Table 1 shows one common electrical system related problems of the 2026 Toyota Prius.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Electrical System problems |
Infotainment screen failed to boot when the vehicle was turned on. Due to this failure, the rear view camera was not available when the vehicle was shifted to reverse. After backing out of the parking spot, I chose to park and restart the vehicle. The infotainment screen then proceeded to boot up and behave normally. There were no warnings or any other alerts or messages. A disabled rear view camera can impact pedestrian and vehicle safety by limiting rear vision while operating the vehicle in reverse. During the drive home, approximately 15 minutes later, the infotainment system went to a black screen and rebooted. After 10-15 seconds, the system had restarted and was available again. This did not appear to impact vehicle control or associated safety systems. It was a mild distraction while driving. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the dealer, this is scheduled a few days from now at their earliest availability.
A vehicle was sold and delivered while under an active stop?sale safety recall (manufacturer recall 26tb03). The recall was not disclosed at the time of purchase. When questions were raised about whether any recalls were present, the issue was dismissed and no recall information was provided. According to the recall documentation, the potential defect involves the rear door system possibly opening while the vehicle is in motion. Because the stop?sale indicates the vehicle should not have been sold, the safety risk is that the vehicle was driven with occupants in the rear seats without anyone being informed of the potential hazard. This created a risk to the people inside the vehicle and to others on the road. The problem was later confirmed through the manufacturer’s official recall database and the published recall information. The issue has not been inspected or repaired by the manufacturer or dealer because the remedy is not yet available. The defect is not something the owner can see or detect on their own.
A 2026 Toyota Prius was delivered to me on or about February 5, 2026 while subject to an active federal safety recall involving a rear door electrical switch defect. The recall indicates that water intrusion into the rear door switch can cause an electrical short circuit which may allow a rear door to open while the vehicle is in motion. At the time of delivery, there was no remedy available for this recall. The recall had been announced on January 28, 2026 and was active in both the manufacturer’s system and NHTSA recall lookup at the time the vehicle was leased. Despite the active recall and lack of remedy, the vehicle was delivered for use. The safety risk is that a rear door could open unexpectedly while driving, potentially creating risk of passenger ejection or injury to other motorists. No failure has yet occurred, but the vehicle was delivered under active recall without repair. This complaint concerns delivery of a new vehicle while subject to an unrepaired federal safety recall.
The recall (number 26v049) is a serious safety concern, however the dealer states there is no remedy available despite a clearly described available remedy ("Toyota dealers will modify the left and right rear door switch circuits free of charge, to prevent the switch from activating even if it is shorted. ").
The two outside rear view mirrors on the 2026 Prius have an adjustment problem. When attempting to adjust them they will freeze (won't move), move intermittently, and jerk. The Toyota dealer told me that it is a known problem and all 2026 Priuses have the same problem. He further informed me that Toyota is aware of the problem. He went to another new Prius on the dealership lot and found that its outside rear view mirrors do the very same thing. This is a serious safety issue and the manufacturer should address and remedy it. Toyota nor the dealership have a fix for this problem.