Toyota recalls hybrid, conventional and FCEV cars over reduced stability

Plano, TX – May 14, 2022 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 458,054 vehicles whose stability control may fail to turn back on automatically after it is turned off. This makes the vehicle less stable during sudden maneuvers, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

A total of 17 different models are affected by this recall, including the following:  

  • 2020 – 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 
  • 2021 – 2022 Toyota Mirai 
  • 2021 – 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime
  • 2021 – 2022 Toyota Sienna 
  • 2021 – 2022 Toyota Venza
  • 2021 – 2022 Lexus LS500H 
  • 2022 Lexus LX600
  • 2022 Lexus NX350H
  • 2022 Lexus NX450H+
  • 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 

Recall summary  

All cars on this list are equipped with a Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system. Its job is to prevent the vehicle from skidding during fast maneuvers or when the road is slippery. The drivers may disengage this system, but it is supposed to resume automatically every time the car is restarted. 

As a result of a programming error, the VSC system in affected vehicles may remain disengaged even after the restart. This happens only when the driver keeps her foot on the brake while shutting off the car and turning it back on

As a result, drivers are more likely to lose control of a vehicle, especially when driving fast or on slippery roads.

The component behind this recall is the brake actuator assembly, with multiple part numbers including 44510-48090 or 44540-50231. 

Recall risks

The defect increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

Warning signs

If the VSC is off, a warning light will illuminate on the dashboard.

Other Toyota recalls

There was a Toyota Sienna recall in November 2021, caused by seatbelts that were prone to tearing. In February, the manufacturer recalled 41,544 Toyota Venzas hybrid SUVs because of faulty turn signals, as reported.

The repair

To fix the issue, Toyota and Lexus authorized dealers will reprogram the Vehicle Stability Control ECU (electronic control unit) and install an updated software version. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between May 16, 2022 and June 24, 2022.   

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

These Toyota electrical issues have caused a recall that affects almost half a million vehicles. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicToyota recalls hybrid, conventional and FCEV cars over reduced stability

Toyota recalls C-HR SUVs with faulty pre-collision warning systems

Plano, TX – March 11, 2022 –  Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 36,558 2021 Toyota C-HR SUVs because their pre-collision warning systems may malfunction, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

Recall summary  

Vehicles that are part of this Toyota recall have a range of driver assistance features, including the so-called pre-collision system (PCS). This safety system uses a camera and radar sensor to scan the road in front of the vehicle. If any obstacles are detected, it will warn the driver and even stop the vehicle if necessary. 

On certain Toyota C-HR 2021 models, the radar sensor may not have been activated during the assembly of the vehicle. With it being inoperable, the PCS may fail to “notice” a potential obstacle and will not know it is inoperative.

The component in question is the “millimeter-wave radar sensor,” with part number 88210-F4070. 

Recall risks

Without PCS, the driver is at a higher risk of a collision.

Other Toyota recalls 

The 2021 Toyota C-HR is not subject to any other recalls.

The 2020 model-year was recalled in December 2019 due to faulty rear seat belts assemblies, as reported.

Separately, in December of last year, over 220,000 Toyota Camry sedans were recalled due to the loss of power brake assistance, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the radar and ensure that it is properly set up. This repair will be done free of charge. Notifications to vehicle owners with more information will be sent by mail between April 11, 2022, and April 25, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Toyota pre-collision braking recall is affecting more than 30,000 vehicles. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicToyota recalls C-HR SUVs with faulty pre-collision warning systems

Toyota recalls Venza hybrids with faulty turn signals

Plano, TX – February 11, 2022 –  Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 41,544 Toyota Venza Hybrid 2021 SUVs whose their rear turn signals and hazard lights may become inoperative. The defect makes the vehicle less visible to other drivers, upping the risk of a crash and injury.

Recall summary  

Vehicles that are part of this Toyota recall have turn signal lights that may not be sealed properly due to a supplier error. This means that during heavy downpours or even car washing, water can get past the LED bulbs and inside the light housing. If that happens, the moisture might come in contact with the circuit board that powers the bulbs, causing a short circuit.  

This may cause “dimming or deactivation of the rear turn signal.”

The components in question are the rear turn signal lights, with part numbers 81540-48010 for the left-hand assembly and 81530-48010 for the right-hand one. 

Recall risks

With rear turn signal lights being dimmed or not working at all, other motorists may not be aware of driver’s  intentions. This can lead to a crash, which increases the risk of an injury.  

