Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Steering has developed a clunk at low speeds. Appears intermediate shaft is bad. Dealer wants over 500 to replace. Online it is a very common problem. The steering shaft goes bad ..how much more dangerous can you get?
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Toyota Tacoma. While driving 70 MPH, the steering failed without warning. As a result, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front passenger steering knuckle failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, but was in the process. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted or made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Steering had intermittent problems. One day it was fine and the next felt like there was no power steering. After turning a corner, the steering wheel would not return to the center position without considerable force and only after hitting the curb. It turned out that the lower intermediate shaft of the steering assembly had a u-joint that seized and was close to breaking off before I could get it replaced.
Vehicle infected with extreme frame rust. Motor support ; transmission and transfer case support; power steering tubing rusted holes making steering impossible. The dealership known as ramey Toyota has my truck and charging me with unnecessary charges on towing the vehicle to their facility due to a spring clip become loose allowing the vehicle's right rear wheel to sway therefore it had to be towed. Contacted Toyota authorized the tow as well as a vehicle to ride so they can replace the leaf spring. Toyota now denies they authorized these two issues and left me with holding the charges. They called the towing service and not I so therefore I am not responsible. Please note all the aggravation caused from the above and added danger from this vehicle is the rust on the frame! Please contact this dealership and get the dangers of driving this truck on the road. …
The frame is rusting out on my Tacoma that I purchased and Toyota says since they inspected it 9 month ago it no longer qualifies for frame replacement program. It had not been driven under any negative road corrosive conditions in this time, and this frame was I believe rusted when inspected and not discovered because it has rusted from the inside out. Now the power steering has gone out and I have been experiencing acceleration problems with it since purchasing it. I contacted Toyota about the frame rust and was told basically too bad so sad. They have told me they filed my complaint under file #1603091915 at their national headquarters. The frame metal is defective. The power steering has quit working at approximately 75000 miles, and the truck accelerates under its own power when shifting into 5th gear.
Steering became progressively harder to turn over a period of many weeks. It was OK with highway speeds and straightaways with little steering correction. It was very hard when all types of normal turns were executed at any speed and after warm up. It turned out Toyota, by comment of the repairing mechanic, who had done many, has had an issue with corrosion of the steering column linkage. I have never received any info regarding this. I thought it was power steering and that I could muscle through it for a while. It became worse fast. Based on a false assumption which many might make, this could have easily locked up and caused a crash. I have been around long enough and have never encountered this in the many vehicles I have owned. I feel that Toyota should at east put out cautionary info to owners
Last week I noticed tightness in the steering of my 07 Toyota Tacoma intermittently. It progressively worsened and at times would be very "jerky". Yesterday it was tight nearly my entire way to work. I called and made an appointment to have it checked. On my way to the repair shop, as I was turning out of a parking lot, the truck started to turn fine but all of a sudden got very stiff and jerked. I wasn't expecting it and almost hit a mailbox . The quote for my repair, which includes a lower steering shaft, coupler, bolts and required alignment, is $820.00. As I was looking online to make sure that this was a legitimate pricing quote, I noticed that this seems to be an issue with the Toyota Tacoma between the years of 005-2014. This is a definite safety issue and needs to have a recall issued.
Try to make small adjustment with steering wheel and the steering appeared to fight me. When first starting the truck and go to back up, the wheel is difficult to move. After rocking the wheel back and forth a number of times the steering seems a little more normal. This same wheel fight can come on even when you are on the road and traveling the speed limit. Since this happens while driving, I am worried that it could seize up and cause an accident. If it was just my vehicle I would just pay and get it fixed, as I am currently doing, but the internet says there are a lot of people with the very same complaint and they have contacted you folks. The range of model year appears to be 2005 and up. Please look into this as it is a very dangerous problem and people could die.
I've noticed my steering became very hard and stiff all of a sudden. I've checked the power steering pump and fluid, it all checked out fine. I did a little research and noticed people having issues with steering intermediate shaft no 2. (lower one by the wheels). I noticed that part was not protected by anything and is and was exposed to the elements like salt, water, dirt etc. Overtime, the u-joint rusts up and starts to stick causing very dangerous conditions for the driver where it becomes very hard to turn the steering wheel when turning. I've attached a photo of my part in question. My Toyota dealership wants $700.00 for parts and labor. That is outrageous.
Spiral cable diagnosed as needing replacement by a Toyota dealer in May of 2011, replaced by an independant repair facility in December of 2011. A recall notice was sent out regarding this issue shortly after I had the repairs made. I sent Toyota copies of my receipts to get reimbursed in May of 2016. Toyota will not reimburse me for the repairs since the repair order of the independent repair facility did not do a diagnosis. I did not ask them to, since Toyota had already done so. The symptom of the issue was a check engine light on the dashboard that was always on. The cable would wear prematurely, causing a short, which caused the check engine light.
Steering complaints in other Tacoma years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2007 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the steering of the 2007 Toyota Tacoma, 10% of the model year's 541 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2007 Toyota Tacoma steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2007 Toyota Tacoma, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Toyota Tacoma steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.