2007 TOYOTA PRIUS Structurebody Problems

catalytic converter is easily accessible and there should be a recall to have a safety operation and stop all these cars from being sold in the market because there is a rise in many thefts of the catalytic converter due to it being very easily accusable without any guard in place to prevent thieves from getting to it to remove and sell for parts. Spray paint can be cleaned off and vin numbers can be sanded down. simply trying that will not work. i was unaware that it was stolen off of the vehicle until i drove it a little ways to where the vehicle was then burning and i could smell it catching on fire

THE MAIN DASH.DISPLAY, SPEEDOMETER, WILL NOT SHOW UP DUE TO ELECTRIC PROBLEM. POWER FROM REAR, AUX, BATTERY IS INTERRUPTED SOME HOW. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE INOP IN THIS SITUATION. THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THE CONDITION WILL SHOW UP, BUT WHEN DOOR IS OPENED, THE INDICATOR LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON. CAR WILL HAVE BEEN PARKED, TURNED OFF. DIFFERENT FIXES ON THE NET. MY FIX IS TO IN PLUG REAR BATTERY'S 2 CONNECTIONS, WAIT THEN HOPE, AND TRY AGAIN

SOMETIMES THE DASH WON'T LIGHT UP OTHER TIMES THE CAR WON'T SHUT OFF PLUS ON THE TAILGATE THE LITTLE ELECTRICAL PIECE FELL OFF WHERE YOU OPEN THE TRUNK

FIRST ISSUE IS WITH THE REAR LATCH BEING USELESS SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER AS THE MOLDING IS ALL MELTED AND ACCESS TO THE TRUNK BEING IMPOSSIBLE. SECOND AND MOST IMPORTANT I'VE NOTICED THE BRAKING ON THIS CAR IS VERY VERY SUSPECT. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AROUND 6 MONTHS AGO FROM WESTBURY TOYOTA AND I'VE LEARNED I NEED TO APPLY MY BRAKES AT LEAST A GOOD 50 TO 100 FEET BEFORE THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. COUPLE MONTHS AGO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED SO SUDDEN THAT I ALSO HIT MY BRAKES, THE ABS SIGN FLASHED AS IF IT "WAS" WORKING BUT THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING, I ENDED UP PRESSING THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND STILL NO RESULT. IF I HADN'T KEPT MY DISTANCE I WOULD'VE DEFINITELY ENDED UP IN THAT CARS TRUNK. I CAN SAY FROM ALL MY EXPERIENCE AS A DRIVER...

THE REAR HATCH IS EXTREMELY HARD TO OPEN IN THE SUMMER AND NOW IN THE WINTER EVEN HARDER. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR IS PARKED UNDER A CARPORT WINTER AND SUMMER. I HAVE LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THE REAR HATCH TO CHANGE A TIRE OR GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN CASE OF EMERGENCY AND I SOMETIMES CAN'T GET IT TO OPEN. IS THERE SOME WAY TOYOTA CAN HELP MAKE THIS RIGHT. THE RUBBER PART THAT YOU PRESS IS HARDER THAN A STICK AND WON'T RELEASE. THIS HAPPENS SOME TIMES AT THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT OR AT ANY STORE PARKING LOT. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE HOME AND CAN'T GET MY GROCERIES OUT BECAUSE THE HATCH WON'T LET IT RELEASE. IS THIS A DEFECT THAT CAN BE CORRECTED?

THE BACK LATCH TO THE TRUNK/HATCH IS DEFECTIVE. THE RUBBER EXTERIOR PART HAS MELTED AND IS ALL GOOEY AND STICKY. IN THE WINTER TIME IT FREEZES. WE ARE UNABLE TO OPEN OR USE THE TRUNK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALSO CAN NOT ACCESS SPARE OR COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR REPORTS. I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED AS IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND DEFECT.

HOOD LATCH WILL NOT OPEN 50, 60% OF THE TIME. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I FEEL IT SHOULD BE RECALLED..

