2007 TOYOTA PRIUS Structurebody Problems

2007 PRIUS REAR HATCH LATCH MELTED OFF. THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. THERE IS NO WAY TO GET TO EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND SPARE TIRE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ISSUE A NATION RECALL AS THIS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

THE COVER TO THE BACK HATCH LATCH HAS MELTED INTO A GOOEY BLACK MASS THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT (AT BEST) TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK,. SINCE THE SPARE TIRE AND TIRE CHANGING GEAR (JACK, WRENCH, ETC.) ARE STORED IN THE BACK, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE LATCH COVER - THE DETERIORATION OF THIS PART CAN IN NO WAY BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEGLECT OR ABUSE ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER/OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY TOYOTA. *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

THE RUBBER ON THE REAR HATCH LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND DEGENERATED INTO A PILE OF GOO, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH DOOR. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN DEFECT FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR, BUT TOYOTA HAS SO FAR NOT MADE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE RUBBER COVER OF THE EXTERNAL TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED. ON MANY OCCASIONS, THE LATCH OPENS ONLY AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS. A WEB SEARCH FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

REAR HATCH RELEASE LATCH HAS BEEN GETTING STICK TO THE TOUCH AND INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. TRIED CLEANING THE LATCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THE RUBBER COVERING THE LATCH SEEMS TO BE MELTING. CHECKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND, IF NOT CORRECTED, WILL LIKELY RESULT IN LATCH RELEASE SWITCH FAILURE. THE LOCATION OF THE RUBBER LATCH RELEASE COVER PROTECTS IT FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS PART OTHER THAN A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE. *TR

2007 PRIUS LIFTBACK BLACK RUBBER SWITCH-HANDLE IS MELTING AND BLACK RUBBER TAR IS ALL OVER HANDS WHEN TOUCHING THE SWITCH-HANDLE. REPORTED FOR YEARS BY OTHER OWNERS ON PRIUSCHAT BLOG: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/THREADS/2007-PRIUS-TRUNK-HATCH-RELEASE-RUBBER-PIECE-MELTED.71647/PAGE-3 SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE MELTING RUBBER HANDLE WHICH IS ON HANDS WHENEVER YOU TOUCH IT. VERY HOT TO TOUCH DURING SUMMER WEATHER TOO. PART NUMBERS FOR 2007 PRIUS (BUT ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THEM!): 84905-47010 - FOR MODELS WITH SMART ENTRY. 84840-47020 - FOR MODELS WITHOUT SMART ENTRY. LOCAL DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE DEFECTIVE PART IS COMMON, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE/REPAIR FOR FREE. THE BLOG ABOVE SHOWS COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF SIMILAR CASES COSTING AS MUCH AS >$300 TO REPLACE. THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING IN OUR 2009 PRIUS TOO. *TR

THE BACK DOOR 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. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRED CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND PERSEVERANCE TO GET IT OPEN. I CANNOT OPEN IT ANYMORE AS THE LATCH BROKE. 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. BLUE 2007 PRIUS IN CUPERTINO, CA. *TR

PARKING MY PRIUS, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HIT A VERY SMALL PATCH OF BLACK ICE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE CAR SLANTED BRIEFLY TO THE LEFT--THEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE OF ENGINE POWER. THE CAR RUSHED OVER A MOUND OF ICE AND SNOW, JUMPED THE CURB, RUSHED FORWARD BETWEEN A WALL AND A TREE, NARROWLY MISSING IT, AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED TOYOTA TRUCK FACING OUTWARD FROM THE CURB. MY PRIUS HIT THE HEAVY TRUCK WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO KNOCK IT SIX FEET FOR THEIR NORTH AND THREE FEET TO THE WEST. AFTER IMPACT, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE, A SOUND I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE IN SEVEN YEARS OF DRIVING THE CAR. IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SURGE PAST THE TRUCK, WHICH I BELIEVE CAUSED THE MOST DAMAGE TO THE FRONT LEFT BUMPER OF THE CAR. I WAS STUNNED AND DIDN'T THINK...

