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Door opens while driving

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by KLeeConner, Feb 17, 2017.

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  1. KLeeConner

    KLeeConner New Member

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    vermont US
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    This has stumped the dealership garage - driver's door opens spontaneously while driving. No bumpy road. It is a tried and true 2012 Prius on familiar city street, <30mph, temps just below freezing - which has never been a factor otherwise. A few days before the door opening (twice in one day), the "Key detected in vehicle" message, warning light and beeper would go off after I entered the car to drive. I took several times getting in and out of the car, lock/unlock, to get a normal start. Has this happened to others? This is not just the door open indicator light coming on while driving - the door OPENED - while driving. Is it connected to the "key detected in vehicle" screw up? Thanks for replies.
     
    #1 KLeeConner, Feb 17, 2017
  2. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    Check the condition of your 12V battery. A failing battery is known to cause some very strange problems.
     
    #2 DonDNH, Feb 17, 2017
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Has to be mechanical. The hatch has an electrically operated latch, but the doors don't. The only electric actuators they have is for lock/unlock; opening the door is mechanical.

    Should just be a matter of inspecting the door strike and latch for mechanical issues that shouldn't be very hard to spot.

    -Chap
     
    #3 ChapmanF, Feb 17, 2017
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Check for ice buildup as well - You are in Vermont, after all...
    Best of luck finding the issue...
     
    #4 RRxing, Feb 18, 2017
  5. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    you say the dealership is stumped, id go to another dealer, common sense is to replace the door latching parts and check the wire harness for shorts or broken connections..
     
    #5 Beachbummm, Feb 18, 2017
    Rebound likes this.
  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I agree. The latch is completely mechanical. Kind of hard to sort out sometimes, because you can't watch it operate.
     
    #6 jerrymildred, Feb 18, 2017
  7. LSmith

    LSmith New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    This happened to me today! The door indicator was NOT on, all doors automatically locked on driving, as usual, then all of a sudden going down a hill, the door opened...not all the way but ajar so the door indicator came on.

    It's Spring in New Hampshire.

    This is the first time it happened.
     
    #7 LSmith, May 26, 2017
    DonDNH likes this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!

    weird.(n)
     
    #8 bisco, May 26, 2017
    Last edited: May 26, 2017
  9. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    VERY weird. And another welcome.
     
    #9 jerrymildred, May 26, 2017
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