Recirc button cluster failed

The buttons do not normally fail nor is it likely to be a fuse, if the MFD controls work.

The usual cause of this sort of problems with the buttons on the steering wheel is a spiral cable in the center of the steering wheel called "the clock spring".

This carries all the electrical signals from the various buttons, and even the air bag supply cables. If you are reasonably competent with dismantling the steering wheel, do a search on clock spring replacement at the top of the page.

John (Britprius)

 

No there are multiple wires built into the clock spring. The job of the clock spring is to carry the wires from steering wheel that obviously rotates and pass them to the stationary steering column. As you turn the steering the spring gets wound up or down depending on the direction you turn the wheel. This continuous process eventually cracks some of the wire, this is usually but not always progressive one wire at first others following. Read the post below for further info.

Steering Wheel wiring assemblies

John (Britprius)

 

Just out of interest, have you had the steering recall performed recently?

 

Good point!!

John (Britprius)

 

So just to be clear, this failure of the steering wheel buttons happened just after you had it in for the recall work. Yes/No?

Sorry I can't work out what you're saying there.

 

Try
Toyota Owners Official Web Site: Service Coupons, Owner's Manuals, Service Scheduling And More
or
Vehicle Owners | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Good luck!

 

I have found one post where the button printed circuit board was cracked giving the same symptoms so that may be worth checking, but being honest I think that is a long shot, as the clock spring is a recurring problem on PC.

John (Britprius)

 

Check your fuses under the hood

I just bought my 2007 and had the same problem. Just the 3 buttons for defroster, defogger and recirc not working, but those functions working on the touch screen. While checking the fuses under the hood to try to fix a non working 12v outlet under my dash I have somehow restored the functioning of those buttons. I didn't end up replacing any fuses so somehow just the process of pulling, checking and reinserting fixed the problem, but I can't tell you which fuse because I checked them all.