2007 Toyota Prius Structure

THE REAR HATCH IS POORLY DESIGNED WITH NO INDOOR RELEASE. I KEEP INJURING MY HAND AND NECK TO GET IT OPEN, OFTEN HAVING TO TAKE PAIN PILLS, GET THERAPY THE NEXT DAY AFTER STRAINING MY NECK TRYING TO LIFT UP ON THE TINY LITTLE GRIP AREA WITH MY HAND. THE LATCH WILL NOT RELEASE ON THE FIRST TRY AND WHEN THE TEMPS ARE BELOW FREEZING I OFTEN CANNOT GET IT TO OPEN AT ALL. HOW IS ONE SUPPOSED TO GET A SPARE TIRE OUT? WHEN IS IT ZERO DEGREES OUT ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEIR REAR DOOR OPEN WITHOUT TAKING OFF ONE'S GLOVE. THIS HATCH WILL NEVER OPERATE WITH A GLOVED HAND ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT. IT IS ALSO NOT SAFE TO HAVE TO FUMBLE AROUND IN PARKING LOTS ATTEMPTING TO SQUEEZE BETWEEN PARKING PLACES TO LOAD ITEMS PURCHASED WHEN ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY DEPOSIT ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ONLINE BUT NOBODY HAS MENTIONED BEING ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, NOR HAVE DEALERS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS WITHOUT CHARGING THE CUSTOMERS $100'S OF DOLLARS. *TR

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 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 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

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.

THE REAR HATCH RELEASE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS DETERIORATED 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 OF 2014. THE ISSUE HAS WORSENED AND THIS WINTER I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH WHATSOEVER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS I CANNOT ACCESS MY SPARE TIRE, JUMPER CABLES, OR ANYTHING ELSE IN MY TRUNK IN ANY OTHER WAY. *TR

RUBBER HANDLE ON REAR TRUNK OPENER/RELEASE MELTED RESULTING IN FROZEN LATCH (UNABLE TO OPEN TRUCK). VEHICLE HAS NO ALTERNATIVE WAY OF OPENING (NO INSIDE VEHICLE RELEASE). TO ACCESS TRUNK AREA I MUST REMOVE EITHER OF 2 CHILDREN SITTING IN REAR SEAT STRAPPED INTO CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND LEAN OVER BACK SEAT. THIS REMOVAL OF CHILD OPENS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COULD GET HIT IN PARKING LOT OR ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN ACCESS IS A NECESSITY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR. HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT HAS BEEN ESCALATING BUT AT THIS TIME THE TRUCK WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL USING THE HAND RELEASE. *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 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/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

IN JULY OF 2014, I BOUGHT A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM A FAMILY MEMBER IN NEVADA, A WARM STATE; I LIVE IN MINNESOTA, A COLD STATE. THE HATCH RELEASE RUBBER SEAL HAD DETERIORATED, AND IT WAS TACKY TO THE TOUCH, BUT THE HATCH RELEASED AND OPENED. WHEN NOVEMBER CAME, THE HATCH RELEASE WOULD NOT WORK; IT WAS A COOL NOVEMBER. I BELIEVE IT IS A DANGER TO NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSON INSPECTED THE HATCH RELEASE SEAL AND SAID THAT SOMEONE MUST HAVE PUT A CHEMICAL ON IT TO DAMAGE IT. TOYOTA DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART; I BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE PART FIXED, BUT I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE WITH A DEFECTIVE HATCH RELEASE SEAL TRAVELS TO A COOLER CLIMATE THAN THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST. *TR

THE RUBBER EXTERNAL TRUNK LATCH COVER ON A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS 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 OF THE LOCATION OF THE BATTERY IS IN REAR COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IF THERE WAS A NEED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AT, DUE TO THE INFLEXIBILITY OF THE RUBBER I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND, THUS, ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND ANY OF MY REPAIR TOOLS, JUMPERS, ETC. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE INTERNAL METHOD FOR OPENING THE HATCHBACK/TRUNK. TOYOTA NEEDS A RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND REPLACE AT THEIR COST, AS THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS EXORBITANT AND IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN. *TR

THE REAR LIFT GATE LATCH ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IN 65 DEGREE WEATHER TODAY THE EXTERIOR RUBBER OVER THE LATCH MECHANISM HAS MELTED AND WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE. IN COLD WEATHER THE LATCH HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND NOW THE MELTED RUBBER MESS HAS CEASED TO PERFORM. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR. THE RUBBER HAS MELTED OUT ONTO THE METAL PART OF THE LIFT GATE AND OVER THE SCREWS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I CAN NOT ACCESS THE REAR HATCH OF MY CAR IN AN EMERGENCY OR IN ANY TYPICAL SITUATION (I WOULD HAVE TO CRAWL INTO THE TRUNK FROM THE BACK SEAT AND REMOVE THE INTERIOR PLASTIC PANEL TO OPEN THE HATCH FROM INSIDE THE CAR IF I NEEDED TO OPEN THE HATCH DOOR.) *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 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

AS THE WEATHER GETS COLDER AND COLDER IN THE PITTSBURGH AREA THIS FALL, THE BACK HATCH IS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO OPEN. TODAY IS THE COLDEST DAY AND THE BACK HATCH WON'T OPEN AT ALL. I SAW THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE HATCH OR TRUNK STICKS WHEN I TRY TO OPEN IT. THE DARK RUBBER IN THE LATCH AREA APPEARS TO HAVE MELTED AND SPREAD. *TR

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

THE HATCH RUBBER PANEL HAS BEEN DETERIORATING. IN WINTER THE RUBBER PANEL IS HARD AS A ROCK. IN SUMMER, THE PANEL IS MELTING AND LOSING ITS FORM. IT MAKES THE OPENING OF THE TRUNK CHALLENGING. IN SUMMER MONTHS, THE PANEL IS GOOEY AND MAKES FINGERS DIRTY. I AM CONCERNED THAT I CANNOT OPEN HATCH IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER ON THE HATCHBACK WAS MELTED AND, WHEN OPENED, WOULD COVER HER IN BLACK TAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HATCH HANDLE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

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

BACK HATCH LATCH OR OPENER IS STICKY AND RUBBERY AND FAILING. SEEMS LIKE MELTING. *TR