As part of Toyota’s rigorous quality control programme, we have investigated the cause of a 12 volt flat battery issue that has left some Toyota Auris drivers unable to start their cars after only a short period without use, usually a couple of days.
We would like to apologise for any disappointment and inconvenience that may have occurred as a result of this issue. But we can now confirm that the cause has been identified and a permanent solution developed.
The following information only applies to any Toyota Auris (including Hybrid) produced between December 2012 and February 2014. If you have an Auris produced after February 2014 your vehicle is not affected by this issue. No other models are involved.
Toyota Auris Hybrid Flat Battery: What causes the issue?
The issue is caused when the hazard switch is partially depressed for a very short period of time, incorrectly activating the car’s CAN-bus electrical communications system. This draws a constant flow of current that can discharge the 12 volt battery if the car is left unused for several days.
How can I prevent this from occurring?
Toyota has published a Technical Service Bulletin to its dealer network advising them of a permanent solution to this issue. The bulletin contains information and software files that will enable technicians to modify the software of the car’s combination meter. This update will prevent the incorrect activation of the CAN-bus system and prevent any potential flat battery concerns arising from this area of the vehicle.
If you still have concerns regarding the 12 volt battery of your current generation Toyota Auris then we recommend you get in touch with your nearest Toyota dealer for further assistance. http://www.toyota.co.uk/find-a-dealer
Hi David! First of all Thank You for answering all the questions you receive in this blog. I’m writing from Italy. Also Toyota Italia customer service confirmed me by phone that the “hazard” problem exist and gives me the same directions about how to prevent it. I’m interested to buy in the not too distant future an Auris wagon 1.6 petrol (not an hybrid model) BUT, as all the others Toyota Owners and Customers, I would like to have the car delivered to me with this issue fixed.
Are there any expectations about when it will happen (eg. one month, one year)? Auris Touring Sport is still manufactured in the United Kingdom?
Cheers to All,
Riccardo
Hello Riccardo
Thank you for your post and kind comments from sunny Italy.
This will happen fairly soon and we will be posting again as soon as we can confirm a timeframe for this. Sorry that we cannot confirm just yet but please do keep an eye on our Blog for the latest news. Auris Touring Sports are still built in the UK.
Hope this helps but let us know if you have any other questions.
I am having the same problem! Hybrid exell sports estate, my battery went dead after 3 days from new!
Took it to local Toyota dealer and was advised that I should turn hazards on/off and that a solution is being made.
The thing he told was to make sure that both fobs should be placed some where out of reach of car, I live in a large house but could not find anywhere in my house that was out of range of the car!
Any ideas on this situation please
Derek
Hello Derek
Thanks for your post.
So long as you follow the instruction in this post to make sure you have not inadvertantly pressed the hazard warning switch then this will prevent this issue causing the flat battery. With regard to the keys, so long as the fobs are more than 2 metres away from the car then you will be fine. We will have a solution to this issue very soon.
Hope this helps.
Hi David
I have taken delivery of my new Auris hybrid today, reading below, I can work out if the 12v flat battery issued has been resolved? And if it has how, do I know if my car has had the software update?
Thanks
Ian
Hi Ian
Thanks for your post. Good to hear about the delivery of your Auris Hybrid today.
At this stage we are just waiting for confirmation about when the production change has taken place. We will be updating the post once we receive this. Glad that you have seen this post and we would recommend that you follow these instructions as a precaution for the time being.
Let us know if you have any other questions.
Hello
I have just taken delivery (2 days ago) of an Auris Hybrid. Is it safe to assume that the battery problem has been fixed now or should I switch the hazard lights on and off as advised?
The dealer didn’t mention the problem and I only discovered this forum by chance.
Nick
Hi Nick
Thanks for your post. Good to hear about the delivery of your Auris Hybrid.
At this stage we are just waiting for confirmation about whether a production change has taken place and we will be updating the post once we receive this. Glad that you have seen this post and we would recommend that you follow these instructions as a precaution for the time being.
Let us know if you have any other questions.
