new 2025 phev owner here! i'm running into a weird charging/key issue, and i can't tell if its a bug or just weird behaviour i'm not used to. i've had a 2012 prius c for the past 13 years with the smart key system, so i'm quite used to its smart key behaviour - although i'm mourning the loss of passenger and trunk smart key functionality since i selected the SE trim. after i've plugged in and verified that its started charging, i lock it as usual (either via the keyfob or by tapping the handle). because i'm a bit paranoid as a new car owner, as i'm walking a few feet away i'm like "i'll just tap the lock on my fob just to make sure everything is locked in." but nothing happens. try again. still nothing. try the unlock button. still nothing. walk back to the door. tap where it would normally lock. still nothing. i have to stick my hand in and out of the door latch multiple times before it finally unlocks and i can lock it again. thought it was a one off thing, but another time i realized i'd left something in the car and went back to grab it and had the exact same issue where i'm battling with the lock/unlock system once the car has started charging. interestingly i *don't* think i've had this issue when i've parked and not plugged it in to charge. is there some sort of glitch where the charging system interrupts the responsiveness of the smart key system? i do notice that there are all sorts of other delays between plugging in and getting feedback that its charging. the green charging light takes about 5 seconds (which is fine), but checking the dash takes about 20-30 seconds before it shows the charging status (which is a bit more flustering as a new user who's constantly questioning if they've made a mistake somewhere). i also think i'd read somewhere (but now can't find it) that the smart key system has a battery saver mode that it enters 2 minutes after turning off the car where if you've been in the proximity that entire time it'll just start ignoring inputs - so perhaps when i'm getting my stuff unloaded from the car and plugging in i use up those 2 minutes? (not great since i can picture lots of scenarios where 2 minutes elapse between turning off the car and needing to lock/unlock). anyway, otherwise i'm quite happy with the new prius, its just this one bit of odd behaviour that is throwing me.
You can always use the physical key in the drivers door to lock and unlock the car. The physical key works every time. I don't use the physical key fob since I use the smart key with the app but it sounds like it is within the range of experiences I remember having with the FOB. Using the smart key I observe similar behavior after turning off the car, plugging in, and activating room mode. Often takes multiple presses of the start button and/or closing, verifying password or face id while reopening the app to get it to recognize the smart key.
Haven't had any smart key issues, but I tend to go in the sequence: open charging port lid lock car plug in That might avoid whatever problem you're having, if it is associated with ongoing charging.
Yep; work out a sequence. If you stay within the FOBs range - about 3-5 feet. I've notice strange behaviors on the gen4 FOB too. It's a proximity thing. Step out of range for 15 seconds and step back in - it behaves as expected. You can test the door lock fob range in the dark w/dome light activation. Figured that out while moving out my trash can - It startled me, thinking someone was in the car. The FOB buttons has a much longer range. Hope this helps......
Thanks for all the suggestions! Yesterday after plugging in I went to lock the car and the door tap was unresponsive for the first two attempts again. I saw the mention above to lock the car before plugging in, which I guess is an approach to try. But I often like to check the dash first to confirm the charging state, esp since the Toyota app seems to be perpetually outdated readings for hours on end. I’ll also explore the fob activation range at some point, although I feel like I’ve had issues both futzing around near the car and also walking 40 feet or more and then coming back. The most consistent factors seem to be time and charging state. after plugging in, the smart key system just seems to bug out for (at least) 3-5 minutes. If it’s been charging for a few hours, I don’t think I’ve run into any issues with the fob or smart key.
What's to check? If the green light came on at the port, it's charging. Just because it's got more than one indication, doesn't mean you have to check them all. (Maybe it's good they didn't fit more indications, give you more to check . I save myself some hassle on that front by not having the app...)
Sometimes helpful to see the estimated finish time, because as I said, the app is woefully incapable of doing that reliably, and some public chargers here will charge a loitering fee if you stick around past your charge completion. anyway, doesn't change the underlying issue that it seems like initiating charging consistently glitches out the fob/smartkey system as a whole. i guess i was just trying to guage if this is a "yup this is how it is for everyone" kinda deal or something i should have them look at during my next servicing.
For the year I used the app; you have to constantly refresh it to get a near accurate reading. My gen4 has 3 status LEDs on top of the passenger side dash board. I understand that has been removed on the gen5. I don't bother to plug-in if it's that much of a hassle, and I usually pay attention to charging fees. My time is worth more than the few pennies I may save by running EV instead of gas - that's the reason I got a hybrid rather than a full EV. I've worked out the break-even point between gas operations vs electricity. Even though I pay some of the highest fuel cost in the nation, in most cases - those charging stations overall cost is actually more than if I ran the car on gasoline! While there are a few FREE charging stations in town; they're usually full when I drive by or need to run an errand in the area. YMMV
Charging time is basically a constant at a public charger - it will always charge at the car's maximum 3.3kw, which is then 3.5 hours to totally fill from empty. I've never actually paid attention much to the car's estimates to figure out how good they are - I just know it's 3.5 hours from a public charger (16A) or 6.5 at home (8A), or 5.5 with my smart charger (2 hours at 12A, then 8A). On the locking, there is a function that makes it ignore repeated lock/unlock requests (in case it's you sitting on the key or something) - maybe you're managing to trigger that? Manual says the default "number of consecutive door lock operations" is 2, and can be changed to "as many as desired" by a dealer.
i'll check more into that, thanks! still a smidge suspicious as it happens even with the first lock after charging is initiated, and never seems to have any issues whatsoever if i'm not charging. so it seems more likely coupled to the charging state than getting spammed accidentally somehow. although perhaps the charging itself triggers that "consecutive lock operations" state.
i live in a larger city and have been able to make use of free chargers that tend to be near my destinations like work etc. already at 1100km with still half the tank of gas from the dealership. for now its probably the honeymoon period, but i'm enjoying the 'game' of maximizing ev use. the plug in felt like a good fit since i can do a lot of ev driving in town and range anxiety free hybrid driving for out of town trips.
