Some owners of Toyota hybrids might be wondering what will happen to their car during long periods without use, particularly when it comes to the level of charge in the batteries.
The reassuring news is that no difficult car maintenance is necessary. However, there are some tips that, if followed, can help ensure your Toyota remains in tip-top condition during an extended layoff.
To recap, Toyota hybrids generally contain two batteries: a 12-volt battery (which powers systems such as the headlamps and audio) and a high-voltage hybrid system battery (which supplies the power to start the combustion engine and drive the electric motors).
The simplest way to maintain charge in both of these batteries is to simply go through the normal start procedure: press the ‘Start’ button with your foot on the brake and ensure the ‘Ready’ light is illuminated on the dashboard (you don’t have to keep your foot on the brake thereafter, but ensure your vehicle’s transmission is in ‘Park’ and the parking brake is engaged).
We recommend you put the car in ‘Ready’ mode for about 60 minutes before switching it off again, drive for at least 30 minutes and repeat the process at least once a week. Please do not leave your car unattended when it is in ‘Ready’ mode.
During the time that that car is in ‘Ready’ mode, you may hear and feel the internal combustion engine kick in; this is a normal part of the self-charging process. You might be tempted to switch on the radio to pass the time, or turn on other systems, but bear in mind these will consume small amounts of electrical power so it is preferable to leave them off.
Ensure the handbrake is on; there’s no need to go for a drive, although we must stress that this procedure should take place in a well-ventilated area – something to consider if you park your vehicle in a garage.
What if my Toyota isn’t a hybrid?
Our petrol and diesel cars only have a 12-volt battery, which provides the power to start the engine in addition to the other systems mentioned above. Regular start-up of the vehicle on conventional petrol and diesel engines needs approximately 20 minutes of running to put back into the battery what you remove on start up, so to maintain this battery we would suggest 60 minutes of running at least once a week.
Is there anything else I need to do?
Whether you own a hybrid or a Toyota equipped solely with an internal combustion engine, there are a few other easy car maintenance points that can ensure your Toyota hybrid remains healthy and happy during an enforced hibernation. Again, please adhere to the latest government advice regarding social distancing.
- Check the tyre pressures are fully inflated to the recommended level and top-up if necessary. It can be a good idea to repeat this process when you first drive your car after a long period of inactivity.
- Clean the car thoroughly inside and out. If you are storing your car in a garage, make sure the vehicle is completely dry before you put it away.
- If you do plan to store your car in a garage, ensure the chosen storage area offers plenty of ventilation. If the space is secure, you could consider opening one of the car’s windows a small way to ventilate the interior. If you do this, you might have to change your car alarm’s setting to prevent it setting off the intrusion sensor – please consult your car’s manual for more information.
- It can be beneficial to leave the vehicle with the parking brake disengaged to prevent the brakes from binding, but only do this if you are certain the car is on level terrain and isn’t going to move. Ensure the transmission is set to ‘P’ for park and place wedges or chocks, if you have them, under the wheels.
- If you have a 12V battery trickle charger, or a solar panel charger, and are confident using them, then these are a good option to keep the battery fully charged while the vehicle is stationary for a period of time.
- If your vehicle is equipped with smart entry and start but the system isn’t operated for a long time, a battery-saving function will automatically be activated to prevent the electronic key battery and the 12-volt battery from being discharged. Battery depletion in the key is minimised by stopping the electronic key from receiving radio waves. On many models equipped with this system, it is possible to manually put the key into battery-saving mode, so please consult your car’s handbook for more information. If you aren’t planning to drive your car for a long time, consider putting the smart key in a safe place and not carrying it around with you in your pocket. This will prevent the car from ‘waking up’ unnecessarily should you happen to walk near it in your garage or driveway.
- If the vehicle will be kept on private property (such as inside a garage) for the duration of its storage, you could consider applying for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). This informs the DVLA that the car is off the road and you will receive a refund of any remaining full months of tax. However, you won’t be able to drive your car legally until you tax it again, so it is only advisable if you are positive you won’t use your car for a long time. You can read more information about how to SORN your car here.
