A faulty 12-volt battery in some Toyota and Lexus hybrids is causing more than just radio preset losses, it's trapping people in their cars. The issue, affecting certain UK-market models, arises when the electric door-opening system remains locked after the starter battery fails, forcing owners to either smash a window or wrestle with jammed doors, sometimes with children in the backseat.
The core issue stems from a conventional 12-volt starter battery in certain Toyota and Lexus hybrids that appears prone to repeated discharge or early failure. A consumer group, Which?, gathered over 270 UK owner responses regarding battery problems, with more than three-quarters involving Toyota and Lexus models, significantly higher than the survey average for full hybrid cars from all brands.
View Price on AmazonWithin the sample, the Lexus LBX logged a 29.2 percent rate of battery problems, while the Toyota Yaris Cross came in at 19.1 percent. About 5.6 percent of full hybrid owners overall reported a battery issue. Owners of Lexus RX, NX, RZ, and LBX, plus Toyota C-HR, Corolla, Yaris, and Yaris Cross most often reported repeated failures, replacement costs, and having to buy external charging kits.
Toyota has faced other recent electrical and safety problems, including charging system malfunction warnings on some models and a separate recall where an instrument-cluster display can go blank in certain 2025–2026 Camry vehicles. None of these campaigns directly cover this 12-volt complaint, but they highlight why owners are sensitive to anything affecting basic safety functions such as door locks and warning lights.
Toyota Yaris Cross (2024) owners are among those affected by the faulty 12-volt batteries. The Lexus LBX and Toyota Yaris Cross have been highlighted as models with high reported rates, with the Lexus RX, NX, RZ, plus Toyota C-HR, Corolla, and Yaris also experiencing repeated 12-volt failures. Lexus has fitted a higher-capacity 12-volt battery to new LBX cars built from April 2025 and checks battery quality when those cars come in for routine maintenance, replacing batteries free of charge if they match the faulty production run.
Toyota updated its battery checks in May 2026 so that owners whose cars are found to need a new 12-volt battery receive a free replacement. A flat 12-volt may prevent smart entry, keyless start, and some electric door functions from working, but most recent Lexus and Toyota models include a mechanical key blade hidden in the fob and at least one manual interior door release.
Source: motor1.com
