NHTSA Complaint #11714873 — 2025 TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID

After purchasing a new vehicle, I have become aware of a persistent and widely reported problem with the Toyota/Lexus battery maintenance/charging logic for the 12V batteries in their HEV and PHEV vehicles. This results in chronic under-charging of the 12v battery due to low charging voltage even during normal use and produces a failed 12v battery within 6-24 months. The problems are so widely known and investigated by owners that there is now a complete white paper on the subject: [XXX] Toyota/Lexus needs to respond to this and provide a software patch that addresses the well-documented issue so that new owners like me are not confronted with a choice between (a) driving the vehicle and risking getting stuck in an unpleasant or dangerous situation when the vehicle fails to start; (b) modifying the manufacturer's system and risk voiding my warranty; or (c) spending additional money on diagnostic equipment for something that is a clear manufacturer error. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)