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 the federal safety agency 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 dealership confirmed noise originating from the steering column assembly and recommended replacing the steering column yoke assembly, potentially including both upper and lower intermediate steering shafts. I was not verbally informed of this recommendation. I am concerned that a vehicle previously repaired under a safety recall subsequently experienced a steering failure resembling the original recalled defect. I request that the federal safety agency review this failure and investigate whether it indicates a problem with the effectiveness or durability of the previous recall remedy.
The worst 2007 Toyota Prius problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights1,061
- Brakes331
- Electrical248
- Body184
- Acceleration124
- Driver assistance72
- Engine54
- Airbags50
- Locks42
- Transmission41
- Steering34
- Fuel system30
- Visibility27
- Seat belts11
- Tires11
- Suspension8
- Wheels2
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2007 Toyota Prius
Headlights 1,035ABS 96Brake failure 60Stalling 50Sudden acceleration 41Door locks 31Jerking 31No deployment 30Loss of power 24Adaptive cruise 22Fuel gauge 22Check engine light 20Warning lights 18Backup camera 11Airbag light 9Power steering loss 8Overheating 7Slipping 7Tire blowout 7Grinding brakes 6Fire or smoke 6Seat belt 6Engine failure 5Oil consumption 5Won't start 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2007 Toyota Prius mention
P0AA6 2
Recalls 4
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 6, 2003, through March 30, 2009 and FCHV-adv vehicles manufactured December 12, 2008, through September 13, 2011. During manufacturing, a scratch may have occurred inside of the electrically driven water pump at the coil wire. The coil wire may corrode at the scratched portion.
- Risk
- The corroded coil wire may break and the water pump could stop. The corroded coil wire could cause a short circuit between coil wires and a possible open fuse, creating a stall-like condition of the hybrid system while the vehicle is being driven. This may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will replace the electric water pump, free of charge. The recall began on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 12V536000 · Recall details
Steering: gear box: shaft sector
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering intermediate extension shaft assembly built with metal splines that complete the connection from the steering wheel to the steering gear. These splines may have been manufactured with an insufficient hardness.
- Risk
- Over time, the splines may wear and eventually fail resulting in a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the extension shaft and replace it if it is one with insufficient hardness, free of charge. The recall began during December 2012. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 12V537000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
- Risk
- A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1‑800‑301‑6859.
Recall number 10V036000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
- Risk
- A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do not want the new ones. Additionally, software modifications will be installed on camry, avalon and lexus es 350, is 350 and is 250 models that will ensure that the brake overrides the accelerator in the event both brake and accelerator pedals are applied. Toyota will begin mailing letters to owners on december 31, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331, lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.
Recall number 09V388000 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 2007 Toyota Prius
Defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
Intermediate Steering Shaft Separation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a January 2013 defect petition requesting that it open an investigation on Model Year (MY) 2004-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles to address a possible manufacturing safety defect related to the steering column intermediate shaft.During the defect petition evaluation, ODI: 1.Reviewed the petition and its enclosures; 2.Reviewed the subject steering system layout; 3.Examined the Petition Vehicle?s history, including its repair history; 4.Reviewed and followed-up potentially related consumer complaints; 5.Assessed Safety Recalls 06V‑188 and 12V‑537; and, 6.Requested and examined complaint, claim, field report, service history, and warranty information from Toyota.ODI's review revealed that the petition vehicle had been recalled (Recall 06V188) to remedy a defect in the system identified in the petition with the remedy taking place prior to the failure that prompted the petition. Circumstances point to incorrect reassembly of the petitioner's vehicle by those who performed the recall remedy.ODI examined the issues raised by this petition to identify any related safety defect trend in the general subject vehicle population.That review identified a low rate of related consumer complaints (twenty-five over a eight year period from a population of over 600,000 vehicles) and no pattern that would identify either a safety defect not already covered by the two existing steering safety recalls by Toyota or a systematic problem with either recall remedy.Based on this evaluation, ODI does not believe that additional investigation will lead to a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the subject vehicles. