Toyota recalls 142,000 vehicles over defect that could cause rear doors to open while driving

Toyota has issued a sweeping recall affecting more than 142,000 vehicles in the United States after identifying a defect that could cause rear doors to open unexpectedly while the car is in motion.

The recall, announced in a notice published January 28 from the automaker’s Plano, Texas headquarters, applies to certain Prius models manufactured between 2023 and 2026.

According to the company, the problem originates with water intrusion affecting electric door switches on the rear doors. Under specific conditions, moisture can cause a switch to short-circuit and activate without input from the driver or passengers.

“There is a possibility that certain circumstances can cause water to enter the electric door switches on the rear doors of the subject vehicles and cause a switch to activate,” Toyota said in its official statement.

The company warned that the safety risk becomes acute when the malfunction coincides with unlocked doors.

“If this occurs while the rear doors are unlocked, a rear door can open while driving, leading to an increased risk of injury to occupants,” the notice stated.

Toyota has instructed its dealership network to carry out corrective modifications at no cost to owners. The remedy involves alterations to both left and right rear door switch circuits designed to prevent activation even in the event of an electrical short.

Owner notification letters are scheduled to begin arriving in late March 2026. Toyota cautioned that while recall information is current as of the filing date, updates may follow.

Vehicle owners can verify whether their car is included by visiting Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls and entering their Vehicle Identification Number or licence plate information. Additional inquiries can be directed to the Toyota Brand Engagement Centre at 1-800-331-4331.

The recall highlights growing regulatory and consumer scrutiny of electronic safety systems in modern vehicles, particularly as automakers increasingly replace mechanical components with software-driven alternatives.