TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Toyota Prius steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2014 Toyota Prius have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 29,267 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Prius | 30 |
| 2011 Prius | 7 |
| 2012 Prius | 24 |
| 2013 Prius | 8 |
| 2014 Prius (this page) | 11 |
| 2015 Prius | 3 |
| 2017 Prius | 7 |
When does it fail?
Of the 11 steering complaints filed for the 2014 Toyota Prius, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The 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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2014 Prius report two main categories of steering failure: hybrid-system related and mechanical.
The hybrid failures start with inverter malfunction (confirmed by dealers as failing IPM units) that triggers stall events while driving. When the hybrid system shuts down, the steering wheel locks and the car cannot be shifted out of Park or Neutral—exactly what the 2014 Toyota recall addressed. One owner experienced this twice: once in New Jersey after a 45-day inverter replacement, and again two weeks later in Florida, both times in traffic with no control.
Separate from hybrid issues, owners report sudden loss of steering response mid-turn at busy intersections, sometimes recoverable after a minute but extremely dangerous. Dealerships consistently cannot reproduce these events. One owner documented corroded and broken right control arm with rusted undercarriage at 170,000 miles—a sudden failure with no warning. Another Prius C owner reported persistent wobbling and sloppy steering above 50 mph; a mechanic found the rear suspension cannot be aligned per design, suspecting a factory geometry defect that required non-standard shims to fix.
Secondary complaints include steering wheel plays and rattles in the column, intermittent electrical faults that clear on scan, and one case of the steering wheel popping out during a turn. Most owners report dealerships either cannot diagnose the issue or decline to investigate.
Same Toyota Prius steering reports on nearby years: 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Hybrid system malfunction / stall with steering lock
Vehicle loses power and stalls due to hybrid system or inverter failure, causing complete loss of power steering and inability to shift out of Park/Neutral. Steering wheel locks during or after stall event.
When: At various speeds (50-65 mph reported); can occur within weeks of inverter replacement service; as early as 1,100 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check Hybrid System warning message; Vehicle stall while driving; Steering wheel lock-up / loss of power steering; Unable to shift into Drive or Reverse; All dash lights flashing
Codes mentioned: Inverter IPM failure
Repairs/costs cited: Complete inverter replacement; software update to hybrid system control units required in some cases; Toyota dealership repairs performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2014 recall issued for hybrid system software (motor/generator and hybrid system control units); failsafe mode intended to prevent total loss of power but may not activate in rare situations
Loss of steering control / steering lock during driving
Total loss of steering response while vehicle is in motion, requiring emergency maneuvers to regain control. Occurs at active intersections and highway speeds with minimal warning.
When: Mid-turn at busy intersection; varying speeds 50-65 mph; can occur repeatedly within short intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel unresponsive to input (turned 360 degrees with no effect); Strange noise heard before loss of control; Steering coordination temporarily lost then re-established after 1 minute; Vehicle sways abnormally; Steering wheel extremely loose
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to reproduce issue; no repairs performed in most cases
Corroded / broken control arm and axle
Right control arm completely corroded through and broken; entire undercarriage rusted and corroded; sudden loss of steering control results. No prior warning signs reported.
When: At approximately 170,000 miles (in one case); sudden failure without symptoms
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of steering while driving; Right control arm completely corroded and broken; Broken axle; Extensive undercarriage rust and corrosion
Repairs/costs cited: Confirmed by two independent service centers; available for inspection; no manufacturer inspection attempted despite multiple owner contacts
Steering wheel plays / looseness in steering column
Excessive play in steering wheel input with loose or rattling sensation in steering column area, particularly when turning beyond quarter-turn or 360 degrees. Feels like something loose near airbag center.
When: Any time vehicle is in motion or stationary; turning maneuvers exacerbate
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel extremely loose; Rattling and clicking noise from steering wheel center/console area; Sensation of looseness near airbag; Difficult to maneuver when making turns
Alignment and suspension geometry defect (Prius C)
Vehicle exhibits wobbling and sloppy steering at highway speeds (above 50 mph) even with properly installed tires. Rear suspension lacks adjustable alignment per design; front alignment passes but rear fails alignment specs. Independent mechanic suspected factory geometry defect; issue resolved with aftermarket shims from different Toyota model.
When: Consistently at speeds above 50 mph; present from early ownership (under 30,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Wobbling at speeds above 50 mph; Sloppy steering response; Vehicle unbalanced despite tire matching
Repairs/costs cited: Four-wheel alignment performed; front passed, rear failed; applied aftermarket shims designed for different Toyota model; resolved issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealership stated Prius C does not require or support rear alignment adjustments by design
Intermittent electrical faults and dash glitches
Recurring fault codes that clear on scan; dashboard computer glitches in and out; front lights flicker; condition worsens in rain with sizzling sounds; occurs alongside other steering/hybrid system issues.
When: Intermittent, occurs more frequently when raining
Symptoms owners cite: Fault codes pop up then clear when scanned; Dash computer display glitches in and out; Front lights glitching; Sizzling sound when raining; Hesitant to drive in rain
Repairs/costs cited: Codes clear on diagnostic scan; no persistent fault identified
Steering wheel separation / airbag assembly failure
Steering wheel popped out during turning maneuver; tires pushed inward; vehicle pushed out of roadway. No warning lights. Hazard lights inoperable.
When: While turning from left lane at undisclosed speed; approximately 170,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel popped out; Tires pushed inward; Vehicle pushed out of roadway; No warning lights illuminated; Hazard light inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to independent mechanic; not diagnosed or repaired; no manufacturer inspection
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
As I tried to make a right turn at a very busy intersection, I heard a strange noise and totally lost control of the steering wheeling. I turned the steering wheel 360 degrees all the way, around and around, but the car kept going straight... After a minute or so, the coordination between the steering wheel and the wheels re-established and I could manage to drive to a nearby parking lot. The…
Had steering trouble with your 2014 Toyota Prius?
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 2014 Toyota Prius?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 7,000 and 130,000 miles, with the median around 29,267. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,000; 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/2014/Toyota/Prius.
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.