Toyota Prius vehicles from the model years 2023 and 2024 are facing a recall in the United States due to a concerning issue with the rear doors. Approximately 55,000 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles are affected by this recall. The problem stems from a water leakage issue affecting the rear door latches, which could lead to the doors unexpectedly opening while the vehicle is in motion.
To address this issue, Toyota has announced plans to recall around 211,000 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles globally, with 55,000 of them being in the United States. The concern arises from water seeping into the electronic rear door latches, potentially causing a short circuit. In the absence of proper door locking, this could result in the doors opening unexpectedly, posing a safety risk both during regular driving and in the event of a collision.
While Toyota is working on a solution for the problem, it advises Prius owners to keep the automatic locking feature activated. This feature automatically locks the doors when the vehicle is shifted out of the park, providing an additional layer of safety until the issue is resolved.
Owners can expect to receive notifications about the recall in early June, and Toyota will replace both rear door opener switches free of charge as part of the recall process. Although a recall report is not yet available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, concerned owners can check Toyota’s Recalls Website to ascertain if their vehicle is included in the recall.
