Toyota Recalls Over Half a Million Vehicles and Halts EV Sales Due to Safety Concerns
Toyota has recently announced two widespread recalls, impacting a substantial number of vehicles in the United States. These actions underscore the company's commitment to vehicle safety, addressing critical issues ranging from malfunctioning infotainment systems to defective defrosters in electric vehicle models, leading to a temporary suspension of sales for specific EVs.
Toyota Initiates Major Vehicle Recalls and Suspends EV Sales Amid Safety Concerns
In a significant development for the automotive industry, Toyota has initiated two separate recall campaigns in the United States, collectively affecting approximately 686,000 vehicles. These recalls highlight crucial safety and operational issues across a range of their popular models and electric vehicles.
The first recall, issued on a Friday and voluntarily submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), encompasses a staggering 591,000 vehicles. The affected models include select Toyota Venza, Crown, Crown Signia, RAV4, GR Corolla, 4Runner, Camry, Grand Highlander, Tacoma, and Highlander, alongside various Lexus LS, RX, and TX models. The root cause of this extensive recall is identified as a fault within the infotainment system. This defect could lead to the 12.3-inch display screen failing to activate upon vehicle startup or, more critically, going blank while the vehicle is in motion, posing a potential distraction and safety risk to drivers. Toyota plans to commence notification of affected vehicle owners by mid-November 2025.
Adding to these concerns, a second, equally critical recall was announced the previous week, targeting nearly 95,000 electric vehicles. This recall specifically impacts certain 2023 to 2025 models of the Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra. The bZ4X constitutes the largest portion of this recall, with around 41,500 units, followed by the Solterra at 32,320, and the Lexus RZ with 20,501 vehicles. All these electric models share a common platform, suggesting a systemic issue. The primary reason for this EV recall is a faulty defroster, a component vital for clear visibility and safe operation, especially in adverse weather conditions. Recognizing the inherent safety implications of this defect, Toyota has instructed dealerships to immediately halt sales of all bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra models produced up to mid-June.
Owners whose vehicles are identified as part of the electric vehicle recall are advised to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealership. There, the HVAC control ECU software will be updated at no cost to the owner, thereby rectifying the defroster issue. Toyota intends to dispatch official notification letters to owners of these electric vehicles by October 20, 2025.
For further assistance, Toyota customers can reach out to the company's customer service hotline at 1-800-331-4331, referencing recall numbers 25TB07 and 25TA07. Lexus owners should use recall numbers 25LB04 and 25LA04, while Subaru owners should refer to WRD-25. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a hotline at 1-888-327-4236 and a website, NHTSA.gov, for more comprehensive information regarding vehicle recalls.
These recalls underscore the dynamic nature of automotive manufacturing and the continuous efforts required to ensure vehicle safety. For consumers, this situation highlights the importance of staying informed about vehicle recalls and promptly addressing any identified issues to maintain optimal safety on the road. For Toyota, these events present an opportunity to reinforce their commitment to quality and customer trust by efficiently resolving the concerns and transparently communicating with their clientele.