Region Email: Toyota has received a number of reports regarding Propeller Shaft Universal Joints on certain 2005 ? 2011 model year Tacoma vehicles. In these reports, customers have indicated that there is a drivetrain vibration and/or drivetrain noise. If the vehicle continues to be driven with the aforementioned condition, there is risk of severe damage to the propeller shaft. Although the Propeller Shaft Universal Joints are covered by Toyota?s Powertrain Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever occurs first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is now providing coverage for repairs related to this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Toyota Tacoma steering problems
severe 54 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
54
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
4crashes
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 54 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 18 model years of Toyota Tacoma in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some vehicles may exhibit a vibration felt in the seat, floorboard, and/or steering wheel around 15-25 MPH caused by a second order driveline vibration. Use the following procedure to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TOYOTA: STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT RATTLE NOISE. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT STEERING RATTLE NOISE WHEN DRIVEN OVER ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. ALSO INCLUDED 2WD TACOMA PRERUNNER. MODEL YEARS 2005-2012.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TOYOTA: SOME TOYOTA TACOMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2005 AND 2011 MAY HAVE A STEERING RATTLE NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH SURFACES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two main steering failure patterns on 2007 Toyota Tacomas, both serious. The most common is intermediate steering shaft degradation. Owners report the shaft's rubber damping disk and plastic bushing deteriorate over time, creating excessive play and metal-on-metal clanking noise during turns and over bumps. As wear progresses, the U-joint corrodes and seizes, causing the steering wheel to become intermittently hard, stiff, or jerky—sometimes without warning while driving. Several owners experienced steering suddenly lock or require excessive force mid-turn at highway speeds, nearly causing collisions. Owners cite repair costs of $400 to $820. Some report only temporary improvement after lubrication, with stiffness returning. Online discussion shows this affects many model years 2005–2014, yet no recall addresses it. The second pattern is power steering rack corrosion tied to frame rust. Heavy corrosion on the rack where it attaches to the frame causes power steering fluid to leak and system to fail. One owner's rack was so corroded the mechanic said he'd never seen one that bad. Frame rust inhibitor coatings applied by Toyota dealers failed within months to years. Owners express frustration Toyota denies warranty coverage or additional rust treatment despite repeated inspections and evidence the protective coating was ineffective.
Same Toyota Tacoma steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Intermediate steering shaft degradation
The intermediate steering shaft, which connects the steering column to the rack and pinion, contains two shafts joined by a rubber damping disk. The plastic bushing that sits between the lower shaft and its U-joint breaks as the rubber disk deteriorates. This creates excessive play, metal-on-metal noise, and eventually causes the U-joint to corrode and seize, making the steering wheel hard or impossible to turn.
When: 62,000 to 145,000 miles; varies from 5 to 12 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive play in steering wheel; Clanking or metal-on-metal noise from under the steering column while turning or over bumps; Vibration while driving above 50 mph; Steering becomes intermittently hard or stiff, especially when turning; Jerky or binding steering that requires sudden extra force mid-turn; Steering wheel seizes or locks temporarily during turns; Steering wheel does not return to center position without manual force; Steering feels loose with constant correction needed to maintain straight line; Stiffness worse on startup or in cold temperatures
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of intermediate steering shaft, lower steering shaft, shaft coupler, and U-joint; wheel alignment required. Repair costs cited range from $400 to $820. Some owners reported temporary relief from lubrication but found stiffness returned. OEM replacement part has same design flaw. Some owners have attempted bypass repairs using zip ties to fill gaps, creating additional hazards.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletins referenced: T-SB-0057-12 and SB-0119-10 REV2. Owners report Toyota mechanics have confirmed this is a known issue with many complaints. No recall issued despite pattern of failures across multiple model years (2005–2014).
Power steering rack corrosion and failure
Frame rust penetrates to the power steering rack where it bolts to the frame, causing severe corrosion of the rack itself. This leads to power steering fluid leakage and complete loss of power steering assist, forcing the driver to steer with manual effort alone.
When: Occurs weeks to months after Toyota rust-inhibitor inspection and coating; one owner reported failure one month after a dealer multi-point inspection that rated steering green. Another at 75,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fails suddenly while driving; Steering becomes very hard or impossible to turn, especially during turns; Difficulty making normal turns at low speeds and highway speeds; Fluid loss from power steering system
Repairs/costs cited: Complete replacement of the rack and pinion steering system required. Mechanics report racks heavily corroded, with one mechanic stating he had never seen corrosion that severe. Cost not specified in complaints, but power steering repairs typically exceed $1,000 when full rack replacement needed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota applied rust-inhibitor coating to frame (January 2015 in one case); coating failed and did not prevent new rust. Dealer inspections rated steering components as sound (green check) shortly before failure. Toyota refused requests for additional rust inhibitor coating. Owners report Toyota has no recall program for corroded racks; frame replacement program does not cover steering component damage. File #1603091915 created at Toyota National Headquarters for one complaint but no remedy offered.
Steering knuckle/arm failure and corrosion
Major frame rust extends to the steering arm (A-arm) and steering knuckle where they attach to the frame, creating risk of separation and loss of steering control. One owner reported front passenger steering knuckle failure at 130,000 miles during highway driving.
When: Evident during frame inspections; one knuckle failure at 130,000 miles at 70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering failure without warning during highway driving; Loss of directional control requiring emergency braking; Visible major rust at frame attachment points
Repairs/costs cited: Steering knuckle replacement required. One owner rear-ended a vehicle at 70 mph when knuckle failed; airbags did not deploy.
Spiral cable defect
The spiral cable in the steering column wears prematurely, causing an internal short and triggering the check engine light.
When: Diagnosed in May 2011; replaced December 2011
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light always on
Repairs/costs cited: Spiral cable assembly replacement. Independent mechanic repair cost not specified in complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: A recall notice was issued shortly after the owner had repairs made (December 2011). Owner attempted to obtain reimbursement in May 2016 but Toyota refused because the independent repair facility had not documented a diagnosis on the work order, even though Toyota had already diagnosed the issue.
Synthesized from 54 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2007 Toyota Tacoma?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2007 Toyota Tacoma?
It's a meaningful issue. 54 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 49 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 63,925 and 130,000 miles, with the median around 89,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 63,925; a quarter make it past 130,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Toyota/Tacoma.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.