THE REAR LIFT GATE LATCH ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE EXTERIOR RUBBER OVER THE LATCH MECHANISM/SWITCH HAS MELTED, TURNED GUMMY AND WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE. IN COLD WEATHER THE LATCH HAS BEEN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND THE TRIM PIECE CONTAINING THE TRUNK HATCH LATCH BEZEL WHILE TRYING TO GET THE LATCH TO RELEASE BROKE. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS A SECURITY AND A SAFETY HAZARD AS I CAN NOT ACCESS THE REAR HATCH OF MY CAR IN UNDER NORMAL USE NOR AN EMERGENCY AND DEFEATS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A HATCHBACK CAR WHICH IS ACCESS TO THE CAR'S INTERIOR. THE CAR JACK AND EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE, BATTERY LOCATED JUST BEHIND THE FAILED HATCH LATCH. I AM DISABLED, I CAN NOT PUT A WHEEL CHAIR IN/OUT. THIS IS UNSAFE AND TOYOTA...

AFTER I NOTICED THAT THE SUV SUFFICIENTLY AHEAD OF ME IN THE SAME LANE WAS STOPPING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, I STARTED SLOWING DOWN WITH PLENTY OF SPACE. I GLANCED FOR A SECOND TO MY RIGHT SIDE TO CHECK SAFETY AROUND ANOTHER SET OF HEADLIGHTS. WHEN I FACED FORWARD I COULD SEE THAT I WAS GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE ABOUT-TO-TURN CAR AHEAD OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR KEPT MOVING FORWARD AND SLAMMED INTO THE SUV'S REAR END. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO PHYSICALLY INJURIES, BUT THE COLLISION CAUSED LOW/MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE SUV AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY PRIUS -- ENOUGH THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CLOBBERED, AND THAT MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. AT THE TIME OF THIS POST, THE REPAIR SHOP HAS NOT YET FINISHED EVALUATING IT AND REPORTING ON ALL THE DAMAGED PARTS AND THE ESTIMATE COSTS. PRIOR TO PURCHASING...

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DIPS BELOW 40 F, THE REAR GATE DOES NOT OPEN. THE RUBBER COVERING OF THE SWITCH TO LIFT THE GATE GETS VERY HARD AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO PRESSURE TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT GATE.

THE RUBBER HANDLE OF THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH HAS "MELTED" INTO THE OPERATING PART OF THE LATCH, MAKING IT TOTALLY INOPERABLE IN THE WINTER, AND COOLER MONTHS. THIS IS NOT DUE TO EXPOSURE TO HEAT EXTREMES - THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED IN A NORTHERN PART OF THE US, WHERE SUMMER TEMPERATURES RARELY EXCEED 80 DEGREES. IN AN EMERGENCY IN THE WINTER, THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE USE OF THE HATCHBACK. THE OPERATION IS PROBLEMATIC IN THE SUMMER - SOMETIMES IT CAN BE FORCED OPEN, SOMETIMES NOT. IT HAS TAKEN A FEW YEARS FOR THE LATCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE; IT BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND STICKY BLACK RESIDUE TRANSFERRED TO HANDS TOUCHING IT FOR THOSE YEARS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR; CLEARLY DEFECTIVE RUBBER WAS USED.

THE TRUNK LATCH ON MY '07 PRIUS HAS "MELTED" AND IS NO LONGER WORKING. SINCE THE LATCH IS NO LONGER WORKING, THE TRUNK IS UNABLE TO OPEN, AND ALSO UNABLE TO REMAIN IN A FULLY LATCHED, CLOSED POSITION. BECAUSE OF THIS, I AM UNABLE TO LOCK THE DOORS. SOMETIMES, I CAN GIVE THE TRUNK DOOR AN EXTRA PUSH TO TURN OFF THE "DOOR OPEN" SENSOR TO LOCK THE VEHICLE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT FULLY LATCHING AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM WILL GO OFF.

HATCHBACK WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE RUBBER THAT COVERS THE LATCH HAS DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS STICKY IN THE WARM WEATHER AND ROCK SOLID IN THE COLD WEATHER WHERE YOU CAN NO LONGER PRESS IT TO OPEN THE TRUCK.

HATCHBACK DOOR DOES NOT OPEN IN COLD WEATHER.

REAR HATCH DOOR LATCH FAILURE, STARTING WITH SOFTENING AND THEN COMPLETE MELTING OF THE RUBBER COVER AND FINALLY TO LATCH NOT OPERATING AT ALL, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.

THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE HANDLE (THE EXTERIOR HANDLE OF THE REAR HATCH) OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, MELTED INTO A STICKY TARRY BLACK RUBBERY GOOEY MESS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS BEING A VISCOUS BLACK GLOB LIKE ROOFING TAR. TO OPEN THE HATCH, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH THIS BLACK GOO EACH TIME, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE HATCH RELEASE. I THOUGHT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL CAR OWNERS. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND IS SELLING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR $96 PLUS REPAIR COSTS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT RECALLING THIS. FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THIS MEANS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE EXTREME DIFFICULTY OPENING THE REAR HATCH (A LIFE SAFETY ACCESS POINT), AND WILL GET STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOU FROM THE MELTED DOWN RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERIOR HATCH RELEASE HANDLE. TO ME,...

THE TRUNK OPENER SWITCH ON MY 2007 PRIUS NO LONGER WORKS RELIABLY BECAUSE IT IS MADE OF A DEFECTIVE RUBBER WHICH HAS AT THIS POINT MELTED INTO A GOOPY MESS. THIS MEANS THAT THE OPENER SWITCH CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION, RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK UNTIL THE RELEASE MECHANISM OF THE SWITCH OVERCOMES THE TENSILE STRENGTH OF THE GOOP. AS A CURSORY GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH TOYOTA ROUTINELY REFUSES TO REPAIR. IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A PET OR CHILD COULD BE DIFFICULT TO RETRIEVE FROM THE TRUNK AREA IF THE TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED. AN UNEXPECTED HAZARD SUCH AS A LEAKING PROPANE TANK OR A BATTERY FIRE IN THE TRUNK AREA COULD SIMILARLY BE DIFFICULT TO MITIGATE.

THE REAR LIFT GATE LATCH ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE EXTERIOR RUBBER OVER THE LATCH MECHANISM/SWITCH HAS MELTED, TURNED GUMMY AND WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE. IN COLD WEATHER THE LATCH HAS BEEN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND THE TRIM PIECE CONTAINING THE TRUNK HATCH LATCH FRACTURED IN SUB-FREEZING WEATHER WHILE TRYING TO GET THE LATCH TO RELEASE. THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I CAN NOT ACCESS THE REAR HATCH OF MY CAR IN AN EMERGENCY AND DEFEATS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A HATCHBACK CAR WHICH IS ACCESS TO THE CAR'S INTERIOR. THE CAR JACK AND EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE LOCATED JUST BEHIND THE FAILED HATCH LATCH. I HAD TO PAY OVER $500+ TO HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THE FAILED HATCH LATCH...

THE HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND HAVE NEEDED BULB REPLACEMENT 3 TIMES SO FAR. ALSO ALL THE TAIL LIGHT AND THE TAG LIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME RECENTLY AND REQUIRED BULB REPLACEMENT. WHEN DRIVING WE HAD NO IDEA THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN WE WERE PULLED OVER BY POLICE. THIS CONSTITUTES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN MY OPINION. ALSO THE HATCHBACK HANDLE SOMETIMES FAILS TO WORK DUE TO THE RUBBER COVER DETERIORATION.

ANOTHER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE RUBBER COVER OF THE 2007 PRIUS HATCH RELEASE/LATCH. THE RUBBER COVERING HAS DETERIORATED AND DEGRADED IN A WAY THAT CAUSES IT TO MELT AND BECOME STICKY IN WARM OR HOT WEATHER; TOUCHING THE COVER CAUSES THE MATERIAL TO STICK TO FINGERS, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE, REQUIRING THE USE OF A SOLVENT CLEANER. IN COLD AND FREEZING WEATHER, THE COVER BECOMES VERY STIFF AND NOT FLEXIBLE, AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESS, CAUSING THE HATCH TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. THIS IS A BASIC OPERATIONAL PROBLEM, RENDERING THE HATCHBACK NON-FUNCTIONAL - IT CAN'T BE OPENED, OR IF IT CAN BE OPENED IT LEAVES A SUBSTANCE ON THE DRIVER'S BODY. ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE, AS WHEN THE HATCH CAN'T BE OPENED THIS IS ESSENTIALLY BEING LOCKED OUT OF THE TRUNK WHERE THE SPARE TIRE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT ARE LOCATED. DEALER WILL CHARGE APPROXIMATELY $300 FOR PART AND...

BACK HATCH HANDLE MELTS IN HOT WEATHER AND GETS TAR ON FINGERS AND DRIPS ON CAR BODY. THE ONLY WAY TOYOTA HAS TO FIX THIS IS TO MAKE CONSUMER PAY FOR A NEW REAR HANDLE ASSEMBLY.

