Prius recall

Haven't seen or gotten my notice yet (late '05 model bought in August). I'll just wait it out as I haven't had any flickering warning lights or odd behavior problems....yet.

B~

I've been wondering about this too. I've had two instances where my Prius stalled momentarily, both at slow speed in residential areas and with no warning lights. The stalls lasted for 5 to 10 seconds, not long enough to have much effect on my driving. I'll press slightly on the accelerator to maintain speed. I sense what feels like a slightly rough idle and the car fails to accelerate. My speed drops slightly. After 5 or 10 seconds the sensation of rough idle goes away and the car accelerates to my target speed. I've got about 6500 miles on the car now so you can see this isn't a common occurrence.

This is interesting. It almost describes what happened to me earlier this week on my new, late 2005 model. One additional item to add though, is that it had been raining pretty good here, thus it was pretty slippery in places. Specifically, I was stopped at a light (the first one in line). I just tried to accelerate normally, then the car started to buck a little & stall. I noticed the VSC light winking on my dash. I backed off the gas and in a couple seconds everything was back to normal. I've tried to recreate the situation, but without any luck. I'll keep trying. I suspect that this is the way the VSC is going to always work. I'll just have to wait and see. I don't like the noises that it makes though.

-Pah

Yes, there has been a TSB (US Technical Service Bulletin) out for the engine reprogramming for the occasionally reported stall incidents (only fix if error reported to dealer), and I did expect that eventually it would become a SSC (Special Service Campaign) which is done pro-actively on vehicles so they don't experience any problems... (There was a separate TSB that was replaced by SSC 40A, which then had another TSB which was later replaced by SSC 40D, which then had another TSB (EG047-04)... It was only a matter of time before that became another SSC...)

Anyhow, from the source: Oct. 13 2005 Special Service Campaign:

Here is the Babelfish translation (pre-mortar = Prius, NHW20 is the model designation for the 2004-? Prius, Underhood carriage number VIN):

Service campaign of pre- mortar

Concerning the portion of the regular use car of the pre- mortar, from

2005 October 13th, service campaign of the below-mentioned contents (no charge repair) we had decided to execute.

1. Phenomenon of vehicle (1) There are times when the inhalation air quantity at the time of engine starting decreases temporarily, as fail-safe function working with engine rpm decrease, the warning light lights up, there are times when it becomes motor travelling. (2) There are times when the moisture comes in contact with the terminal of the rotary sensor connector for the generator inside the trance axle, as fail-safe function working with resistance change, the warning light lights up, there are times when it becomes motor travelling.

2. Contents of improvement (1) The program of all vehicle and the engine control computer is corrected. (2) The grease for waterproofing is applied to all vehicle and the particular connector)

1. Object vehicle ZA-NHW20 DAA-NHW20 Pre- mortar The object car it is included-Under carriage number, Production period, Remark NHW20-0001002 - NHW20-0130298, 2003 August 1st - 2004 October 13th, (1)(2) NHW20-0130301 - NHW20-0133242, 2004 September 23rd - 2004 October 12th, (1) NHW20-3000002 - NHW20-3013252, 2004 September 30th - 2004 November

16th, (1) NHW20-7000000 - NHW20-7003412, 2004 October 6th - 2004 November 20th, (1)

Note:1. Because also the vehicle which does not become the object is included in the range of the under carriage number where the object car is included, please inquire at the Toyota store of the vicinity concerning details.

1. Production period of the object car differs from the time of purchase.

Doing to apply annoyance, there is no excuse truly in everyone of regular use, but making guide from the Toyota store, because it receives, ahead of time, it comes to the pre- mortar handling store of the vicinity and reservation receives store day and time, inspection repair (no charge) to receive that it receives, it asks.

We apologize to everyone of regular use from thing and the heart which very much applied annoyance.

To the best of my recollection I was on try pavement. My VSC has only kicked-in once and that was when I tested it on a snow covered curve at about 20 mph. It worked as advertised. :-)

Thanks! Having been delivered in February, I suppose my Prius falls into that time frame. Have no idea where to look for the "undercarriage" number but certainly my dealer can find it. I'll whine next time they change my oil.

The "undercarriage" number is the VIN. Only the last 7 digits (serial number) are given on the Japanese site.

You can also check your month of manufacturer by looking at the VIN plate on the driver's door jamb. (Same place to look up your exterior/interior color codes.) At the top of the (black) plate, next to Toyota Motor Corporation, at the top right corner is a date in MM/YY format. That's the month/year of manufacture of your Prius.

Toyota Announces Voluntary Special Service Campaign on 2004 and Early

2005 Model Year Prius 10/13/2005 Torrance, CA Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., will launch a Special Service Campaign involving certain 2004 and early 2005 model year Prius sold in the U.S.

On the involved vehicles, an issue with the program logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) system may cause some or all of the following warning lights to illuminate: Master, Hybrid System, Engine, Vehicle Stability Control, and Brake. If this occurs, the vehicle will enter a "fail-safe" mode which allows limited operation via the electric motor. However, the electrically-powered brake and steering operation will continue to function normally if this condition occurs. The electric motor will also provide enough power to allow the driver to pull the vehicle over and away from traffic. Once the vehicle is stopped, the driver may be able to restart the gasoline engine in the vehicle by pushing the start button.

Approximately 75,000 2004 and 2005 model year Prius vehicles may be affected by this condition. Toyota is proactively conducting a campaign in the interest of its customers.

Toyota will inform owners of the involved vehicles with a Special Service Campaign notification letter sent via first class mail beginning in late-October. Owners are requested to contact their local Toyota dealer for diagnosis and repair upon receiving their notification. Toyota will reprogram the ECM system at no charge to the owners of the vehicle. Also, in certain vehicles a special dielectric grease will be applied, at no charge, to a connector for the transaxle, which may cause a similar condition.

Customers with questions or concerns should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Thanks! Ignoring all but the last seven digits (the others digits aren't remotely similar) my VIN is slightly beyond the range of the third row listed.