a San Diego personal injury lawyer at The Law Office of Melinda J. Helbock today.