Several Toyota and Lexus models are facing scrutiny over reported 12V battery problems that can leave occupants unable to open their vehicle doors. Research by Which?, an independent consumer rights organization in the United Kingdom, found hundreds of affected owners, while complaints from U.S. customers indicate the issue is not limited to the UK.

12V Battery Failures Affect Toyota and Lexus Models

According to the Which? report, 12V batteries in certain Toyota and Lexus models can drain prematurely. When the battery fails, occupants may be unable to open the vehicle doors because the interior and exterior handles do not directly operate the latches.

Instead, the handles activate an electric motor known as an e-Latch. If the motor cannot receive power from a depleted battery, the door may not open.

Mary Mitchell, an owner of a Lexus LBX, a small crossover sold in other markets, experienced the problem when her grandchildren became trapped inside the vehicle. The retracting external door handles did not operate, while the children inside were unable to use the manual override function.

The key fob contained a mechanical key, but it was inside the vehicle at the time.

“The children were panicking and it was extremely stressful,” said Mitchell. “We eventually managed to get a window open and get the children out.”

In another reported case, a Lexus NX owner had to break a vehicle window after two adults and two dogs became trapped inside. Nobody knew about the manual door release.

Another Lexus RX owner reported experiencing six 12V battery problems during the first year.

Toyota Models Also Report Battery Complaints

Which? identified the NX, RZ and RX among the affected Lexus models. On the Toyota side, the C-HR, Corolla, Yaris and Yaris Cross received the most battery-related complaints in a survey involving 63,334 respondents.

The reports indicate that the problem extends beyond a single model or vehicle type, with both Toyota and Lexus vehicles appearing in complaints involving 12V battery failures.

U.S.-Spec Lexus Vehicles Face Similar Reports

Although the door-handle issue does not appear to be as widespread in the U.S. market, complaints from American customers describe similar problems.

As recently as July 9, the owner of a 2025 Lexus NX reported that the door’s electronic hatch would occasionally malfunction. According to the complaint, the only way to open the door in that situation was to “pull very hard on the door to close it again or get someone to push on the outside of the door.”

The customer did not directly identify a battery fault. The reported solution could also present difficulties for a weaker or older driver who may not have enough strength to pull the door hard enough to close it.

Another California owner of a 2025 Lexus NX directly linked the problem to the 12V battery. The complaint, published on the NHTSA site, said the owner was trapped inside the vehicle for 45 minutes.

Without his phone, the owner eventually used the horn to alert his wife. The couple still had to contact Lexus Roadside Assistance, while the Lexus dealer reportedly advised that the vehicle should be “driven more often to keep the 12V battery charged.”

Toyota Technician Says Company Is Investigating

A Reddit thread started by a Toyota master diagnostic technician also described concerns about the 12V battery issue. The technician said, “Toyota is aware of the [12V issue] and is trying to investigate.”

Many customers responded to the thread with their own experiences involving 12V battery failures.

Toyota and Lexus Issue Guidance for Owners

In the UK, Toyota and Lexus acknowledged that a depleted 12V battery could prevent smart entry and other electrical systems from operating as intended.

This month, both brands published an advisory explaining what customers should do if their vehicle cannot be unlocked. The guidance includes information about the location and operation of manual door releases, although the mechanisms differ between models.

For select Lexus models, the mechanical door lever must be pulled toward the occupant twice.

“We are particularly concerned by reports of customers feeling distressed or vulnerable as a result of a depleted battery, including incidents where occupants have experienced difficulty operating electronic door-release systems,” said Toyota/Lexus. “Customer safety remains our highest priority, and we recognize the importance of ensuring customers are familiar with the manual override features fitted to these vehicles.”

Owners Urged to Know Their Manual Door Releases

The reports have renewed concerns about electronic door-release systems and the potential difficulties they can create when a 12V battery fails.

The Toyota and Lexus issue is specifically tied to depleted 12V batteries. For owners of Toyota or Lexus vehicles equipped with these systems, knowing the location and operation of the vehicle’s manual override door levers provides an alternative when electronic door releases cannot operate.

Regularly checking the condition of the 12V battery is also recommended, particularly for vehicles that mainly travel short distances or remain stationary for extended periods.