2007 Toyota Prius Body & Structure 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

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 AND ALL THE CARS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR HAS THE WORST BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE HISTORY OF MOTOR VEHICLES. FEELS LIKE BRAKING A 747 PLANE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BRAKING

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?

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 REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THIS REPLACEMENT PART/SERVICE ONLY IS WARRANTY FOR 1 YEAR AT A PRICE OF $675 TO REPAIR. UNDER THE ADA ACT - PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADVOCATE A RECALL.

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 THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO, I HAD CHECKED FOR ACTIVE RECALLS BUT FOUND NONE, AND I CONFIRMED THE SAME SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE. APPARENTLY, THOUGH, TOYOTA HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVEN AFTER MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUCH A FAILURE DURING AN EMERGENCY NEED FOR A TOTAL STOP. I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN PURSUING FURTHER ACTION, POSSIBLY THROUGH LEGAL AVENUES.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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