THE TRUNK HANDLE HAS MELTED - TURNING THE RUBBER INTO A STICKY GOO - AND ONE IS UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE REAR HATCH SWITCH AT THE COST OF $310.22..THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS REPAIR WAS NOT UNEXPECTED IN THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON THE SCION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND IS BEING REPAIRED BY TOYOTA AT THEIR EXPENSE. OTHER REPORTS ON THE WEB HIGHLIGHT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS. REQUEST HAVE BEEN SENT TO TOYOTA TO COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

DURING THE SUMMER OF 2011, WE NOTICED THE TRUNK LATCH MECHANISM TO BE STICKY AND MELTING, LEAVING BLACK STUFF ON OUR HANDS. WE LIVE IN SOUTHWEST OHIO, SO TEMPERATURES ARE USUALLY IN THE 80S-90S IN THE PEAK OF SUMMER. AT TIMES, THIS WOULD CAUSE THE TRUNK LATCH NOT TO WORK, AND WE COULDN'T OPEN THE TRUNK. DURING THE FALL MONTHS, THINGS IMPROVED, AND IT WASN'T AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE. ONCE THE COLDER WINTER MONTHS BEGAN, THE TRUNK LATCH BEGAN TO STICK AND WOULDN'T OPEN WHEN IT WAS COLD. I CAN RECALL SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO OPEN THE TRUNK UNSUCCESSFULLY. AGAIN, THINGS IMPROVED ONCE TEMPERATURES WARMED UP IN SPRING. THE WHOLE CYCLE STARTED AGAIN IN THE SUMMER AND REPEATED OVER AND OVER. OVER TIME, THE PART THAT THE LATCH IS CONNECTED TO BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE. I ASKED ABOUT IT DURING MY ROUTINE 80K MILE SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THAT...

THE RUBBER TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED INCREASINGLY OVER TIME. WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM, OPENING THE TRUNK LEAVES MY HAND COVERED IN TAR-LIKE GOO AND THE SENSOR IS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. IN WINTER, THE LATCH DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED WHATSOEVER. IN ADDITION TO BEING INCREDIBLY ANNOYING, THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS A POSSIBLE EGRESS POINT SHOULD THE CAR EVER BECOME WEDGED. PLEASE GET TOYOTA TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED DURING THE WINTER, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE IT FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

REAR HATCH HANDLE LIQUEFIED. *TR

THE HATCHBACK HANDLE/LOCK HAS MELTED. NOW WHEN IT'S VERY COLD YOU CANNOT OPEN IT WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE FORCE. MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE CAN'T GET IT OPEN. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE RUBBER HAS "MELTED" OFF IF THE LATCH AND HAS MADE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF MY VEHICLE. IT BEGAN WITH NUMEROUS BLACK AND STICKY FINGERS THEN PROGRESSED TO CHUNKS OF GOOEY OF WHAT I THINK WAS PLASTIC COMING OFF INTO MY HANDS AND HAS ENDED UP BEING AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TASK TO GAIN ACCESS VIA THE BACK END OF MY CAR. FROM A VERY QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND EVERYONE IS GETTING THE SAME ANSWER I AM GETTING FROM TOYOTA....PAY UP!! THIS HAS TO BE A MFG DEFECT. I LIVE IN NORTH TEXAS SO YES, IT DOES GET HOT HERE BUT MELT THE PLASTIC OFF YOUR CAR HOT, I THINK NOT! PLEASE HELP US! *TR

