Japanese automaker Toyota has decided to recall 210,000 units of the 5th generation Prius hybrid passenger car. It is known that there is a performance issue with the rear seat opening mechanism.
According to Kyodo News on the 17th, Toyota will recall approximately 211,000 Prius vehicles sold overseas as well. According to the report submitted by Toyota to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Toyota produced about 135,000 Prius units from November 2022 to March of this year.
The reason for the recall is a performance defect in the rear seat opening mechanism. The waterproof performance of the switch used to open the rear door is insufficient, and if water enters during car washing, in the worst case, a short circuit may occur causing the door to open while driving. So far, there have been three reported cases of doors opening while driving.
Toyota has taken temporary measures by disconnecting the fuse of the opening mechanism and plans to replace the parts free of charge once the necessary preparations are complete. Additionally, production and new sales contracts will be halted until the defective parts are resolved.
The 5th generation Prius hybrid passenger car was selected as the 'Car of the Year' in North America this January. It has been on sale in Korea since December of last year.
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