Warning signs

If water gets into the circuit board, the driver may notice “a quick flashing of the turn signal indicator on the instrument panel until the condensation on the circuit board dries.”

Other Toyota Venza recalls 

Apart from this current issue that is affecting these vehicles, there are no other Toyota Venza recalls at this time. There is, however, a handful of complaints from the owners of these vehicles about the faulty lights, as well as fuel tank issues.

The repair

Dealers will rectify the issue by replacing the LED bulbs, as well as the turn signal light assembly if needed. All repairs will be done free of charge. Notifications to vehicle owners with more information will be sent by mail between March 19, 2022, and March 26, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Toyota turn signal recall is affecting more than 40,000 vehicles. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicToyota recalls Venza hybrids with faulty turn signals

Toyota recalls vehicles over steering issue

Plano, TX – December 19, 2021  – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 22,462 vehicles whose steering may develop a leak. The resulting loss of hydraulic fluid will make the steering harder, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. This recall affects the following SUVs and pickup trucks:

  • 2021 Toyota Sequoia
  • 2022 Toyota Sequoia 
  • 2021 Toyota Tundra

Recall summary  

Vehicles affected by this recall have a steering system with hydraulic power assistance, which reduces the effort needed to turn the steering wheel by introducing fluid into the power-steering assembly. 

Because of a supplier error, the assembly may develop a leak. This allows the fluid to escape, which eventually causes a loss of power steering assist.  

The component in question is the power steering gear assembly, with part numbers 44250-0C121 and 44250-0C131. 

Recall risks

Although the driver will still be able to steer the vehicle without power-steering assistance, this will require considerably more effort. If this happens suddenly during low-speed maneuvering, it may result in a crash. 

Other Toyota recalls 

There was a recent Toyota Tundra recall in October, caused by faulty headlight wiring that may result in a fire. There are no other Toyota Sequoia recalls concerning the vehicles from this range. 

The repair

To rectify the issue, dealers will inspect the steering rack for leaks. If any are detected, the rack will be replaced with a new one. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners on January 22, 2022.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Toyota Tundra oil leak recall includes almost more than 20,000  vehicles. To check if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicToyota recalls vehicles over steering issue

Toyota recalls vehicles over risk of brake failure

Plano, TX   – December 5, 2021 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 227,490 vehicles that may “suddenly” lose power brake assistance. This may increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.  

This recall affects the following vehicles:  

  • 2018 Toyota Camry  
  • 2019 Toyota Camry  

Recall summary  

These Toyota Camry cars have a vacuum pump which supplies vacuum to the brake booster. In vehicles affected by this recall, certain parts inside the pump may wear out prematurely. As a result, the pump will fail to generate sufficient vacuum, causing a loss of brake assistance performance.  

A faulty vacuum pump will not prevent the vehicle from stopping, although doing this will require much more effort from the driver.

The component in question is the vacuum pump with part number 2930025010. 

Recall risks

A sudden reduction in brake performance may prevent the driver from stopping in time, which increases the risk of a crash and injury.  

Warning signs

The driver may notice the brake pedal becoming harder to press when braking frequently and may also receive “an audible and visual warning” about the problem.

Other Toyota recalls 

There was a 2018 Toyota Camry recall in November of last year because of a faulty fuel pump. The recall also included the 2019 model-year, as well as over 60 other models. That recall was an expansion of a January 2019 Toyota Camry recall caused by the same issue.

In September of this year, there was a Toyota recall over vacuum pumps that may fail to operate as a result of a software issue

The repair

Dealers will rectify the problem by inspecting the vacuum pump and replacing it if necessary. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners between December 16, 2021 and January 16, 2022.  All repairs will be conducted for free.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This large-scale Toyota recall includes more than 220,000 vehicles. To do a Toyota recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicToyota recalls vehicles over risk of brake failure

Toyota recalls Prius hybrids that may stall

Plano, TX – November 1, 2021 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 8,411 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles over a concern that the hybrid system may shut down, causing a loss of power. This may cause cars to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected models include:

  • 2022 Toyota Prius
  • 2022 Toyota Prius Prime

The affected component is the “Hybrid Vehicle ECU” with multiple part numbers that begin with “89981.”

Recall summary  

The recall centers around faulty software with the car’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which is the part that controls all the electronic functions of the vehicle. The ECU may falsely detect an error on the affected vehicles and shut down the vehicle’s hybrid system, resulting in an immediate loss of power.

To the best of our knowledge, the Prius battery ECU is unaffected by this recall.

Recall risks

A loss in power can cause the vehicle to come to a sudden halt. As reported, stalling while driving may result in the car getting hit from behind, injuring both cars’ drivers and passengers.

Warning signs

The vehicle warning lights may come on, letting the driver know of the impending shutdown.

Other Toyota recalls

​​The 2022 Prius and 2022 Prius Prime have not been subject to any other recalls. Last year, older Prius models were recalled over a power loss issue. However, the affected component was a faulty inverter and not the ECU software. 

Another recent Toyota recall included the 2019-2020 Toyota Yaris to fix a faulty fuel pump that increased the risk of stalling.

The repair

Toyota dealers will update the ECU software on the affected vehicles. 

Owners will be notified on November 20, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 8,000 cars are part of this Toyota Prius recall. To check if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalToyota recalls Prius hybrids that may stall

Toyota Tundra recalled over fire-prone headlights

Plano, TX – October 8, 2021 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) has issued a recall for 158,489 Tundra pickup trucks over a concern that the headlights may catch fire. The affected models include 2018-2021 Tundra trucks equipped with halogen headlights.

The affected component is the “Engine Room Main Wire Harness,” with multiple part numbers, including  82111-0CQ50-A and  82111-0CQ60-A.

Recall summary

The problem is caused by faulty wiring that causes both the low and high beam lights to illuminate simultaneously when the high beams are switched on, which could result in overheating and cause a fire.

Recall risks

If the headlight connector overheats and is destroyed, it will render the headlight inoperable. If the connector stays intact, it will continue to overheat and increase the risk of a fire that may spread throughout the vehicle. For tips on what to do in the event of a fire, please see this article on a recent Volkswagen recall.

Background of recall

Leading up to the recall, Toyota received 18 field reports, including six alleging “a flame in the headlight assembly.”  It also received 47  warranty claims related to the condition, including three alleging a fire.

Other Toyota recalls

The last Toyota Tundra recall was in July 2020 for faulty turn signals and hazard lights.

A recent Toyota recall included the 2019-2020 Yaris over a concern that the car may stall owing to a faulty fuel pump.  There was a 2019 Toyota Tundra recall for over 3,500 cars for load capacity labels that could become illegible. The recall also included Yaris, Highlander and Land Cruiser vehicles.

The repair

Owners will be notified between October 4 and November 1, 2021.

The wiring assembly and the headlight connectors on the affected vehicles will be inspected and replaced free of cost. Owners who have paid to have their Toyota Tundra headlights fixed will be offered a reimbursement

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

More than 150,000 trucks are part of this recall. To do a Toyota recall check,  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalToyota Tundra recalled over fire-prone headlights

Toyota recalls Yaris cars for risk of stalling

Plano, TX – September 18, 2021 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 31,307 cars with defective fuel pumps built by Denso (OTCMKTS:DNZOY), which is partially owned by Toyota. This issue may cause cars to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The faulty pumps have been subject to ongoing recalls that has affected millions of cars. The latest installment includes:

  • 2019 Toyota Yaris
  • 2020 Toyota Yaris

Recall summary  

The recall centers around the car’s fuel pump, which moves gas from the tank to the engine, as reported. The defective Denso fuel pumps use a plastic disk called an impeller to move gas to the pump from the tank. These impellers can weaken and deform as they soak in fuel, which may cause the pump to fail.

Risks

Vehicles with broken fuel pumps are starved of gasoline and will stall. Stalling while driving may result in the car getting hit from behind, injuring the drivers and the passengers of both vehicles.  

Warning signs

Drivers should keep an eye on the check engine light, and know that “rough running” or failure to start are signs that something may be wrong with the fuel pump.

Safety tips

If your car stalls out on the road:

  • Turn on your hazard lights.
  • Shift into neutral and steer your car to the shoulder. 
  • Call for help.
  • Stay in the car. The shoulder can be dangerous for pedestrians.

Other Toyota recalls

​​The 2020 Toyota Yaris has not been subject to any other recalls, while the 2019 model-year was recalled for incorrect and faulty labels in May and June 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records. 

This is at least a third recall for Toyota caused by the faulty Denso pumps. Close to five million Toyota vehicles have been affected so far. Subaru and Honda have also been forced to recall cars made with these pumps, as reported.

