The contact owned a 2024 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle that was traveling towards the contact's vehicle at approximately 50 MPH. The contact stated that during the impact, the steering wheel detached and hit the driver's body. The air bags failed to deploy. There was no warning light illuminated after the crash. The vehicle went into Crash mode and automatically connected with OnStar, which called emergency units. The contact stated that the entire front ends of both vehicles were destroyed. Both vehicles were towed to an impound lot, where they were totaled. The contact's vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. There was no property damage. The contact was transported by ambulance to the ER, where he was treated for multiple injuries: fractured ribs, fractured right foot, seat belt injury in the lower abdomen that caused internal bleeding and damage to the stomach, mild concussion, several body bruises and lacerations. Additionally, the contact stated that he was receiving treatment for lower back pain due to a displaced disc. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 35,981.

Although the involved vehicles are within the above production period range, not all vehicles in this range were sold in the U.S. This issue only affects 2023-2026MY Prius and Prius Prime vehicles equipped with electric rear door lock system with a door opener switch manufactured by a specific supplier and during a specific production period. Other Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in the U.S. are either equipped with a different electric rear door lock system or do not have an electric rear door lock system and do not have the condition described in this report. Unknown. Toyota is unable to provide an estimate of the percentage of vehicles to actually contain the defect. Whether water enters the door opener switch and causes a short circuit that could lead to a door switch activation depends on various conditions, as described further below. However, as the NHTSA manufacturer portal requires an integer value be entered, Toyota has entered the value “1” in response to this question in the portal. For the purpose of this report, “1” means “unknown”.

Top of side mirrors melt and warped in hot weather. It popped off while driving at freeway speeds into traffic.

Since Nov 23, 2024 I have had three occasions where the 12 volt battery for the ICE has depleted leaving me stranded. The only indication of the problem is the car will not start. In my last incident I had to charge the battery (disconnected from the car) but inadvertently closed the hatch. Since the car uses electronic locks the only way to open the hatch is to use the emergency release that is located under the rear deck and must use a screw driver to release. This is inherently dangerous since no practical escape possible in an emergency.

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Prius Prime. The contact stated that occasionally the liftgate opened independently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a crack on the power liftgate plastic trim. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the failure was not attributed to defects from the factory. The contact was not offered any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 670.