Faulty Switch Could Cause Rear Door to Open Suddenly
Toyota Motor Corp. announced a recall on April 17 of 135,305 Prius vehicles manufactured between November 2022 and April 2024 due to a faulty switch that could cause a rear door to open suddenly. The automaker notified the transport ministry of the recall and will offer free repairs to Prius owners.
The issue stems from the waterproof performance of the switch on the rear door handle being inadequate. If exposed to a large volume of water, it could cause a short circuit and, in the worst-case scenario, the door could open unexpectedly.
In response to the recall, Toyota has halted production of the Prius for the time being. Production of the Corolla model at the Tsutsumi Plant in Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, which has been shut down since April 4, will resume on the morning of April 18.
Toyota deeply apologizes for the inconvenience caused by this recall and encourages all affected Prius owners to contact their local dealership to schedule a free repair.