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For more information, see the Federal Register notice in the public file for this action select the federal safety agency ID, enter: DP13001)The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed on-line under the following the federal safety agency ID numbers:10407520, 10418710, 10429551, 10473654, 10478195, 10478053, 10437229, 10489425, 10510722, 10639984, 10648277, 10499778, 10712626, 10723196, 10787530, 10808124, 10838803, 11071646, 11098144, 11099507, 11102659, 11160767, 11192607, 11287550, 11287606
DP13001
Headlight failure
Odi opened this investigation after receiving reports that both headlights would go out, or extinguish while driving.the subject vehicles are equipped with high intensity discharge (hid) headlamps that operate on independent lamps and ecu's (electronic control units) for each headlight, meaning that each headlight runs independently of the other, and a failure in one lamp or ecu does not necessarily result in a failure of the other.during the investigation, a random sample of forty consumers was contacted by odi in a telephone survey to verify their experiences.the consumers stated in complaints to toyota that both headlights failed at the same time.odi discovered through talking with these complainants that in fact one headlight would begin to flicker and then cut off.the other headlight would still be operational.in a few cases where no action was taken, some complainants stated that after a few months both headlamps would begin to fail resulting in no headlights; however none reported that both lamps failed simultaneously.complainants also stated that they could toggle the headlamp switch on and off to temporarily restore lighting when this condition occurred, even in cases were both headlamps were extinguished.the results of this survey are largely consistent with odi's assessment of the reports and warranty data.toyota submitted in response to odi's information request letter that, generally speaking, only one lamp failed at a time, and that toggling the switch restored the lamp.toyota requested a meeting with odi and on august 6, 2009, presented their assessment of headlamp failure.toyota confirmed that a headlamp could extinguish while driving due to a bulb failure, and that it could be temporarily restored by turning the headlight switch on and off, and that simultaneous failure of both headlamps was rare and unlikely.toyota also briefly discussed their intention to conduct a customer service campaign to address consumer dissatisfaction with hid bulb failures.since there is still one headlight operating when the other one cuts off, there is still lighting available to get the vehicle to a repair facility.thus, a safety defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
PE09019
Technical service bulletins for the 2007 Toyota Prius 219
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Obsolete notice
- This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical...
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used...
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix...
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad...
- Condition in which a musty odor is present
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal...
2007 Toyota Prius fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4‑cyl Hybrid | FWD | 48 | 45 | 46 |
What 2007 Toyota Prius owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
2007 Toyota Prius touring edition WILL NOT TAKE ANY FUEL PROPERLY AND WILL OVERFILL AND "BURP" CAUSING GAS TO FLOW EXPLOSIVELY OUT OF THE FILLER NECK AND HOLE. Tank will not fill, at all, causing risk of running out of gas while on highway. FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. FUEL TANK will not fill properly, if at all, overfills and burps causing fuel to blow out of the filler hole with force. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD as gas can spill all over near the filler area and possibly catch fire. Stopping the filler hose will not help, as the tank refuses to take any gas, even when close to empty. People need to put gas in, not guess. The car will ONLY TAKE BARELY 2 gallons in winter without overflowing. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY AND FIRE HAZARD AS THIS OVERFLOWING GAS AND REVERSE FUEL FLOW CAN IGNITE, or catch fire. THE BLADDER IN THE TANK STOPS WORKING AND WILL NOT ALLOW FUELING ANS SPITS FUEL BACK OUT OF THE FILLER NECK AND HOLE.
