Faulty Switch Could Cause Rear Door to Open Suddenly
Toyota Motor Corp. announced a recall on April 17 for 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.
"We deeply apologize for the great concern and inconvenience we have caused," said Hiroyuki Ueda, chief officer of Toyota's External and Public Affairs Group.
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, lead to the door opening unexpectedly.
In response to the recall, Toyota has announced a temporary halt in Prius production. The first line at its Tsutsumi Plant in Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, which has been shut down since April 4, will resume production on the morning of April 18, but only for Corolla vehicles.