According to the statement made by the company, Toyota recalled 135 thousand Prius model vehicles worldwide, 211 thousand of which were in Japan.
Accordingly, a defect in the rear seat door handle opening switch was detected in the defective vehicles produced between November 2022 and April 2024.
Until the supply period of spare parts that will solve the problem is completed, Toyota announced that it has stopped the production of Prius models in the country.
The supplier company, Tokai Rika Co., is based in Aichi Prefecture. In his statement, he announced that the recall cost for the company could reach 11 billion yen ($71 million).
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) also reported that water may leak into door hinges due to "insufficient waterproofing".
The Ministry explained that in this case, the electronic rear door latches may short-circuit and there may be a "risk of the rear doors opening while driving".
State television NHK reported in its news that there have been three incidents so far in which the doors of Prius models were opened while driving at low speed.
