Toyota and Lexus Owners Report Being Trapped Inside Vehicles When Batteries Die

A UK consumer survey has raised concerns about electronic door handles on certain Toyota and Lexus models, with some owners reporting being locked inside their cars after the 12-volt battery failed.

The Which? Car Survey, a member-based organization similar to Consumer Reports, collected more than 270 reports related to faulty 12-volt batteries, and over three-quarters of those involved a Toyota or Lexus. Models frequently mentioned included the Lexus RX, NX, and LBX, as well as the Toyota C-HR, Corolla, Yaris, and Yaris Cross.

Electronic door handles replace traditional physical latches with buttons that electronically trigger a motor to release the door. When the battery dies, these buttons stop working. While most such systems include a manual backup release, owners say it is not obvious or well explained.

One Lexus NX owner named Michael said the battery died while two adults and two dogs were inside, and he broke a window to get everyone out. He later said the dealership flip-flopped over whether the battery was fit for purpose, and he paid for a new battery and glass himself. Another owner, James, said his wife was "extremely distressed" after being locked in, noting the manual release was not intuitive.

A third owner, Mary, said her LBX's battery died with her two grandchildren and keys inside; after a replacement battery failed again within a year, a dealership reportedly told her the car was not suitable for low-mileage use.

Online forums show similar issues beyond the UK. A ClubLexus thread on the current-generation RX spans 125 pages, and a poll on the NX section found nearly a quarter of respondents replaced their battery within 36 months.

When contacted, Toyota said safety is its highest priority and stressed that customers should be familiar with manual override features. The company has been asked for further comment.