THE RUBBER COVERING THE EXTERNAL HATCH LATCH AT THE REAR OF MY 2007 PRIUS HAS DEGRADED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LATCH NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR THE 2007 PRIUS AND VERY DANGEROUS AS IT WILL NOT ALLOW ACCESS INTO THE TRUNK AREA IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. BECAUSE OF THE MELTED/DEGRADED RUBBER MY WIFE CAN NO LONGER GET INTO THE TRUNK AND I CAN ONLY GET INTO THE TRUNK AT RANDOM INTERVALS WITH SEVERE PRESSURE PLACED ON THE RUBBER/SWITCH AREA. IT COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO REACH THE SPARE IN AN EMERGENCY. IT COULD ALSO DAMAGE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH THE PRESSURE NEEDED TO MAKE IT WORK. THIS IS CLEARLY A TOYOTA DESIGN AND MATERIALS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY TOYOTA BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

RUBBER HATCH LATCH COVER HAS DETERIORATED AND IT HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH, AND VERY DIFFICULT IN COLD WEATHER (MY WIFE CANNOT OPEN IT AND IT IS HER CAR). I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE RUBBER ON THE REAR HATCH RELEASE HAS DETERIORATED CAUSING DIFFICULTY OR IMPOSSIBILITY OF OPENING THE REAR HATCH. THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

THE RUBBER TRUNK RELEASE MELTED THIS SUMMER, CREATING A STICKY MESS AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. HAD TO TRY NUMEROUS TIMES WITH GREAT FORCE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. NOW THAT THE TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED, THE RUBBER BAR IS FROZEN HARD AND I CANNOT DEPRESS IT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. *TR

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DETERIORATED AND HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. TONIGHT IT IS VERY COLD OUT AND THE MECHANISM STUCK AGAIN AND WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED UNLOCKING TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T RE-LOCK THE DOORS AND PULLED AGAIN ON THE LATCH AND THE WHOLE BACK PART BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. THE COMBINATION OF THE STICKING AND THE COLD MADE THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS ALL THAT IT IS HOLDING THE LATCH BRITTLE TO THE POINT OF SIMPLY BREAKING WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE HATCH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE MATERIAL THAT LATCHED THE DOOR WITH THE TRUNK WAS MELTED AND THE TRUNK COULD NOT BE ACCESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

BRAKE SYSTEM: ABS WARNING MALFUNCTION LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE IS TAPPED, BUT THERE IS NO MALFUNCTION OR ISSUE. HAVE TO TURN OFF VEHICLE TO RESET IT. HANDLE ON REAR DOOR/HATCHBACK DOOR: HANDLE MELTED INTO A BLACK GOOEY MESS, HATCHBACK COULD NOT BE OPENED. WENT TO DEALERSHIP, THEY WOULD NOT FIX WITHOUT CHARGING ME EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES. THE FIRST QUOTE WE GOT WAS ALMOST $300 TO FIX, WAITED A COUPLE OF MONTHS, DEALER FINALLY DROPPED TO $138 TO FIX IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN DEFECTIVE ISSUE--NO ONE SHOULD BE CHARGED ANYTHING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED IN AN EMERGENCY. WHY TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THIS WITHOUT CAUSING THEIR CUSTOMER'S POTENTIAL DANGER/HARM SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THEM NOT CARING ABOUT THE CUSTOMER. DASHBOARD WARPING: DASHBOARD ON DRIVER SIDE BUCKLES UP WHERE IT MEETS THE EDGE OF...

REAR HATCH LATCH RELEASE BUTTON IS RUBBER. IT HAS DETERIORATED RELEASING BLACK SUBSTANCE ONTO FINGERS, IT IS STICKY AND BUTTON DOES NOT RELEASE AS WELL AS BEFORE. *TR

I CANNOT OPEN THE HATCH OF MY PRIUS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. IN ALL PRIUS BASE MODELS THAT I KNOW OF THE HANDLE LITERALLY MELTS OFF OF THE CAR MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE HATCH. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES UP TO $300.00 TO FIX THIS ISSUE WHEN IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. IT IS COMPLETELY INSANE THAT THEY ARE MAKING PRIUS OWNERS PAY THIS AND ARE MAKING AN INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY OFF OF ITS CONSUMERS WHEN WE WERE SOLD A FAULTY PART. *TR

