NHTSA complaint #11375443

Owner complaint summary

UNEXPECTEDLY, MY CAR'S 12V BATTERY DISCHARGED COMPLETELY UNDER CONDITIONS OF REGULAR USE AND MODERATE TEMPERATURES, WHILE PARKED IN MY GARAGE OVERNIGHT. CAR IS 11 MONTHS OLD WITH 6327 MILES. IT WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP, WHICH RE-CHARGED THE BATTERY AND INSTALLED DCM RESET AND FIRMWARE UPDATE T-SB-0095-20. THE REPAIR REPRESENTATIVE REFERRED TO POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH A RECENT AUTO SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT MAY HAVE WORN DOWN BATTERY WITH NUMEROUS INCOMPLETE (UNINITIATED) IGNITION STARTS. THIS SOFTWARE FIX WAS APPLIED FOR THIS SPECIFIC INSTANCE, BUT IS NOT BEING GENERALLY APPLIED TO ALL VEHICLES. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING I DID, AND INDICATED I MAY WANT TO WATCH FOR TOYOTA CONSUMER NOTICES FOR FURTHER REPAIR. THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, DCM RESET AND FIRMWARE UPDATE T-SB-0095-20 (DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020, ACCESSIBLE ONLINE), INDICATES SOME 2020-2021 MODELS MAY EXHIBIT "DEPLETED 12V VEHICLE BATTERY WHEN IN IG-OFF". THE SOFTWARE UPDATE IS NOT BEING APPLIED TO ALL VEHICLES, AND THERE WAS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN. AS A DRIVER, THIS LEAVES ME VULNERABLE TO BEING STRANDED WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION, AND RELIANT ON HELP FROM STRANGERS IF PARKED IN REMOTE RECREATION AREAS WITHOUT CELL PHONE ACCESS; AN UNSAFE SITUATION.