Toyota, Repeated Battery Failure – Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid 130 Premiere Edition! Dear Toyota Management Team, I have been a long-time admirer of the Toyota brand. My appreciation for your company was further deepened during a visit to Japan, when my family and I had the pleasure of exploring the Toyota Museum—a memorable experience that left a lasting impression.
I retired at the end of 2019. My wife and I have since settled in Cascais, Portugal. In August of 2024, we purchased a second vehicle—a brand-new 2024 Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid 130 Premiere Edition, from Caetano Auto Lisboa Ocidente, the same dealership where we previously purchased our daughter’s Toyota Aygo. We chose the Yaris Cross after considering several other brands. We were drawn to its hybrid technology, compact size for urban use, elevated driving position suited for rural roads, and Toyota’s reputation for dependability. Unfortunately, our experience with the vehicle has been disappointing due to recurring battery issues. Last month, after parking the car in front of the dojo where I train, I returned to find the battery completely dead. I contacted our insurance provider’s roadside assistance service, and the vehicle was revived using a portable booster. The mechanic advised me to drive for approximately 20 minutes to recharge the battery. I took the vehicle to the Toyota dealer who told me that this was normal (?!). Today, following a one-month trip to Brazil to visit our grandsons, we encountered the same problem: the battery was again completely discharged. Once more, we required roadside assistance and were instructed to drive the vehicle for an extended period to recharge the battery. As retirees who travel frequently, we find this situation highly inconvenient and not in line with the reliability we expected from a Toyota vehicle. The necessity to call for assistance and then drive around to recharge the battery every time the car is unused for a period is not a sustainable solution, nor one we anticipated when investing in a new Toyota.
I am reaching out in the hope that Toyota can provide a permanent and satisfactory resolution to this issue. We would appreciate any guidance, investigation, or support that your team can offer to ensure this vehicle meets the standards of dependability associated with the Toyota name. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely. Cascais, Portugal
