2007 Toyota Prius steering problems

“In October 2026, my 2007 Toyota Prius experienced a serious mechanical steering failure at approximately 187,310 miles. The steering wheel could rotate without properly controlling the front wheels, resulting in a loss of steering control and creating a significant safety hazard. On October 6, 2026, an independent repair facility inspected the vehicle. Its written diagnosis, documented on an October 21 invoice, identified worn gearing at the intermediate steering shaft connection to the steering rack. The technician also identified a failed steering wheel spiral cable. The steering system has not been permanently repaired. This vehicle previously received Toyota's steering-related recall repair. I am concerned that the failure may be related to NHTSA Recall 12V537000, which addressed wear of steering shaft splines and the potential for complete loss of steering control. There is also a documented history of steering complaints. In May 2024, I reported abnormal steering noises to a Toyota dealership, which could not reproduce the problem. In July 2024, the dealership confirmed steering noises but attributed them to suspension components. In February 2025, the…”

“ON NOVEMBER 14, 2020, MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAD A LOSS OF STEERING THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE CAR. PARKING ON A CITY STREET ATLANTIC TOYOTA DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL ON MARCH 12,2013 FOR THE COT RECALL THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AT A PRIVATE GARAGE FOR THE LOSS OF STEERING AND THE PART THAT FAILED WAS THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE EXTENSION SHAFT THE PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE COT RECALL DONE AT ATLANTIC TOYOTA. (THE SHAFT REPLACEMENT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE BOLT HOLE HAS A 'COUNTERSINK', ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO DEALERS, T-CP-C0T-A510-D. THE SHAFT THAT WAS REMOVED AND, IN MY POSSESSION, HAS A COUNTERSINK). HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TOYOTA IDENTIFIED A DEFECTIVE PART AND ISSUED A RECALL I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE WORK WAS NOT DONE. WITH THE LOSS OF STEERING THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY AND CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE, AND NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT. I AM SENDING THIS EMAIL TODAY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOMETHING HAS GONE TERRIBLY WRONG. THE SYSTEM MEANT TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST FAULTY VEHICLES HAS FAILED, AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.”

“WE NOTICED THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT AND SO WE CHECKED THE ENGINE OIL. THE DIP STICK WAS DRY. I PUT OIL IN THE ENGINE AND THE RED TRIANGLE WENT AWAY. I KEPT AN EYE ON THE OIL LEVEL OCCASIONALLY I NEEDED TO PUT MORE OIL IN THE ENGINE. 3 MONTHS AFTER TAKING THE CAR FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AT THE TOYOTA DEALER THE RED TRIANGLE CAME UP AGAIN AND THIS TIME I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE RESPONSE WAS THAT IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR THE CAR AND THE BEST SOLUTION WAS TO BUY A NEW CAR. I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE 2011 TSB FOR EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED. TODAY, JULY 17TH, 2020,I CALLED THE DEALER TO ASK ABOUT THE TSB, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TSB HAS BEEN OUT FOR 10 YEARS SO I HAD HAD UNTIL 2017 TO QUALIFY. I DO NOT BELIEVE I EVER RECEIVED A LETTER NOTIFYING ME ABOUT THE ISSUE. HAD I RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION I WOULD BEEN THE FIRST PERSON IN LINE AT THE DEALERSHIP. ALSO, MY STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS LOOSE, IF THE SPEED IS OVER 45 MPH IT FEELS UNSAFE, THE SLIPPERY SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I AM TURNING THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY ON A DRY ROAD, AND THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE NOISE INSIDE THE CAR EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. THIS HAPPENS…”

“FOR A MONTHS THE CAR IM DRIVING HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS FROM STEERING TO SPEED ,BRAKING AND DRASTIC WOBBLING OF ENTIRE CAR I'VE TAKEN PICTURES AND VIDEO ITS UNBELIEVABLE AND OUTRAGEOUS. *TR”

“THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE EXTENSION SHAFT IN THIS CAR WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED IN 2015. THIS PART WAS NOTICED TO BE FAILING AGAIN BY THE MECHANIC WHILE IN FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE. THE MECHANIC DEEMED THE CAR TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IF THIS PART FAILED WHILE DRIVING I WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT ANY STEERING. BOTH THE DEALER AND I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, WHICH THEY HAVE DECLINED, BUT EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT THAT ALL THE OTHER CARS INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL SHOULD BE CHECKED. THERE IS ALSO NO WARNING LIGHT OR ANY INDICATION FOR THE DRIVER THAT THEY MAY BE UNSAFE. THE RECALL NOTICE WOULD NOT SCAN BUT TOYOTA REFERENCE NUMBER IS BELOW. REF.# T-CP-C2T, DATE OF ISSUE: NOVEMBER 14, 2012*DT*JB”

“THE DASHBOARD DON'T WORK SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES THA BREAK LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE BREAKS STOP WORKING IT CHANGE IT SELF TO NEUTRAL AND THE POWER STEERING W. GET REALLY HARD.. ALL THIS HAPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS.”