Oops! Toyota Prius Doors Might Just Open on Their Own Mid-Drive
Toyota has announced a safety recall covering approximately 141,286 2023‑2026 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime vehicles in the United States after identifying a defect that can cause rear doors to unexpectedly open while driving.
The recall was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under recall campaign number 26V049, with owner notifications scheduled to begin by late March 2026.
What’s Behind the Recall
According to the official Toyota recall notice, water can enter the electrical door‑handle switch on the rear doors, especially after exposure to heavy splashes or car washes, and cause a short circuit that activates the switch. If the door is not locked when this happens, it can open without driver input while the vehicle is in motion.
Toyota reports there have been only a handful of warranty claims and no confirmed injuries linked to the defect so far.
Who’s Affected and How It’s Fixed
The recall spans multiple Prius model years and both hybrid and plug‑in variants. Toyota dealers will inspect and modify the left- and right-rear door switch circuits at no cost to owners, ensuring that the switches do not activate even if water intrusion occurs.
Owners can check eligibility by entering their VIN on the Toyota Recall Lookup page or through the NHTSA recalls portal.
Toyota plans to begin mailing recall notices to affected Prius owners by March 29, 2026, urging them to schedule a dealer appointment for the free repair. In the interim, owners are encouraged to enable automatic door‑locking via the vehicle’s settings to help mitigate risk until the remedy is completed.
Get instant updates — follow PakWheels on Google News.
