2024 TOYOTA bZ4X

I LEASED A TOYOTA BZ4X THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS AND OTHER LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING AND FOB IS NOT TOUCHED. I TOOK CAR IN TO BE SERVICE FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY $295 AND I AM UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS SOLD THE CAR BRAND NEW AND I DON'T THINK IT IS. I KEEP HEARING PEOPLE TALKING WHEN THE CAR IS POWERED OFF. I REPORTED THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS IGNORED. MY CAR KEEPS TRYING TO CUT OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTS SHAKING, ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON THEN GO OFF. I WAS TOLD I COULD GET MY CAR SERVICE ANYWHERE FOR NO CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TURNED AWAY. ITS N BEEN A YEAR AND NO SERVICE CAR HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED AT ALL. I TOOK IT 2 TIMES FOR SERVICE AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN SERVICE. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE NEW.

The vehicle experienced repeated electrical and brake system malfunctions that pose serious safety concerns. On multiple occasions, the brake pedal became stiff and unresponsive while driving, and the parking brake system failed to engage properly. In addition, the ignition system often failed to start, even when the battery and all power indicators appeared normal. At times, the vehicle’s electrical system completely shut down without warning — causing loss of power functions, dashboard lights, and essential safety controls. These failures occur intermittently and unpredictably, making the vehicle unreliable and unsafe to operate. The issue has been reported to the dealer for inspection, but the problem continues to occur. It appears to be related to the vehicle’s electronic brake control and ignition system. This malfunction places the driver and others at potential risk, especially if the brake system or electrical components fail while the vehicle is in motion.

I am writing to formally report ongoing issues with my Toyota bZ4X that raise serious safety concerns. The vehicle has been inspected twice by authorized Toyota service centers, and each time I have been told that no problems were found. However, the following issues continue to persist:     1.    Inaccurate Battery Readings: The electric system appears to malfunction regularly. The displayed battery percentage and estimated mileage are inconsistent and unreliable. For example, the battery may indicate a higher percentage while simultaneously showing a drastically reduced range, or vice versa.     2.    Lane Departure Warning Malfunction: The lane departure system activates erratically, sometimes without any lane deviation. At other times, it fails to engage when it should, which compromises the vehicle’s safety features.     3.    Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Alerts: Warning lights frequently come on indicating that the tires are losing pressure, even after verifying that tire pressures are within recommended levels. These warnings occur unpredictably and without cause. Despite having the vehicle inspected twice, I have not received a resolution or acknowledgment of any defects. Toyota has stated that nothing is wrong with the vehicle, but the issues are ongoing and continue to impact the car’s drivability and safety. These problems are not only frustrating but also present a potential risk while driving. I am requesting that Toyota take this matter seriously, investigate the root cause of these electrical system malfunctions, and provide a resolution that ensures the vehicle operates safely and reliably.

The 12 volt battery does not maintain a charge. I have had it replaced twice. I purchased new January 2025; first battery replaced on March 20, 2025; second battery replaced August 13, 2025. I am currently having the same issue with the battery management system which controls temperature and battery usage. After sitting overnight, I drove my car approximately three miles parked and attempted to use the key fob to secure the vehicle, it failed. I had no problem or indication at the start of my trip. I had to secure the door with my physical key. I returned to the vehicle 15 minutes later and the key fob would not work at all. I accessed the vehicle with the physical key. The alarm was activated upon entry. I tried to use my key fob to get the vehicle to deactivate the alarm system but it would not work. Approximately five minutes later and after several attempts, the alarm stopped and the vehicle was showing ‘Ready’ but ‘No Key Detected’ was flashing on the information screen and vehicle would not change mode from park to reverse or drive. After several attempts of holding the key fob directly over the ‘START/STOP’ button, the car showed ‘ READY’ and I was able to change modes. The vehicle started flashing ‘NO KEY DETECTED’ continuously while I quickly drove back home. I parked in my driveway and made an appointment with Toyota for service. Later in the day, I attempted my key fob again, to no avail. I was able to get the key detected, display showed ‘Ready’ and mode changed. My car does not start (READY) until after several attempts. The dealership advised the battery failed a load test overnight and was replaced (August 15th) After the second replacement my car sat overnight. I drove a few miles to a charging station. I placed the car in ‘My Room Mode’ to have access to the climate control system and radio. The car started flashing ‘low voltage/battery’, I turned off the accessory mode, returned to the dealer, and awaiting resolution. Case filed with NCDS/CDSP.

On [XXX], while driving through a common roadway puddle at a safe speed, the front bumper on my BZ4X detached from the undercarriage shield and tore away from the clips. This type of damage is clearly disproportionate to the conditions and reflects a deficiency in structural design. After researching this issue, I found that many other BZ4X owners have experienced the same bumper detachment and undercarriage shield failure under minimal driving conditions. These consistent reports indicate a widespread manufacturing defect, not isolated driver error or negligence. For example: On multiple owner forums and complaint sites like NHTSA.gov and Reddit, BZ4X owners have documented similar instances of bumpers tearing off from puddles or light snow. A widely circulated post on Reddit’s r/Toyota described a nearly identical issue, stating that “driving through a shallow puddle at a slow speed caused the bumper to rip off like paper.” The issue has even reached automotive press outlets and consumer advocate blogs, highlighting growing concern over the poor mounting of the bumper and the fragile undercarriage shield. Given the consistency and severity of these reports, this clearly represents a design flaw. The bumper is failing to withstand routine driving conditions, and this undermines not only the durability of the vehicle but also customer confidence and safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving very slowly (5 to 10 MPH) through a rain storm on May 28th. The water rose to about 6 inches (fairly still, not rushing water), and I heard a loud and alarming noise under the car. I drove on for one block on a neighborhood street until I could get to higher ground. I discovered that the force of the water pulled down the fabric and plastic shrouds from the wheel-well into the wheels. The cloth and plastic shrouds were then pulled under the wheels, and the whole connected assembly was ripped off the car. This caused damage to both front fenders, the front bumper, and possibly to the safety sensors behind the bumper. I took it to my local Toyota dealer the next day, and they said this happens all the time, and that it will cost at least $2,000 to repair -- maybe double that if the safety sensors behind the bumper were damaged. I posted to some forums on-line about this problem, and heard from many other owners of the BZ4X and the identical car from Subaru (Soltera) that they had experienced the same thing. The Toyota dealer is correct -- this happens all the time -- it is clearly a serious design flaw, and it is a serious safety concern. The Toyota dealer has said that this is my problem, not theirs. The Toyota USA customer-service said the same thing. They clearly do not want to accept responsibility for a badly designed front-bumper assembly. This car has less than 3,000 miles on it, and despite my extremely cautious driving, it is already falling apart.