THE RUBBER ON MY TRUNK RELEASE HAS TURNED TO A TARRY MESS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND LEAVING BLACK TAR ALL OVER MY FINGERS. WHEN THE RELEASE DOES NOT WORK, I HAVE PULL OUT MY KEYS TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON OR OPEN THE CAR TO PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON WHICH SOMETIMES RELEASES IT BUT NOT ALWAYS. I OPT NOT TO USE MY TRUNK BECAUSE IT IS SO TERRIBLY INCONVENIENT AND FRUSTRATING NOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM JUGGLING PACKAGES AND/OR KIDS. I AM TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AS I SEE MANY POSTS DEALING WITH THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE MATERIAL IN THE TRUNK DOOR HANDLE IS DISSOLVING AND OR DISINTEGRATING. I RECENTLY RESEARCHED THE DEFECT ON THE INTERNET AND OBSERVED WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS. IN A RECENT VISIT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I PRESENTED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE REPAIR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE IF I WANTED THE REPAIR. THE CHARGE IMO WAS EXCESSIVE FOR SOMETHING THAT IMO WAS A BUILT IN DEFECT AND DESERVES A RECALL. *TR

WITHIN THE HANDLE FOR THE REAR HATCH OF THE 2007 PRIUS THERE IS A STRIP OF RUBBER WHICH I ASSUME IS TO PREVENT MOISTURE FROM PENETRATING INTO THE INTERIOR COMPONENTS AND IT MAY ALSO SHIELD SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING. THIS PIECE OF RUBBER IS BECOMING SOFT AND MELTING. WHENEVER WE OPEN THE HATCH, OUR FINGERS AND HANDS ARE STAINED WITH A BLACK GOOEY SUBSTANCE THAT'S DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM OUR HANDS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2011. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A BODY PART SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 4 YRS AND SINCE WE PURCHASED USED, IT MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN GOOEY BEFORE WE PURCHASED. *TR

THE RUBBER COVER TO THE EXTERNAL TRUNK LATCH HAS MELTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS EITHER GOOEY TO THE TOUCH IN WARM WEATHER OR FROZEN SOLID AND IMMOVABLE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE, AT TIMES, DUE TO THE INFLEXIBILITY OF THE RUBBER I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND, THUS, ACCESS THE SPARE, ANY OF MY REPAIR TOOLS, OUR EARTHQUAKE KIT, FLARES, JUMPERS, ETC. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK. TOYOTA NEEDS A RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AS THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS EXORBITANT, QUOTED TO ME AS $352. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REAR HATCH DOOR SEAL FAILED AND ALLOWED WATER TO PENETRATE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

THE PLASTIC WELD PROCESS OR OTHER TYPE OF GLUING PROCESS USED TO MAKE THE VEHICLES EXTERIOR FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE AND BACK UP LIGHT LENSE ASSEMBLIES OR HOUSINGS FAILS. ALL FOUR, TWO FRONT AND TWO REAR, EXTERIOR COMBINATION LIGHT LENSE ASSEMBLIES SUFFER THIS PREMATURE AND SERIOUS FAILURE. WHEN THESE EXTERIOR LENSES BEGIN TO FAIL THEY ALLOW WATER INTRUSION FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ALLOWS MOISTURE TO PENETRATE INTO AREAS OF THE LENSE ASSEMBLY WHICH SUPPORT ALL OF THE LIGHT BULBS USED TO WARN OR SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS OR PEDESTRIANS. AT A VERY MINIMUM THIS PROBLEM RESULTS IN PREMATURE BULB FAILURE FOR ALL OF THE SIGNALING SYSTEMS SPECIFIED ABOVE. RESEARCHING YOUR SITE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOU MANY TIMES AND TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. IS ALSO AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHAT YOU DON'T SEEM TO BE AWARE OF IS THE MOST SERIOUS CONCERN RESULTING FROM THIS...

