Controversies

Al Futtaim Motors recalls 1,983 Toyota Highlander vehicles in UAE over second-row seat defect

Recall announced

Al Futtaim Motors, Toyota's official distributor and local importer in the UAE, announced the recall of 1,983 Toyota Highlander VXR and GXR vehicles manufactured in the United States between 2021 and 2023, in coordination with the Consumer Protection and Commercial Control Department at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. The recall concerns second-row seat reclining mechanisms that may not engage fully and fail to lock the seatback securely, following a supplier design modification that may have caused an imbalance between the locking spring and return spring forces, increasing the risk of passenger injury in a collision. Owners will be contacted and the return springs in the reclining mechanisms will be replaced free of charge.

Toyota recalls 30,978 2026 RAV4 Plug-In Hybrids over ECU software glitch that can shut the vehicle off

Recall announced

Toyota initiated a safety recall (NHTSA recall 26V659; Toyota recall 26TA22) covering 30,978 2026 RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid vehicles built between July 22 and August 19, 2026, because the motor generator ECU may not properly complete the motor initialization process, potentially leaving drivers with warning lights and reduced power or, in the worst case, a complete shutdown that Toyota treats as a safety risk. The remedy is a software update for the motor generator ECU performed at Toyota dealerships; dealer notification began on October 7, 2026, and owner notification is scheduled to run from November 22 to December 6, 2026. Toyota cited 38 field technical reports and 58 warranty claims in the US that could be related, first identified the issue through a field report in Japan in June 2026, and the recall documents make no mention of accidents or injuries.

Toyota recalls vehicles in China over defects

Recall announced

Toyota recalled 121,260 bZ3X and bZ7 vehicles over suspension-fastener, braking-software and steering-assistance defects, and a separate campaign covered 55,477 Land Cruiser Prado and Lexus GX 550h hybrids over a fuel-line connection defect. GAC Toyota will replace affected nuts and provide software updates; dealers will inspect fuel-line connectors and install protective plates or replace affected assemblies as needed.

Certification-testing misconduct

Japanese authorities investigated improper or non-compliant certification-test procedures involving Toyota and related manufacturers, including Daihatsu, Hino and Toyota Industries. Affected shipments and production were suspended while the companies reviewed testing and governance processes.

Toyota vehicle certification irregularities

Toyota acknowledged irregularities in certification applications for several models, including testing procedures that did not conform to regulatory requirements. Shipments of affected vehicles were suspended while corrective and governance actions were undertaken.

Daihatsu certification misconduct

Toyota subsidiary Daihatsu disclosed improper certification testing, leading to shipment suspensions and an investigation into certification governance.

Toyota Australia announces recall for vehicle stability control software

Recall announced

Toyota Australia announced a safety recall involving specified Kluger Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, LandCruiser 300 and Mirai vehicles produced between March 2021 and April 2022. A software error may prevent the Vehicle Stability Control system from returning to its default ON status under particular circumstances, resulting in non-compliance with Australian Design Rules 88/00. Toyota dealers will update the affected vehicles' software free of charge.

Toyota recalls vehicles over stability-control software problem

Recall announced

Toyota announced a recall of about 460,000 U.S. vehicles from the 2020–2022 model years because a software problem could inadvertently disable electronic stability control. The recall includes Toyota and Lexus models; dealers will update the skid control computer software.

Stated objective. Fix the software problem that can inadvertently disable the electronic stability control system.

Toyota Motor Philippines recalls GR Yaris vehicles over radar sensor fault

Recall announced

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. announced a recall of 94 GR Yaris hatchbacks in the Philippines because the radar sensor may not have been initialized correctly and may fail to activate. The company said it would inspect and, if necessary, initialize the sensor at no cost to customers.

Stated objective. address the vehicle’s faulty radar sensor

Toyota Australia announces recall of vehicles over sensor initialization issue

Recall announced

Toyota Australia announced a safety recall covering certain Toyota C-HR, Yaris, Yaris Cross and GR Yaris vehicles produced from May 2020 through August 2021. The Pre-Collision System radar sensor may not have been initialized properly, potentially leaving the system inoperative without a warning indicator. Dealers will inspect affected vehicles and activate the sensor if necessary, free of charge.

Qatar announces recall of Toyota Raize 2022 models

Recall announced

Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Toyota dealership Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co W.L.L, announced a recall of Toyota Raize 2022 models because of a possible defect in the fender apron welding. The ministry said it would monitor maintenance and repair work and communicate with customers about necessary repairs.

Stated objective. protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs

Toyota vehicle recall announced

Recall announced

Toyota announced a recall of 323,915 Corolla and Levin vehicles, scheduled to begin on March 25, 2022, because a manufacturing defect in some ignition coils could cause a short circuit, engine stalling and increased accident risk.

DOJ fines Toyota over Clean Air Act reporting violations

Fine or penalty

The U.S. Department of Justice fined Toyota over a decade-long failure to comply with Clean Air Act reporting requirements. According to the DOJ, Toyota's conduct likely delayed or avoided recalls. The action concerned the company's reporting obligations under the Clean Air Act rather than a specific defect or emissions finding. The DOJ stated that the failure to meet reporting requirements may have affected the timing of recalls. No further details on the amount of the fine, the specific vehicles involved, or the outcome beyond the penalty were provided in the source.

Toyota settles U.S. emissions reporting lawsuit

Settlement

Toyota agreed to pay $180 million to settle U.S. government allegations that it failed to report pollution-control defects in vehicles for a decade. The government lawsuit alleged delays in filing 78 emissions defect reports required under the Clean Air Act.

Toyota agrees to settle Clean Air Act claims

Settlement

Toyota agreed to pay $180 million to settle claims concerning its alleged failure to comply with Clean Air Act emissions-defect reporting requirements. The settlement was announced by the U.S. Department of Justice and remained subject to public comment and final court approval.

Toyota reiterates its position on political donations amid backlash

Company response

Toyota faced criticism over donations to Republican lawmakers who voted to block election certification. In response to the backlash and boycott calls, Toyota reiterated its position. A spokesperson said Toyota had no revised statement in response to the backlash. The company declined to address what the article described as problems with its statement.

After criticism over donations to Republican lawmakers who voted to block election certification, Toyota reiterated its position and declined to address what the article described as problems with its statement. A spokesperson said Toyota had no revised statement in response to backlash and boycott calls.

Toyota reports planned China recall of 12,955 imported Alphard vehicles

Corrective action

Toyota's publicity department said that a recall of 12,955 imported Alphard vehicles would be implemented in China by the end of the month. According to the statement, the vehicles' idle-stop control program may prevent the engine from restarting, creating a risk of rear-end collisions. The announcement described the planned recall and the identified safety concern; no further details on remedies or outcomes were provided in the source.

Toyota’s publicity department said that a recall of 12,955 imported Alphard vehicles would be implemented in China by the end of the month. The vehicles’ idle-stop control program may prevent the engine from restarting, creating a risk of rear-end collisions.

Toyota recalls 124 imported Supra cars

Recall announced

Toyota (China) Investment filed a recall plan for 124 imported Toyota Supra cars produced between March 1 and June 21, 2021. The recall was attributed to an engine-control-program design issue that could cause the crankshaft to rotate in reverse and create a braking risk. The company stated that it would update the engine control computer software free of charge.

Toyota Australia announces HiLux WorkMate and SR cab-chassis safety recall

Recall announced

Toyota Australia announced a safety recall covering 1,365 HiLux WorkMate and SR cab-chassis vehicles produced between late August and late October 2021 in Australia. Toyota said an improper production-equipment setting may leave the occupant classification system uncalibrated, meaning the front passenger airbag may not deploy in a collision. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and recalibrate the system if required, free of charge.

Intellectual Ventures sues automakers over patents

Lawsuit filed

Intellectual Ventures filed a lawsuit in a federal court in southern Texas against Toyota, Honda and other automakers, alleging that connected cars infringed patents and seeking compensation. The report names Toyota, Honda and General Motors among the defendants.