Read more Toyota GB’s latest statement on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation
Hello. I bought my Yaris hybrid 5 years ago and its 12v battery has failed twice. First time it was about 2 years old and it failed to start on leaving a supermarket carpark. The AA arrived 3 hours latter and got it moving saying I don’t drive it enough on long trips. I use it every 3 or 4 days locally, being retired and living in an area with reasonable bus services. Toyota shortly after replaced the almost dead battery which was under warranty. Then this morning it wouldn’t start. I put it down to not having driven it for 3 days and the cold weather. However, on perusing the user manual I noticed it says that the 12v battery will discharge fast if the electronic key is within 2.5m of the locked car for more than 2 minutes.(why, is not explained). Yesterday I had washed the car with the doors locked and the key in my pocket for about 30 minutes. Presumably the key, the car and Toyotas systems are communicating in this situation (for security reasons?) and this depleted the battery. I will unlock the car next time I wash it and move away from it quickly after parking and locking it.
It seems like we’re increasingly driving computers on wheels rather than cars so need training in IT not driving. Thoughts?
Hi David,
We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by your 12-volt battery, and are attentive to the issues you have highlighted.
To provide some reassurance, the increasing number of electrical features (such as an electronic key) expected in modern cars can put a strain on hybrid batteries. This is not unique to Toyota vehicles.
It is great that you have visited your local dealer for a complimentary battery health check.
If you are concerned about maintaining the health of your battery still, please refer to this article: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/12v-battery-care/
Please let us know if you have any further questions. We will be more than happy to assist.
We apologise again for the inconvenience caused.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
I own a 2024 BZ4X and can confirm that the 12v battery issue extends to Toyotas first full EV model. In July last year my car would not start so out came the AA who confirmed that the 12v battery was depleted. After the battery was charged I had 5 months stress free driving until one morning the car failed to start. In the last 3 months this has happened twice more. Today was the only occasion when the car had not been used for a few days (5). After the first occasion I read all Toyotas advice re “12v battery maintenance “ and adhered to it to the letter. I have spent £100 on a charger pack but draw the line at having a trickle charger as my car is regularly driven. Ironically, unlike other people on the thread, when I have left the car in an airport car park for up to 2 weeks there has been no issue.
I took my BZ4X to my local Toyota dealer (from where it was purchased) in December 2025 after the 2nd occasion it failed to start. The12v battery was apparently in good condition and I was advised re best practice to maintain the battery. After today’s lee latest failure I have booked it in again for the battery to be “looked at”.
This is my 5th Toyota in 20 years and is great to drive, but unlike its 4 predecessors it can’t be relied upon to start. I reiterate the sentiment of other posts on this forum – Toyota are failing to acknowledge or address a fundamental problem both corporately and at local dealer level.
Good morning Stephen,
Apologies for the delay in coming back to you.
We’re sorry to hear you’ve been experiencing problems with the 12v battery in your Toyota bZ4X.
We trust your local Toyota Centre has now inspected your car and addressed any concerns but please don’t hesitate to come back to us if you still have concerns.
Thank you.
Despite always driving our 8-month old Yaris Cross at least 30 solid mins every week and a handful of much longer journeys each month, sad to say we are now repeatedly also having the same 12v battery issue. I had asked about battery life and vehicle usage before buying and this clearly well-known issue was not mentioned at all by the Toyota outlet, and I have since kept well within the recommended use parameters (and am keeping the key fob in a faraday pouch at home) but am still getting regular low charge warnings. Can you please let us all know if there are any systemic remedial actions being more specifically considered by Toyota to address this major issue affecting numerous upset customers?
Good morning JP,
Thank you for getting in touch to share your concerns.
All modern cars drain the 12v battery when they are switched off. This is due to the onboard electrical systems. If the 12v battery is not given a chance to recharge often enough, it can go flat.
Read more here and pick up some tips that, if followed, can help ensure your Lexus remains in tip-top condition: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/12v-battery-care/
If you would like your car to be inspected or for further technical advice, please get in touch with your local Toyota Centre.
Kind regards,
Toyota UK
Hey Toyota just admit the problem and fix it.
Had my Yaris 3 years great car but so unreliable. You just never know when it will fail. Been back to my local Toyota dealer and just get bullshit every time. Nothing wrong with battery then want to charge me to charge it up. Can’t wait to get rid of it. And I’m not alone.
Hi A Robinson,
Thank you for your comment. We appreciate it and understand your frustration.
Please find attached the most recent advise that should help you to maintain the health of your hybrid battery: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/12v-battery-care/
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
I’m experiencing this issue now with a totally flat battery. 2023 Corolla GR Sport. I charged it to get the car going and went for an hours drive. Following day, battery completely flat again. Took it into SSC Toyota dealer. They charged the battery overnight then informed me the following day that the battery is good and there is nothing wrong. Seems like I’m left to resolve this issue on my own.