THE REAR HATCH LATCH RUBBER COVER HAS DISSOLVED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS TO THE POINT YOU CAN NO LONGER OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. IF SOMEONE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT YOU COULD NOT OPEN THE REAR HATCH DOOR AND YOU ARE TRAPPED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH NO TIME TO GET YOURSELF OUT OR PULL ANYONE ELSE OUT, I HAVE SEEN ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS GOING BACK INTO 2011. THIS IS HAPPENING ON A LOT OF CARS, ESPECIALLY TOYOTA PRIUS'S. AS OF RIGHT NOW I CAN NOT OPEN THE HATCH DOOR ON MY 2007 PRIUS. IT HAS JUST GOTTEN WORSE UNTIL NOW WHEN IT WILL NOT OPEN. I USED TO HAVE TO FIGHT BY PUSHING DOWN AND PULLING UP, BUT IT WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL NOW.

THE RUBBER COVER ON THE REAR HATCH LATCH HAS DETERIORATED SO SEVERELY THAT THE LATCH HANDLE WILL NO LONGER WORK. THE RUBBERIZED COVER HAS BECOME GOOEY AND STICKY, AND COMES OFF ON YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU TOUCH IT. THERE IS NO ALTERNATE TRUNK RELEASE ON THIS VEHICLE, SO WITH THE HANDLE MECHANISM GUMMED UP BY THE DETERIORATING RUBBER COVER, THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PIECE HAS BEEN DETERIORATING OVER THE PAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO HOLD OFF FOR A TOYOTA RECALL ON THIS PIECE, BUT NOW WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED.

FAULTY LIFTGATE HANDLE. THE RUBBER MELTS IN WARM WEATHER, LEAVING A STICKY BLACK TAR ON YOUR FINGERS THAT WILL NOT WASH OFF. THIS RUBBER MELTS INTO THE MECHANISM SUCH THAT THE LIFTGATE IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULTY BATCH OF RUBBER THAT WAS USED, BUT SO FAR REFUSES TO RECALL THE FAULTY MECHANISM IN THE US. THE LIFTGATE WOULD ONLY OPEN INTERMITTANTLY, WITH A LOT OF EFFORT ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NOW, IT WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL, SO WE ARE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR.

I GOT UNINTENDED HIGH SPEED AND I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. IT STOPPED BECAUSE THE WHEEL WAS HIT BY THE CURBE

READ HATCH DOOR LATCH SWITCH FAILURE DUE TO RUBBER COVER THAT HAS DETERIORATED AND MELTED INTO STICKY GOO. THE SWITCH NOW IS INTERMITTENT. BLACK TARRY RUBBER GETS ON MY HANDS WHEN I TRY TO USE IT. THE PRICE TO REPAIR WAS QUOTED AS $350

LIFTGATE HANDLE LATCH MECHANISM DETERIORATED (INSIDE THE EXTERIOR HANDLE, NOT THE ACTUAL CONNECTION DOWN NEAR THE BUMPER). THIS IS A KNOWN 2007 PRIUS PROBLEM BOTH WITHIN THIS DATABASE AND IN ONLINE FORUMS, IF YOU SEARCH. PROBABLY PART OF THE 'RUBBER PARTS / GASKET TURNING INTO GOOP' PROBLEM DISCUSSED ELSEWHERE. SHOULD BE A DEALER WARRANTY REPAIR AS IT IS EXPENSIVE DEFECT TO FIX, $600 OR SO, ENTAILING REMOVING PANELS FROM THE INSIDE ETC AND REPLACING THE SWITCH. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER BUT THAT IS ALL THUS FAR. LEXINGTON TOYOTA DEALER (MASS.) SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT, WHICH SEEMS UNLIKELY.

THE RUBBER COVER OVER THE REAR HATCH LATCH GOT SOFT AND WOULD STICK ONTO MY HANDS. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. ALSO MY BREAKS GRAB ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP.

TRUNK RELEASE HATCH BUTTON DEGRADED. TURNED STICKY, FELT LIKE, TAR. TO OPEN THE TRUNK TOOK CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK OR OPENING WITH DIFFICULTY. TRUNK RELEASE HATCH BUTTON "MELTED" THEN THE ENTIRE GARNISH BROKE OFF WHEN TRYING TO OPEN IT.