HI,
I have a new auris sport hybrid estate, It would be a great if the auris was fitted with a amp gauge,
this way we would know what state the battery is in so we could charge the battery and alleviate
calling the AA who came and got the car to charge the battery its self.
the car was only 3 days old when this hapend., I took out the key from the fob and opened the drivers
door, no other door including the tailgate which prevented access to the battery.
So rather than worrying about the battery going flat again, I took out the first shelf in the boot. connecting my battery
charger to the battery after removal of battery cover, put the battery cover back, connect the charger
to ext lead and it showed tree quarter charge, so left it trickle charging overnight.
disconnected charger from extension lead, replaced the shelf leaving the the charger still connected to the battery, so next time I just lift shelf and plug into lead. I am going to leave this as permanent fix.
I paid a lot of money for my car and 3 days later I’m locked out, I didn’t expect this, Toyota have spotted this a long time ago, going from a normal gear shift with clutch is a big jump and toyota
should understand this and at least fit an amp meter, access to the tailgate, perhaps a bigger battery!
The hazard waring on/off seems to work o.k. but I hope the permanent fix is done soon.
All the best Derek
Hi Derek,
Thanks for your post.
We are sorry to learn you experienced this issue and we appreciate your feedback. We can assure you we are working on a permanent fix and will have more news very soon. Keep an eye on our blog for the latest developments.
I forgot to say that battery charger and wires are completely concealed after battery charger install.
No drilling, cutting ect , just place covers as usual.
Derek
Hi David
Thank for your help.
I am off to France on holiday next week, but i can seem to find how to convert the headlights to drive on the left?
Also do you know how i turn off the reversing camera beep! As i cant hear the parking sensors?
Thanks
Hi Ian
Personally no idea about headlights, I don’t think it’s any more sophisticated than stickers! However as they are so bad and set so low from factory you will probably find they won’t dazzle anyone anyway!!
Regarding reversing beep, Toyota dealership can plug this in and quickly turn it off so you only get one singular beep when selecting reverse as I had the same issue.. It’s impossible to tell what’s beeping, one tone for front range one tone for rear and another for reversing alarm all going at the same time!! Having a tight drive this was the first thing I did and it’s wonderful having it turned off. In my opinion it should be disabled as default with a screen setting to turn it on if you’d like. PS Make sure they do it FOC as you’ve just bought a new car with them, the did for me.
Kind regards,
Andy
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your comment, we understand Customer Relations have now been in touch.
Hope this helps.
Hi
Back again, does anyone know how to get the DAB radio to work?
Hi Ian,
We require a few more details in order to help, what issues are you facing? Alternatively, your local Dealer will be happy to assist.
Hi Tobi
One commend I’d like to make about the DAB radio in my Hybrid Hatchback which is brilliant when it works:
Sometimes mid-drive DAB will completely cut out with no sound, forcing me over to FM again if I wish to continue listening to the radio. When it this state the DAB seems to “function” in that it will change channels and scans for stations and waits for a few seconds when selecting a station before putting information on screen, all normal DAB behaviour but no sound at all.
When it does this the only way I can get DAB back audible again is by turning car off and on. Turning the head unit off and on does nothing. Changing to a different source, eg FM has no effect whatsoever. Making a call and disconnecting does nothing.
Is this a known fault? it happens about every week or so.. I can live with it but it’s irritating having to effectively fully power down the car to get it back working again. Anyone else with similar issue?
Kind regards,
Andy
Hi Andy,
It’s hard for us to diagnose this problem online. We have passed it by our technical team who recommend visiting your local Dealer, they will be best suited to assist. You can locate your nearest Dealer here: http://www.toyota.co.uk/find-a-dealer
Hope this helps.
Hi Tobi
Yes the dealer has sorted out the radio, but i have not had any feed back, on the issue of converting the headlights to drive on the left?
Ian
Hi Ian,
Our Customer Relations team have sent a note to you confirming the headlights do not require alteration as they have a flat beam.
Hope this helps.
Hi
Thank you, thats great.
Ian