Toyota recalls vehicles with defective brakes

December 16, 2021 Update — Toyota Motor North America has remedied issues presented on 6,753 (97% of total) of their vehicles including the 2020 Toyota Prius and the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid with brake failures. Other data provided by Toyota are that 39 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 18 have been removed from the recall. Two groups of these models were remedied in 2019 and four groups in 2020 for improperly manufactured booster pumps.

This may increase the stopping distance and by consequence the risk of a crash and injury, just like was reported on a similar recall for the 2018-2019 Toyota Camry with brake failure issues.

Laguna Hills, Calif. — July 31, 2019 — Toyota Motor North America has recalled almost 7,000 vehicles including the 2020 Toyota Prius and the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid equipped with defective brakes, according to an organizational press release. The safety action affects multiple models across the Toyota and Lexus brands, including:

  • 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid sport utility vehicles
  • 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime sedans
  • 2020 Toyota Prius sedans
  • 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid sedans
  • 2019 Lexus UX 250h crossovers
  • 2019 Lexus ES 300h sedans
  • 2019 Lexus LC 500 and LC 500h coupes

Similar to what happened in the past with brake issues on some 2017-2018 Toyota and Lexus models, the Japanese automaker has yet to speculate just how many of the recalled vehicles could actually contain the defective components.

The Defect

The affected vehicles could come equipped with brake assemblies that have improperly manufactured and failure-prone booster pumps. Should these features falter, both the brake assist and Vehicle Stability Control modules may also stop functioning, drastically reducing vehicle drivability and increasing the risk of an accident. And in addition to posing an immense danger to owners, occupants and pedestrians, the defect creates a condition that violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 126, which requires “electronic stability control systems on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 Kg (10,000 pounds) or less,” according to the NHTSA.

Timeline of Events

Toyota has yet to release more specific details on the investigation that lead to this recall.

The Solution

The automaker has directed dealers to assess all recalled vehicles and, if necessary, replace their brake booster pumps at no cost to customers. Toyota intends to notify owners throughout the month of September 2019 via first-class mail. Those in need of more immediate assistance can connect with Toyota customer service personnel by calling (800) 331-4331, or reach out to Lexus staff at (800) 255-3987. Owners can always contact the NHTSA directly by using the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Almost 7,000 vehicles are included in this GM recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Sean ReyesToyota recalls vehicles with defective brakes