Case file · TOYOTA-PRIUS-2023-2026 · Field document

Toyota Prius 2023–2026 · Pre-purchase checklist

Bring this to the inspection. Every check below is specific to this generation's documented failure modes — not generic used-car advice.

1. Check 01

   Run the VIN at toyota.com/recall and nhtsa.gov. The critical one is the rear-door switch campaign 26V-049 (Toyota 26TA03/26TB03) — a car repaired under the ORIGINAL April 2024 recall (24V-274) still needs the newer remedy. Don't accept 'the door recall was already done' without checking which one.

2. Check 02

   Until the door remedy is confirmed, check that automatic door locking (locks when shifting out of Park) is enabled in the settings — that's Toyota's own interim measure, since a locked door can't pop open.

3. Check 03

   Put the car in reverse and watch the screen: the backup camera freezing or going blank is recall 25V-744 (2023–2025 cars with the Panoramic View Monitor), fixed with a free software update. Confirm it by VIN too.

4. Check 04

   On a Prime / Plug-in Hybrid: ask directly about dead 12-volt batteries and whether the TSB T-SB-0054-24 reflash was performed. A Prime habitually left plugged in for days after charging completed is the documented drain scenario.

5. Check 05

   Inspect the windshield and the plastic trim around the glass for cracks. Reports on this generation are scattered, not a pattern — but glass replacement means recalibrating the Toyota Safety Sense camera, so you want to know about any prior windshield work.

6. Check 06

   Do the warranty math from the in-service date: 10 years/150,000 miles on the hybrid battery, 8/100k on other hybrid components — most of this generation is still covered.

7. Check 07

   Glance under the rear for the catalytic converter: hybrids remain theft targets, and a bolted-on cat shield is a plus, not a red flag.

8. Check 08

   On a Prime, charge it and confirm real-world EV range is near the rating (44 miles SE, 39 miles XSE) before you pay plug-in money.