The car has always had a battery issue with the app constantly warning me of it being flat. Despite me using it for 20 miles a day commuting and long drives to go away at weekends.
Good morning Matt,
Sorry to hear this. If you’re still experiencing problems with the 12v battery in your Toyota Corolla Hybrid, we’d recommend arranging another inspection at your local Toyota Centre.
Thank you.
My brand new HCR has had to have the AA out to deal with the battery twice in my first 5 days of ownership. This is despite a long drive – over 3 hours – from the dealer to my home. The battery was flat 3 days later, after one further shorter trip. The AA staff call out person simply said he wasn’t surprised and that he attended around 15 per week Toyota call outs with the same issues. This is clearly a design fault, whilst modern cars do use more electrical power, and whilst not unique to Toyota – the extent seems to be. I have no issues with my hybrid RAV 4, but the battery fitted to the Yaris cross, HCR etc. Appear to not be fit for purpose. The car is now with my local service centre – after 2 weeks of ownership I should not be in this position. The pages of comments and AA experiences tell a clear narrative. At no point during purchase was this highlighted as a common issue – I would have made a different purchase if it had been. I’ll give the service centre a chance, but having driven Toyotas cars for over 30 years, with great satisfaction, something is amiss here. Toyota, you need to sort this … don’t simply say run the car in ready mode for an hour a week or drive it long distances – a 3 hour drive left a new car with a flat battery within within 3 days.
Good morning Jonathan,
We’re really sorry to hear you experienced a problem so early on in your ownership.
The 12-volt auxiliary battery is the unsung hero of your car’s electrical system. This fundamental component provides the sole source of power for all low-voltage electrical features, from the lights and starter motor (where fitted) to climate control and audio systems. Modern vehicles contain much more technology than even those of a decade ago. Yet despite having to provide the energy for these increased demands, all the 12v battery requires to maintain a virtuous electrical cycle is to be effectively recharged by the powertrain. Click here for some tips on how to support the health of your Toyota C-HR’s 12v battery.
We trust your visit to your local Toyota Centre went well and your concerns have been addressed.
Thank you.
Hi,I have given up on Toyota Yaris cross as not able to trust car in an emergency. I am also a bit fed up with Toyota’s same old reply to issue of battery. I was thinking of getting an Aygo x hybrid but concerned it would have same issue as Yaris. Disappointed with Toyota as really liked the Yaris cross. Don’t suppose Toyota will put this on site.
Hi Martin,
Thank you for your comment. We appreciate it and understand your frustration.
Please find attached the most recent advise that should help you to maintain the health of your hybrid battery: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/12v-battery-care/
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
I will NEVER own another Toyota entirely because of the well known 12v aux battery issues. I have a Yaris Hybrid 2021 and have had constant issues with the car being dead on start up DESPITE using a trickle charger and ensuring all systems are off well before I stop the engine. The car is completely unreliable and my local dealer does not want to know. I cannot comprehend how Toyota UK have not acknowledged that the pathetic 12v battery that was fitted originally is simply not up to the job. And no, I will not “drive more” each week to rectify an issue Toyota knows about. My local Toyota dealer is entirely dismissive, patronising and refuses to appreciate this is an issue. I’m very unimpressed. This was not what I expected from Toyota.
Hi RH,
Thank you for your comment. We appreciate it and understand your frustration.
Please find attached the most recent advise that should help you to maintain the health of your hybrid battery: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/12v-battery-care/
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK
A quote from Toyota UK Magazine “We recommend you put the car in ‘Ready’ mode for about 60 minutes before switching it off again, drive for at least 30 minutes and repeat the process at least once a week. Please do not leave your car unattended when it is in ‘Ready’ mode.”
Can I check that I understand this correctly – you are suggesting that I should sit on the drive with my car for an hour, then drive it for 30 minutes AT LEAST EVERY WEEK EVEN IN WINTER (and without using the radio or heater)? What sort of cloud cuckoo land do Toyota UK live in! I think this sounds very much like “Not fit for purpose”!!!!
Hi Neil,
Thank you for your comment. We understand your frustration.
Please find attached the most recent advise that should help you to maintain the health of your hybrid battery: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/12v-battery-care/
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Many thanks,
Toyota UK