REAR DOOR OPENER !! RUBBER MELTED AND BLOCK DOOR OPENER (LOCK UNLOCK SYSTEM) . *TR

THE RUBBER TRUNK RELEASE IS CRACKED, MELTED AND DOES NOT FUNCTION IN COLD WEATHER. IT IS A STICKY GOOEY MESS IN HOT WEATHER. THE ESTIMATE TO REPLACE IT IS $187. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I THINK THAT IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO OPEN A DOOR TO YOUR CAR, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOW, FOR INSTANCE WOULD I BE ABLE TO REMOVE MY SPARE TIRE IN THE EVENT OF A FLAT TIRE. BIG SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ONLY ACCESSIBLE WAY OUT WAS THE HATCHBACK? BIG SAFETY ISSUE. REALLY. *TR

RELEASE BUTTON FOR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HATCHBACK HAS DEFECTIVE RUBBER, WHICH DETERIORATES PREMATURELY AND LEAKS HYDRAULIC FLUID USED TO ACTUATE THE DOOR RELEASE. AFTER A WHILE, DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF RELEASE MECHANISM. *TR

THE RUBBER ON THE HATCH ENTRY DETERIORATED SO SEVERELY THAT IT COATED MY FINGERS WITH A HOT TARRY MESS THAT BURNED MY FINGERS AND STUCK THERE, CONTINUING TO BURN. THE HATCH ALSO BECAME VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN AND SEVERAL TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WEATHER WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE ENTRY TO THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE AT SUCH TIMES. SINCE I AM HANDICAPPED AND ON DISABILITY (SERIOUS HEART, LUNG AND BACK PROBLEMS) I NEED TO BE ABLE TO PLACE EQUIPMENT AND PURCHASES IN THE HATCH AREA, BUT I OFTEN CANNOT ACCESS THE AREA. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE, BUT HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH TOYOTA OWNERS. THEREFORE, I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY ISSUES CAUSED BY THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND TAKE ACTION TO FORCE TOYOTA TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

THE RUBBER COVERING ON THE REAR HATCH OPENING MECHANISM IS MELTING. I HAVE TWO OTHER MODEL YEAR PRIUS VEHICLES (2004 AND 2006) AND THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED ON THOSE - ONLY ON THIS 2007 CAR. IT IS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH AND IT WILL PROBABLY FAIL COMPLETELY SOON. *TR

THE SWITCH SUB-ASSEMBLY, LUG (PART# 84905-47010) PART FOR THE REAR DOOR HANDLE STARTED TO MELT. BLACK TAR LIKE MATERIAL WOULD GET ON YOUR HANDS AND UNDER THE FINGERNAILS. THE ENTIRE PART WAS DECOMPOSING AND THE DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT WORK AS IT SHOULD. SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OTHER 2007 PRIUS CARS DOING THE SAME THING. CALLED TOYOTA, AND THEY SAID DURING PRODUCTION THEY USED AN ADHESIVE FOR INSULATION. THIS ADHESIVE, WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT (NORMAL SUMMER CONDITIONS), WOULD EMIT CHEMICALS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE RUBBER TO MELT, OR DECOMPOSE. TOYOTA SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING, AND OFFERED TO CLEAN THE RUBBER. I TOLD THEM IT IS LIKE TAR NOT RUBBER! THIS IS NOT A COSMETIC PROBLEM, IT COULD LEAD TO MORE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I PURCHASED A NEW PART FOR $84.31, AND WILL INSTALL IT. ALSO CONTACTING THE BBB. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ABOUT 20 OR 25 MPH THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE NOTHING HAPPENED, MY CAR CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE TIME WAS ABOUT 2:30PM JULY 10/2012 THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED BY A TOYOTA DEALER ON JUNE 28TH/2012 FOR THE 30,000 MILE CHECK UP. WE LIVE IN WEST LOS ANGELES. *TR

ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD ALONG I-5. MY TIRES HIT THE GRAVEL AND I LOST CONTROL. I WENT THROUGH THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DOWN A DIP AND LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS. I BEGAN TO ROLL AND ROLLED THE CAR FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT LEAST 15 TIMES. A ROW OF TREES IS WHAT STOPPED ME. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND I WAS STILL BUCKLED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. I HAD TO KICK OUT THE WINDSHIELD IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WENT TO EMERGENCY THAT NIGHT WHERE I WAS X-RAYED AND CHECKED OUT. I ENDED UP WITH ONLY MAJOR BRUISING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY, THE CHP THAT RESPONDED WAS SURE I WAS DEAD. THEY TOLD ME THEY EXPECTED TO SEE A DEAD BODY IN THE CAR....

AFTER ONLY ABOUT 4 YEARS USE, 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. WE BELIEVE THIS MELTING PROCESS STARTED AT ABOUT THE 3 YR. MARK. WE LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE TEMPERATURES WERE EXTREMELY WARM LAST SUMMER. APPARENTLY 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...

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2007 IN HOUSTON, TX. IN SUMMER OF 2010 THE RUBBERIZED COVER TO THE BACK LATCH BEGAN TO MELT AND HAS BECOME MALFORMED DURING HOT WEATHER. THIS HAS RESULTED IN DIFFICULTY OPENING THE BACK HATCH DOOR, SINCE THE MALFORMED RUBBER HAS MADE IT, AT TIMES, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESS WITH ENOUGH FORCE ON THE PORTION OF THE HANDLE REQUIRED TO RELEASE THE LATCH. INABILITY TO OPEN DOORS ON A VEHICLE IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN. THE HANDLE CONTINUES TO MALFORM DURING HOT WEATHER, RESULTING IN AN ONGOING CHANGE IN THE SHAPE OF THE HANDLE COVER THAT SOLIDIFIES INTO THIS SHAPE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR (COOLER WEATHER) - MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE DOOR SINCE THE RUBBER IS FAR STIFFER IN ITS NORMAL STATE. AS A SEPARATE ANNOYANCE, WHEN IN THE MELTED STATE, THE HANDLE LEAVES A TAR-LIKE SUBSTANCE ON YOUR HANDS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HE RUBBER COVER ON THE HATCH RELEASE LATCH WAS MELTED AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE HATCH RELEASE ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE HAS BECOME INOPERABLE DUE TO A DETERIORATED RUBBER COVER. FIXING THE PROBLEM REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE RELEASE ASSEMBLY. THE AREA FOR THE SPARE TIRE AND HYBRID BATTERY ARE INACCESSIBLE UNTIL THE LATCH IS REPLACED. *TR

I STARTED TO NOTICE THE BACK HATCH HANDLE GETTING STICKY NEAR THE 3 YEAR MARK, WHICH WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WHERE THE BLACK STICKY TAR WILL GET HOT & MARK MY HANDS SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND $330 TO FIX. AFTER SEARCHING AROUND IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY RECURRENT PROBLEM THAT IF MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HATCH BACK, WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I HOPE THAT TOYOTA RECALLS THIS KNOWN ISSUE OF THEIRS SOON. *TR

THE REAR DOOR LATCH RUBBER COVER HAS TURNED TO A GOO, AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH DOOR. *KB

THE HATCHBACK HANDLE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS MELTED OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES THE LATCHING MECHANISM TO FAIL, WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT IT LEAVES THIS DOOR VIRTUALLY INACCESSIBLE DURING AN EMERGENCY. EACH TIME I TRY TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR, MELTED RUBBER STICKS TO MY HAND. THIS CAR HAS PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY OTHERWISE, BUT THE HANDLE FAILURE CONSTITUTES A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR