Toyota Issues Recall for 141,000 Prius Hybrids Due to Hazardous Rear Door Defect
‘Barron’s Roundtable’ panelists discuss Toyota’s stock hitting an all-time high this week and the impact of EV slowdown on Ford and General Motors.
Toyota has announced a recall affecting approximately 141,000 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. This decision comes after the company identified a potential safety issue where rear doors may unexpectedly open while the vehicle is in motion, as detailed in a recent report from the Department of Transportation.
The recall encompasses the 2023–2026 Toyota Prius models, 2023–2024 Prius Prime vehicles, and 2025–2026 Prius Plug-In Hybrid models sold in the United States. The problem arises from a malfunctioning electric rear door lock system, which can short circuit if water infiltrates the door switch. This malfunction could lead to the rear door unlatching if it is not properly locked.
The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. (Adam J. Dewey/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
If the rear door were to open while the vehicle is in motion, it could pose a significant risk of injury, especially to rear-seat passengers. Toyota has indicated that if the switch activates while the vehicle is moving, a warning notification will appear on the dashboard, accompanied by a buzzer to alert the driver.
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While it remains unclear how many vehicles may be affected by this defect, Toyota confirmed the issue following internal testing and a reported incident overseas. Fortunately, the company has stated that it is not aware of any injuries or crashes in the U.S. linked to this defect.
The recall covers 2023–2026 Toyota Prius models, 2023–2024 Prius Prime vehicles and 2025–2026 Prius Plug-In Hybrid models sold in the U.S. (Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Toyota has committed to addressing the issue by modifying the left and right rear door switch circuits to prevent the switch from activating, even in the event of a short circuit. This repair will be conducted at no cost to the vehicle owners.
Toyota said it is not aware of any related injuries or crashes in the U.S. tied to the defect. (Nicholas Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Owners of the affected vehicles will receive notifications by late March. In the meantime, vehicle owners can visit Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls to check their vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate information for more details.
‘Barron’s Roundtable’ panelists discuss Toyota’s stock hitting an all-time high this week and the impact of EV slowdown on Ford and General Motors.
Toyota has announced a recall affecting approximately 141,000 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles. This decision comes after the company identified a potential safety issue where rear doors may unexpectedly open while the vehicle is in motion, as detailed in a recent report from the Department of Transportation.
The recall encompasses the 2023–2026 Toyota Prius models, 2023–2024 Prius Prime vehicles, and 2025–2026 Prius Plug-In Hybrid models sold in the United States. The problem arises from a malfunctioning electric rear door lock system, which can short circuit if water infiltrates the door switch. This malfunction could lead to the rear door unlatching if it is not properly locked.
The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. (Adam J. Dewey/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
If the rear door were to open while the vehicle is in motion, it could pose a significant risk of injury, especially to rear-seat passengers. Toyota has indicated that if the switch activates while the vehicle is moving, a warning notification will appear on the dashboard, accompanied by a buzzer to alert the driver.
BMW RECALLS NEARLY 90,000 VEHICLES OVER ENGINE STARTER FIRE RISK
While it remains unclear how many vehicles may be affected by this defect, Toyota confirmed the issue following internal testing and a reported incident overseas. Fortunately, the company has stated that it is not aware of any injuries or crashes in the U.S. linked to this defect.
The recall covers 2023–2026 Toyota Prius models, 2023–2024 Prius Prime vehicles and 2025–2026 Prius Plug-In Hybrid models sold in the U.S. (Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Toyota has committed to addressing the issue by modifying the left and right rear door switch circuits to prevent the switch from activating, even in the event of a short circuit. This repair will be conducted at no cost to the vehicle owners.
Toyota said it is not aware of any related injuries or crashes in the U.S. tied to the defect. (Nicholas Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
Owners of the affected vehicles will receive notifications by late March. In the meantime, vehicle owners can visit Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls to check their vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate information for more details.