The brake actuator failed. When the car was diagnosed by the Toyota dealership, they identified the problem as an internal leak within the brake actuator. Luckily, nobody has been hurt attempting to drive the car, but it is still being driven to get it from home to the repair shop so anything is possible. The first symptom I could link to this was in 2023, when the car would not accelerate via the gas pedal after the brakes were pressed during cruise control. Turning off the car and turning it back on fixed the problem. Afterwards, the red brake symbol was turned on. From that point on, the brake light would only shine sometimes. leading me to believe there must not have been something wrong with the car, since nothing else happened after that. 2024 is when the red brake light and ABS symbol both lit up. The only information that I could find in the manual was to take the Prius to the Toyota dealership. I could not find details on the problem. I continued to drive the car regardless because there seemed to be no problem. After letting the car sit for a few months in 2025, I began driving it again, and it was fine. A month later, I turned on my car and was met with a loud beep that did not end. This was my final sign to take it to get repaired. The car has exceeded 200,000 miles. This fix is $3,205.40 at the dealership. My 2007 Toyota Prius is valued between $2k to $4k. The repair would cost more than simply buying another Prius.
Check engine light came on with codes C 1256 & C 1300. Primary issue is Brake actuator failure. Toyota is ignoring this known and repeated issue and it may lead to a dangerous/ deadly situation if brakes go out while driving.
Failing Brake Actuator Assembly. This is known issue by Toyota and they issued a brief warranty repair program, but have since stopped and refuse to fix the issue or provide assistance.
After an Interstate highway drive and when then discovering my tire had been punctured by a screw or other object, but with still enough air in the tire to drive to a tire repair facility, I drove to have the puncture repaired. On repairing the puncture of the 185/65R15 tire, the repairman observed a portion of the tire’s steel belt to be visible on the inside of the tire. An immediate replacement of the tire was recommended, but this facility did not have an identical tire to provide. The facility emailed me a picture of the protruding steel belt. This writer has twice reported the matter to the tire’s manufacturer, but still no response since the first report on 09/24/2024. No party other than the tire repair facility has inspected the tire. This writer has recognized no noticeable effect of the defect, but the repair facility stated it could cause a blowout at any time.
The drivers seat belt receptacle spit out a spring and plastic part and it cannot buckle anymore.
2007 Toyota Prius Brake Actuator needs replaced. ABS, Parking Brake, VSC light came on 2 weeks ago when driving down a highway.
There is a known, (by Toyota), issue with the ABS brake actuator in many Prius generations including the 2nd generation Prius that I own. My mechanic said it would cost @$3000 to fix. This as I said is and has been a known issue with these cars that affects the ABS braking and puts myself, my family and any one on the road near me in danger. Toyota was quietly replacing these under an unadvertised, extended warranty program. Mine is out of this so called warranty period but if this was a known issue and was corrected at no cost due to the fact Toyota knew there was an issue why was there never a recall on the affected models all with this same problem? I feel that this dangerous problem should be corrected by Toyota at no cost to the owners of their dangerous affected vehicles.
Hatch release has melted, see the federal safety agency ID’s for example: 10511408, 10533059, 10504366, 10496197, 10448470, etc.
Compare the 2007 Toyota Prius
Prius vs Toyota Camry HybridPrius vs Ford Fusion HybridPrius vs Honda Accord HybridPrius vs Honda Insight
Other model years
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Questions about the 2007 Toyota Prius
Is the 2007 Toyota Prius reliable?
Owners have filed 2,004 complaints about the 2007 Toyota Prius, 12.0 times a typical Prius model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2007 Toyota Prius year score?
The 2007 Toyota Prius scores 5 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Toyota Prius: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2007 Toyota Prius?
Lights, with 1,061 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles. Next is brakes (331).
How many recalls does the 2007 Toyota Prius have?
4 recalls, covering hybrid propulsion system, steering and equipment.
What year does the Toyota Prius have the most lights problems?
The Toyota Prius model years with the most lights complaints are 2007 (1,061 complaints), 2006 (941 complaints) and 2008 (583 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2007 Toyota Prius get?
Official estimates for the 2007 Toyota Prius range from 46 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.5L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 48 city and 45 highway.
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