Toyota Recalls 670K Prius Hybrids in U.S.

Nearly three million Toyota vehicles around the world are being recalled due to a water pump problem and defective steering shaft, according to a news release Toyota issued Wednesday. 

Approximately, 2.77 million vehicles are affected by the combined recalls, including 670,000 in the U.S. They include Prius hybrids manufactured from 2004 to 2009.

Approximately 350,000 of these same Prius vehicles are also being recalled to replace the electric water pump for the hybrid system.

Car owners can bring their vehicle into a dealership to be inspected and, in some cases, have the steering intermediate extension shaft or the electric water pump replaced, according to Toyota. The repair will take approximately two hours depending on the dealer's work schedule.

Car owners along the Peninsula can take their vehicles to Toyota 101 in Redwood City, Putnam Toyota in Burlingame, Melody Toyota in San Bruno, and Magnussen's Toyota Of Palo Alto at 690 San Antonio Road (corner of W. Middlefield Road). Also, on the lower Peninsula and South Bay, owners can take their cars to or to Toyota Sunnyvale at 898 W El Camino Real in Sunnyvale.

There have been no crashes or injuries reported for these two conditions.

Owners of vehicles covered by these safety recalls will receive an owner notification letter via first class mail starting in December 2012, Toyota said. 

Detailed information is available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.