2009 Toyota Prius Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 3%of 502 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 68,440miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the steering of the 2009 Toyota Prius, 3% of the 502 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 68,440 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Steering in my 2009 Prius completed failed and locked up. I literally was unable to steer my car. Luckily, I was on a neighborhoor street about to turn into my driveway and was not driving at high speeds or in a turn lane. I cannot believe that an electronic steering component like this can faili? How is this possible? I want to ensure that this doesn't happen to other Prius drivers and ensure that this isn't a faulty part issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #10778058, filed 2015-09, 128,000 miles“As I was driving my 2009 Toyota Prius on the service road of I-30 in dallas around 25 MPH after previously taking off from a red light, my vehicle's warning lights all turned on and started to beep and I could not brake or really steer. My vehicle...I almost hit the vehicle in front of me. Somehow I was able to turn right into a parking lot and somehow press on the brakes strong in enough to make the car stop. I feared for safety and the safety others as well. …”
NHTSA complaint #10555959, filed 2013-12, 110,000 miles“2009 Prius - on two occasion recently when I went to make a right turn my steering froze and the engine died. I almost hit a car. I have had it into piercy Toyota on two occasion and they still have not found anything. I am afraid to drive the car. It only ha 3000 miles on it. They have been nice, but no results. If the car is doing this now and they cannot find it what happens next. Not satisfied with there answer. I need your help.”
NHTSA complaint #10328238, filed 2010-04, 2,900 miles“In an attempt to avoid oncoming calves on a county dirt road driver inadvertantly pulled steering wheel to the right and hit a tree at road side. Tree is twelve inched from road surface. Before seat belt restrained driver, driver's forward momentum broke the steering wheel. Driver was not injured. Went to local hospital er. Sheriff investigated. With the extensive damage to the front end of the vehicle the air bag should have deployed. It did not. Photos taken. Your organization is being notified as we feel the air bag should have deployed. We will also contact Toyota. Thank you. …”
NHTSA complaint #10501231, filed 2013-03, 81,000 miles“While driving my 2009 Toyota Prius I hit a curb and then lost all steering. Steering wheel turned completely 360 degrees without turning the wheels. We were about to drive on a mountain road with numerous turns and steep grades. I had the car towed to a Toyota dealer who replaced the intermediate shaft and spiral cable sub assembly. I was researching the issue and found that Toyota had a recall for this exact item in 2004,2005, and 2006. It seems that 2009 still has the problem. If I was travelling at any higher speed and lost all steering it would have been deadly.”
NHTSA complaint #10400074, filed 2011-05, 44,627 milesRelated recalls
- 12V537000Nov 14, 2012Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2009 Prius vehicles manufactured August 5, 2003, through March 30, 2009. The affected vehicles have a steering…Covers: Toyota Prius 2004–2009
Related service bulletins
- 10182983Oct 12, 2020TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first…
- 10168537Oct 21, 2019TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first…
- 10133857Feb 25, 2013The vehicle will not start or ready-on and the steering wheel lock is engaged so that the steering wheel may only be turned very little from side-to-side.
- 10062035Feb 25, 2013Summary to be provided on a future date.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 5% |
| 2017 | 7 | 8% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2014 | 8 | 4% |
| 2013 | 8 | 2% |
| 2012 | 13 | 3% |
| 2011 | 7 | 1% |
| 2010 | 30 | 1% |
| 2009 | 13 | 3% |
| 2008 | 18 | 1% |
| 2007 | 34 | 2% |
| 2006 | 22 | 2% |
| 2005 | 39 | 4% |
| 2004 | 10 | 2% |
| 2003 | 39 | 39% |
| 2002 | 80 | 48% |
| 2001 | 45 | 27% |
Other parts of the 2009 Toyota Prius
199 complaintsExterior lighting
111 complaintsVehicle speed control
71 complaintsElectrical system
60 complaintsOther or unknown
36 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
22 complaintsEngine
19 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsElectronic stability control
12 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Toyota Prius
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology