Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating reports that some 2026 Toyota bZ electric vehicles may experience repeated 12-volt battery failures caused by an electrical system that does not properly enter sleep mode after the vehicle is turned off.
This issue appears to be separate from the battery ECU shutdown recall affecting certain Toyota bZ vehicles.
Recent owner complaints describe complete 12V battery depletion, replacement batteries subsequently failing, extended dealership stays, and possible problems involving the vehicle’s DCM and BCM modules remaining active when they should enter a low-power sleep state.
One reported vehicle allegedly experienced three complete electrical failures within approximately four weeks despite receiving a replacement 12V battery. Another report described an approximately 0.87–0.9 amp parasitic electrical draw following vehicle wake events.
A parasitic electrical draw can leave an otherwise charged electric vehicle unable to start or operate because its 12V system has been depleted.
Migliaccio & Rathod is investigating whether this represents a broader electrical defect affecting 2026 Toyota bZ vehicles and whether replacing the 12V battery alone fails to correct the underlying problem.
Owners May Have Experienced:
- A completely dead 12V battery after the vehicle was parked;
- Repeatedly needing to jump-start the vehicle;
- A replacement 12V battery also becoming depleted;
- The vehicle becoming completely unresponsive;
- DCM, BCM, or other electronic modules remaining active while the vehicle was parked;
- Modules or replacement parts being unavailable or backordered; or
- Extended dealership stays while technicians attempted to identify the battery drain.
Potential Claims May Include:
- Defective electrical or vehicle-control systems;
- Excessive parasitic battery drain;
- Breach of express or implied warranties;
- Failure to adequately repair repeated battery failures;
- Loss of use or diminished vehicle value; and
- Violations of applicable consumer-protection laws.
Signs You May Be Affected:
- You own or lease a 2026 Toyota bZ;
- Your 12V battery unexpectedly died while the vehicle was parked;
- You have experienced more than one dead-battery incident;
- Replacing the 12V battery did not permanently resolve the problem;
- Your dealer identified a DCM, BCM, sleep-mode, or parasitic-draw issue; or
- Your vehicle has spent an extended period at a Toyota dealership for the problem.
If you have encountered these issues, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call.