The repair

Toyota dealers will replace the defective fuel pump with a new one. Owners who repaired their fuel pumps before receiving the recall notification may be eligible for reimbursement.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 31,000 cars are part of this Denso fuel pump Toyota recall. Check for Toyota recalls with MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandToyota recalls Yaris cars for risk of stalling

BMW recalls vehicles over risk of seat belt failure

Westwood, NJ – September 6, 2021  – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY), which also owns Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, has recalled 21,537 vehicles with faulty child restraint systems that increase the risk of injury to a child during a crash.

This recall affects some 2021 Toyota Supras made with BMW engines, as well as a wide range of BMW models, including: 

  • 2021 BMW 4 Series, including the 2021 430I
  • 2021 BMW 2 Series, including the 2021 228I
  • 2021 BMW 5 Series, including the 2021 540I
  • 2021 Mini Cooper
  • 2021 Rolls-Royce Phantom
  • 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost

For a complete list of models and model years included, please refer to this page.

The affected component in this BMW recall is a seat belt retractor, which is what is used to hold the seat belt in place.

Recall summary  

This recall is part of an ongoing series of recalls – that already includes Ford and Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz – caused by faulty seat belts provided by Swedish-American supplier Autoliv.  

These seat belts come equipped with two types of retractors – one that immobilizes the seat belt in the event of a crash and one that prevents the seat belt from moving right after it is buckled. The latter is referred to as the automatic locking retractor, or ALR, and is activated by pulling the seat belt “all the way out,” weaving it through the child seat and buckling it in.

But, because of “out of tolerance” parts provided by the supplier, the ALR may deactivate early, “before the webbing fully retracts.” 

Risks

Faulty ALR will not hold the child seat firmly in its place. Although the seat belt would still lock up during a crash, there is an increased  risk of injury during sudden stops. The risk is lower when parents use the lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system in place of the seat belts, as reported.

Warning signs 

Drivers may notice that the torso section of the seat belt is not locked firmly while securing the child seat.

Other BMW recalls

Earlier this month, the 2021 Toyota Supra, as well as some of the X and 5 series cars, were recalled because of a brake assist problem. Some of the older X series were recalled in August out of concern that they may stall while in motion due to a faulty fuel pump.

Other Mini Cooper and Rolls-Royce recalls

In April, BMW recalled close to 50,000 Rolls-Royce, Mini Cooper and BMW models due to a defective water pump, as reported.  In November of last year, there was a BMW and a Mini Cooper recall due to hybrid batteries that may catch fire.  

The repair

Dealers will replace affected passenger seat belts free of charge during an inspection. It is not yet  known when the owners will receive additional information about this recall.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This recall includes more than 20,000 vehicles and covers several brands and models. To check for this and other recalls, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicBMW recalls vehicles over risk of seat belt failure

BMW recalls Toyota Supra and 27,000 BMW cars for brake assist problem

Westwood, NJ – September 4, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled 50,024 vehicles that may lose the brake assist function due to a software issue. The recall includes 2020 – 2021 Toyota Supra sports cars made with BMW engines and the following BMW models:

  • 2020 BMW 540i sedans
  • 2020 BMW M340i sports sedans
  • 2020 BMW X3 crossovers
  • 2020 – 2021 BMW X4 crossovers
  • 2019 – 2021 BMW Z4 roadsters
  • 2020 – 2021 BMW 745Le sedans

The faulty component is the Engine Management software.

Recall summary  

The recall addresses problems with the cars’ brake assist function, which helps stop the car faster in an emergency. The brake assist uses the force of a vacuum to boost the brakes’ power, giving them more stopping force when a driver slams on the brakes in an emergency. Normally, the car uses the tandem oil/vacuum pump to suck all the air out of the brake assist’s booster, creating a vacuum. 

However, if the driver presses the start button twice in rapid succession or only lightly presses the brake pedal when starting the car, the software may cause the pump to become damaged, causing the booster to lose its power.

Risks

With the loss of brake assist, the car will have “mechanical braking” but will have a longer stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash. You can read more about the signs and dangers of brake assist failure in this article about a similar General Motors recall.

Safety tips

According to recall documents, drivers can avoid damaging the tandem oil/vacuum pump by:

  • Firmly pressing and holding the brake pedal when starting the engine.
  • Pressing the “start” button only once. (Don’t quickly turn the car on and off). 

The repair

Dealers will update recalled vehicles’ engine management software for free. Owner notification letters with more information about when and how to get this repair will be sent out by October 1, though BMW has said the remedy is already available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 50,000 vehicles are included in this BMW recall. To do a BMW recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandBMW recalls Toyota Supra and 27,000 BMW cars for brake assist problem