THE RUBBER COVER ON THE REAR HATCH HANDLE IS DEFECTIVE AND MELTING. THIS CAUSES THE REAR HATCH TO STICK, NOT ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE REAR HATCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR HATCH SPACE.

THE BLACK RUBBER ON THE HATCHBACK LATCH HAS MELTED AND MAKES OPENING THE HATCHBACK DIFFICULT. THE BLACK GOO STICKS TO THE HAND AND IS VERY MESSY BECAUSE IT GETS ON ANYTHING TOUCHED INCLUDING CLOTHES, DOOR HANDLES AND CHILDREN. THE MELTED RUBBER INTERFERES WITH THE LATCH SUCH ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE HATCHBACK DOES NOT OPEN.

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE AND TURN INTO A RUBBERY AND STICKY BLACK MESS. THIS ISSUE INTERFERES WITH THE USE OF THE HATCH AS THE RUBBER NOT ONLY GETS ON YOUR FINGERS BUT APPEARS TO BE BLOCKING THE RELEASE MECHANISM. THE DETERIORATION STARTED DURING THE SUMMER.. THE ISSUE HAS WORSENED AND TODAY I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH WHATSOEVER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN, THE DASHBOARD MELTED AND LEFT A SHINY SUBSTANCE WHICH CAUSED A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

THE REAR HATCH HANDLE ASSEMBLY HAS MELTED COMPLETELY INTO A GOOEY MESS. THIS HANDLE WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA UNDER WARRANTY IN 2009.. AND THE REPLACEMENT MELTED COMPLETELY AS DID THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. BUT NOW THIS WILL COST APPX. $300 TO REPLACE. THERE IS OTHER WAY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH . THIS PART IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND RESULTS IN NO WAY TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN THE HATCH. UPDATE 9/15/15*CW *CN

FOR ABOUT 3-4 YEARS OFF AND ON IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH BACK DOOR. OVER TIME THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. AT THIS POINT EVEN MY HUSBAND IS HAVING TROUBLE OPENING THE DOOR. NON OF THE OTHER DOORS IS HAVING A PROBLEM. THE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH OPENING SWITCH ABOVE THE LICENSE PLATE IS DETERIORATING AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS. WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE THIS IN TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY HUSBAND JUST CALLED OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $110 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHAT GIVES?

THE GAS TANK DESIGN TOYOTA PRIUS FROM AT LEAST 2007 AND UNTIL 2010, CONTAINS NO ACTUAL FUEL GAUGE. IN THE NORTHERN STATES WITH SEVERE WINTERS THIS RESULTS IN OWNERS FREQUENTLY RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHEN THEY THINK THEY STILL HAVE AMPLE FUEL AS SHOWN BY MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE INTERNET, AND FOR US ON A TRIP IN FEBRUARY TO MARCH 2015 WE WERE IN SERIOUS FEAR OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHEN IN FACT IF THE SPECIFICATION FOR CAPACITY HAS ANY MEANING WE STILL HAD OVER 4 GALLONS OF FUEL. WE GOT SO WORRIED, WE STOPPED AT A BROTHEL IN NEVADA SO MY WIFE COULD ASK HOW FAR TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. WHEN WE GOT TO THE GAS STATION THE FUEL PUMP INDICATOR WAS EVEN BLINKING TO INDICATE WE WERE IN DANGER OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL, YET THE CAR FILLED UP WITH ONLY 65% OF ITS RATED...

THE TRUNK LATCH COVER HAS MELTED AND THE LATCH WILL NOT FUNCTION MOST OF THE TIME. THE PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE LATCH DUE TO THE COST, BUT NOW IT IS WORSE AND I OFTEN CANNOT OPEN THE HATCH. THE RUBBER COVER ON THE LATCH GETS SOFT AND GUMMY IN WARM WEATHER AND GETS BLACK RUBBER ON MY FINGERS. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND WOULD ASSUME THERE ARE MANY MORE OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT REGISTERED A COMPLAINT AND MAY HAVE PAID A HIGH PRICE TO GET THIS FIXED. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL BY TOYOTA TO FIX FOR FREE AND REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THIS REPAIRED. *TR

