My Prius was not in the recall batch since her production date was the first week of Sept. However, the PS! warning appeared 3 times in 2 days. The first time immediately after I started her and twice the next day while doing 65. Nothing major, steering effort just increases significantly. Restarting the car (after pulling over) clears the fault and reactivates the PS. She was a few days over 2 months old and at ~4900 miles when this happened. I took her to my dealer (Wondries in Alhambra, CA) on Dec 4. 13 days later, she's still at the dealer with no ETA, they're supposedly waiting for the parts to come from Japan, off the assembly line. I've been in a rental which costing me a goodly sum since Wondries will only reimburse $20/day. Try finding a 4 passenger vehicle for $20/day. Needless to say, I am not very happy right now.<br><br>Those of you who also got an early Prius might consider asking your dealer to order the parts even if you didn't get a recall letter.<br><br>On a more positive note, I've seen at least 4 Prius in the Redondo Beach/El Segundo area (Southern California) where I work. Yeah! One had an Aiwa CD headunit installed where the factory CD player/changer would be. I waited around for a while hoping the owner would show up so I could ask her/him for details but no luck. If the owner watches this board, please speak up! Us audio nuts would love details.<br><br>I also made a Los Angeles -&gt; San Francisco -&gt; San Diego -&gt; LA run. Had one passenger with me and enough stuff to fill the trunk and back seat. We had absolutely no problems making up the Grapevine, probably slowed to about 55 but I wasn't pushing very hard. Overall MPG was also around 47. On the way back from SF, we saw a car carrier loaded with about 6 Prius heading north. Congratulations to all the people they went to! All driving was done during evening/night, it was around 41F going through Central CA. I've noticed that the electric-only performance noticeably degrades when the temperature drops below 65F.<br><br>Well, here's hoping I get my baby back soon...<br><br>-robert

The service plan included with the price of the car provides for a free loaner car if the vehicle must be kept overnight. You should not be paying anything for the rental.<br><br>p

Why are some owners getting a recall notice and some having to find out the hard way??<br><br>Bob F

Only the first few were affected by the recall. Maybe the problem is more widespresd that they thought.

Hey Priustek!<br><br>Should the steering be "touchy" at center?<br>I'm thinking about remnaming Silver Streak to Wobblin Goblin!<br>Checked the tyre pressure cold and it was within range.<br>Thinking about getting a 4 wheel alignment check on a jig frame.<br><br>Any suggestions?<br>Bill Powell<br>(Prius: Blowin In The Wind!)

Several months ago there was someone else who posted about problems with the PS warning light coming on. If I recall correctly, they concluded that the PS ECU does this sometimes if the car moves before being started. Anyway, it was not the same problem as the recall.<br><br>Robert Snyder<br>NJ-PIKACHU

Keep the faith! <br>In any case, I'm sorry to hear that you are having some trouble, after your long wait. Silver Streak may work great when you get it taken in hand. My "Pelican" is proving a real blessing. I have had to make a couple sixty-mile round trips to the hospital per week in the last couple weeks, partly on the freeway through the heart of town at rush hour, partly in small towns, and partly in the country. The vehicle has made this a pleasure. And the mileage hasn't fallen with the freeway running. <br> Still, I had some problems right at first, which were worriesome then. My car stayed under 30mpg on its first day. I thought something was going to be wrong with it, but that was the only time I had that happen, and I can see it picking up nicely on warm days, creeping over 50.On cold days, with lots of short trips, it runs in the low forties. Starts right up, no matter how cold it is.<br> The first day I drove it to work, it wouldn't start because the key wouldn't turn.I had planned to show it off to the students, not to have them helping me try to get it started. A call to the dealer got the suggestion I jiggle the wheel.My 1982 Land Criuser does this, and I had given the Prius wheel a tentative jiggle, but was afraid to hurt the little car.A regular jiggle, and we were in business. This matter seems to be a Toyota thing. <br> The first Saturday I took my friend Fern (who wants to buy a Prius) for a ride to run errands, it turned on the "check engine" symbol. We couldn't see anything wrong.I restarted the car a couple times. The symbol stayed. The manual said to go to the dealer, so we drove 15 miles, me feeling bad all the way, as if I was riding a sick horse a long way. The head mechanic was there, although the Prius mechanic wasn't, and he felt bold enough to start it. No symbol. He test drove it. No symbol. We talked. Best we can figure, I did this to the car by not turning the key hard enough on starting to allow it to run through its check list. I had been turning the key gently, to get away from the "hard turn and hold till it catches" that the old vehicle needs. No further trouble. <br> I really love driving this car! I understand the people like John, who have loads of pictures of their car, and cards for it. I have had business cards made for mine. When people ask about it, I can hand them a card with basic info and good websites for them to check. I also had magnetic signs made for it like "Never needs plugging in, Far fewer fillups". "Fast, responsive gas-electric hybrid", "Super ultra low emissions". Lots of people around here had never seen a gas-electric vehicle. Those who have heard of them still think they have short ranges and need to be plugged in.

You should be allowed 1 alignment under warranty. If the recall was done, maybe they didn't do an alignment. It should have been included.