(KCEN) -- An automotive lab in Virginia has urged federal safety regulators to investigate the Toyota Prius after a complaint that the steering can fail.
The government says Automotive Systems Analysis of Reston, Virginia asked for the investigation after evaluating a client's car.
The car owner had complained he heard a snapping noise and the steering failed on his 2005 Prius.
No crashes or injuries were reported.
A probe could affect about 561,000 of the gas-electric hybrids from the 2004 through 2009 model years.
Toyota says it's cooperating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the issue.