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 func
View on NHTSA →2017 Toyota Prius steering problems
severe 7 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 7 steering complaints filed for the 2017 Toyota Prius, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 functio
View on NHTSA →Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Toyota prius prime 2017 lane departure warning with steering assist. This steering assist function does not work as it does in any other Toyota model. I have spoken with Toyota engineering and met with a Toyota technical representative and they admit that the steering assist function does not work as it does in any other Toyota model. As you will see from my attached document this function really…
Car was on 2 lane blacktop in 40 MPH zone driving apx 35 MPH, a female, responsible owner/driver age 79 was driving when suddenly,without any warning,comes to near halt in road and pulls/hard to right hand side of shoulder off the road. Driver had no control over direction or speed before finally able to stop car on top of ditch. Driver was able to get car to stall/stop engine before reaching…
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Toyota prius. While traveling approximately 20 MPH and attempting to turn, the steering ability became very difficult without warning. The vehicle was taken to dmark Toyota (15933 n idahocenter blvd, nampa, id 83687) where it was determined that a sensor on the intermediate steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not…
Vehicle's steering wheel began peeling at (12 o' clock location). The car has been parked on the street and garaged (normal exposure to sun). First, it began to bubble and then it peeled until now reaching a3 inches wide.
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Toyota Prius?
It's a meaningful issue. 7 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 7 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 20,863 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2017/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.