Toyota has issued a safety recall for nearly 20,000 vehicles in Canada after identifying a defect that could cause the rear doors to open unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion.
According to a recall advisory released by Transport Canada on January 30, a total of 19,399 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime vehicles are affected. The recall applies to model years 2023 through 2026.
Transport Canada stated that the issue stems from a potential water leak into the rear door handle assembly. If moisture enters the door handle, it can cause the door opener switch to short circuit. In rare cases, this malfunction could lead to a rear door opening while the vehicle is being driven, posing a safety risk to passengers.
The newly announced recall expands on an earlier recall issued in 2024 addressing the same problem. Authorities confirmed that vehicles previously repaired under that earlier campaign will also need to undergo the updated repair to fully resolve the issue.
As a temporary precaution, Toyota is advising owners to ensure the automatic door-locking feature is enabled through the vehicle’s head unit. This measure may help reduce the risk of the rear doors opening while the car is in operation until permanent repairs are completed.
Toyota has begun notifying affected vehicle owners by mail and is urging them to schedule an appointment with an authorized dealership as soon as possible. Dealerships will repair the rear door switch circuit at no cost to customers.
Owners can also check whether their vehicle is included in the recall by visiting Toyota’s official recall website or the Transport Canada database and entering their vehicle identification number (VIN).
This recall follows several recent safety actions by Toyota in Canada. Last week, more than 12,000 Toyota Tundra trucks were recalled due to a software issue that could cause the rear-view camera image to freeze or fail to display when shifting into reverse. A similar recall last October affected over 32,000 Tundra and Sequoia vehicles nationwide.
In September, Toyota issued one of its largest recalls in recent years, involving over 70,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles across 13 models, after a software problem affecting display panels was found to potentially increase crash risk.
Transport Canada continues to monitor the situation and encourages vehicle owners to respond promptly to recall notices to ensure their safety.