10700946 UPDATE--TOYOTA CHARGED ME $331.61 FOR THE PART AND $182.15 FOR THE LABOR. *TR

I TRIED TO OPEN THE HATCHBACK AND THE ENTIRE HANDLE CAME OFF (OVER A FOOT LONG), CONNECTED TO THE CAR ONLY BY WIRES. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO YOU (LAST YEAR?) THAT THE RUBBER GASKET THAT GETS PRESSED TO OPEN THIS HATCHBACK WAS MELTING AND SOMETIMES WOULD NOT OPEN THE HATCH. I NOTICED MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL. IN THE COLDER WINTER WEATHER THIS WAS NOT SUCH A PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY ORDERED THE PART AND SAID THEY'LL CHARGE ME $400 TO REPLACE. I SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. I GO IN TOMORROW TO DO THIS. *TR

THE TRUNK RUBBER ON THE HATCH LATCH IS DISINTEGRATING. IT'S STICKY AND GOOEY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. THE SITUATION HAS WORSENED AND SOMETIMES, I CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK AT ALL. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY 2007 PRIUS OWNERS. I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT IN THE RUBBER. *TR

THE RUBBER COVERED LATCH TO THE TRUNK/HATCH HAS DISINTEGRATED SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD AS I CANNOT ACCESS NECESSARY SAFETY EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING CAR JACK, EMERGENCY SIGN, AND JUMPER CABLES. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PIECE ON THIS MODEL, AND SO BELIEVE IT TO BE A DEFECT OF THE SUBSTANCE USED IN THE LATCH.

TRUNK/HATCHBACK OPENER/LATCH MELTED. LATCH IS NOW STICKY AND VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THIS IS A HAZARD AS SOMEONE COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. *TR

THE TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED MAKING IT VERY STICKY/GOOEY IN HOT WEATHER AND FROZEN SOLID (IMMOVABLE) IN COLD WEATHER MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. THE SITUATION CONTINUED TO WORSEN TO THE POINT OF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TRUNK YESTERDAY THE ENTIRE BACK PIECE FELL OFF THE CAR. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE HATCH AT ALL. THIS IS BOTH A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE (A LIFE SAVING ACCESS POINT) AND A SERIOUS QUALITY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE. IN ADDITION, THE COST TOYOTA IS CHARGING FOR REPAIR IS EXORBITANT (OVER $500). ALSO, I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS ON LATER MODEL PRIUS', SO IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM AT THE EXPENSE OF MANY. I DO HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR

LIFTGATE LATCH RUBBER HANDLE IS DISINTEGRATING. *TR

THE LIFT GATE LATCH ON THE 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE OF THE MELTING OF THE RUBBERIZED SUBSTANCE THAT COVERS THE LIFTGATE MECHANISM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MANY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. *TR

THE HATCHBACK LATCHING MECHANISM HAS DEGRADED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN IN WINTER CONDITIONS. IN THE SUMMER THE EXPOSED RUBBER PARTS BECAME STICKY AND BASICALLY MELTED ON YOUR HAND WHEN YOU TRIED TO OPEN IT. THE LATCH ALSO BECAME HARDER TO ACTUATE. NOW IN THE WINTER THE LATCH REQUIRES SO MUCH FORCE TO OPEN IT THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN AT ALL. *TR

THE REAR LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS INOPERABLE. THE REAR LATCH RELEASE HAS MELTED TO THE POINT THAT IT ENDS UP ALL OVER MY HANDS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH AND DOES NOT OPEN. I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 WHO ARE STRAPPED INTO CAR SEATS. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE REAR HATCH MAY BE THE ONLY WAY TO ACCESS THEM. OBVIOUSLY, IF I AM UNABLE TO ACCESS THEM, THE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH TO THE PASSENGERS, INCLUDING MY CHILDREN. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR, BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT: 1) THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM; 2) MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I...

WATER COLLECTS IN WHEEL WELL WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. *TR

THE BACK LATCH OF MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DEGRADED ("MELTED" ALMOST). IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, AND I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH DOOR EASILY. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I AM CONCERNED THAT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

EXTERIOR REAR HATCH LATCH HANDLE STICKY/MELTING. MUST USE RAG TO AVOID TOUCHING THE MESS WHEN USING THE DOOR. LATCH AND LOCK OPERATION HAS BECOME UNRELIABLE AND HATCH MUST BE SLAMMED TO ENSURE CLOSURE. PRACTICALLY IDENTICAL TO COMPLAINT ID 10632829. *TR