Toyota has issued a safety recall that the toyota recall 141k vehicles covers 141,286 units, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recall affects specific hybrid models listed by NHTSA, including 2023 through 2026 Toyota Prius models, 2023 through 2024 Toyota Prius Prime models, and 2025 through 2026 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid models.
Regulators and Toyota say the fault involves an electric rear door lock system where water can enter a rear door switch, causing a short circuit that may allow an unlocked rear door to open unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving.
Toyota told regulators it confirmed the problem after internal testing and a reported incident overseas, and the company said it is not aware of any related injuries or crashes in the US tied to the defect.
Fixes, Dealer Action, And Owner Steps
Toyota said dealers will modify the left and right rear door switch circuits to prevent the switch from activating even if it becomes shorted, and the repair will be performed free of charge.
The manufacturer told regulators that dealers have been notified and that owners will receive notification about the remedy, according to NHTSA filings and company statements.
Drivers may see a dashboard warning and hear a buzzer if the switch activates while the vehicle is in motion, as Toyota described the system response in its filing with the Department of Transportation.
NHTSA referenced recall identification numbers 26TB03 and 26TA03 in its notice and advised owners to use Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls to check their vehicle by VIN or license plate information.
Toyota's customer service phone number was reported as 1-800-331-4331 for owners seeking information or scheduling the free repair, according to published reports.
