Brand New 2026 LE received safety recall for rear door

Wasn't aware. Guess will have to wait until an NHTSA ID number is assigned to learn more. As you probably did, Safety Recall 26TB03 brings up nothing in an interweb search. Agree it sounds similar (identical?) to earlier Toyota Recall 24TB06 / 24TA06.

 

The earlier recall 24TB06 (interim notice) / 24TA06, was to replace the 2 rear door switches and was for 23 - 24 models. This new recall 26TB03 (interim notice) says the dealer will modify the 2 rear door switch circuits, and covers 23 - 26 models. Looks like it's a fix for the fix, i.e., modifying the circuits of the latest versions of the switches that were swapped in during the last recall for the 23 - 24s, or installed at the factory for later model years.

 

Just got a new 2026 Prius LE AWD not even a week ago, I just noticed the recall this morning. When looking at the rear door handle design in person for the first time, I was kind of wondering why they designed it like that, especially the manual release button being faced upward. The design seemed to be asking for water to easily get inside of it. It was definitely a thing I considered when buying the car and decided to overlook in the hopes that they weatherproofed it enough, I guess maybe not. Hopefully they can figure out a remedy soon.

 

I had the same thought about the positioning of the manual button. I thought the fact that the black plastic on the door handle doesn’t match the shade of black on the piece attached to the body meant they had dealt with this already before my 2025 had arrived. Glad I’m not transporting children or animals.

I’m getting snow accumulating along the edges of the doors hinges and ice accumulating inside my wheels. Drive home today with rear sensors not working due to a frozen drip of ice covering sensors. Oh well in a couple of months this won’t be an issue.

 

Keep the rear doors locked. According to the recall notices, they may inadvertantly open only if the doors are unlocked.

 

Don't all the doors automatically lock, usually, when you go over 10 mph?