Toyota announces the recall of 550,000 vehicles due to a safety defect: These are the affected models

Toyota has announced a new safety recall in the United States due to a defect involving the second-row seats. The company estimates that about 550,000 vehicles may be affected.

Automakers typically issue recalls when a model has a defect that could increase the risk of accidents or injuries. This is the case with Toyota, which on January 5 announced a safety recall affecting certain 2021–2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles.

“The recliner assemblies in the second-row seats may not fully lock after seat back adjustment. A seat back that has not been secured in a locked position may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash at higher speeds,” Toyota said in a statement.

The company said it is preparing a solution to address the defect and clarified that the repair will be completely free for affected owners. “When available, Toyota dealers will replace the return springs in the recliner assemblies with improved ones, at no cost,” the company said. Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified in early May 2026, and repairs are expected to begin shortly afterward.

Is your Toyota vehicle included in the safety recall?

If you own a 2021–2024 Highlander or Highlander Hybrid, it does not necessarily mean your vehicle is included in the recall. Even if you have one of the models mentioned above, it may not be part of the campaign.

To confirm whether your vehicle is included in the recall, you can visit Toyota’s website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) portal. To perform the search, you will need to enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or your license plate information.

The VIN is a 17-character combination found on the dashboard near the base of the windshield on the driver’s side. This number will also be required when contacting a dealership to schedule a repair. For additional questions, Toyota customer service is available at 1-800-331-4331.

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