Toyota Prius

2026: Identifying a marriage that opens doors while driving

On January 28, 2026, the Japanese corporation Toyota announced the recall of almost 240 thousand Prius hybrid cars. A defect was found in these machines, leading to the fact that the rear doors spontaneously open while driving.

The problem occurs when water enters the electrical circuits of the rear doors. This can happen during heavy rain or vehicle washing. As a result, due to a short circuit in the wiring, the door can open itself directly during driving. This increases the risk of a traffic accident and poses a threat to the health and lives of passengers.

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Фото: Wikipedia

If the doors are not blocked, they can unexpectedly open either during the movement of the car, or in a collision, - notes the resource Car and Driver.

As a precaution, motorists are advised to activate the automatic door lock function when driving. Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified to provide a vehicle for repair by the end of March 2026. Defective cars were supplied to markets in different countries. As of the end of January 2026, no accidents or injuries related to this issue have been reported. To find out if a car falls under a recall campaign, you can go to the Toyota.com/recall website and enter the vehicle identification number (VIN).

It is reported that a total of 239,504 Prius hybrid cars produced between November 2022 and November 2025 are subject to recall. On these vehicles, service center specialists modify the electrical circuits of the left and right rear doors to prevent their opening even with a short circuit. All work will be carried out free of charge for car owners.^[1]

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