Toyota is experiencing one of its largest vehicle recalls in recent years, and it is serious. Their cars are not catching fire, but it is quite dangerous.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States has confirmed that more than 1 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles will have to be inspected due to a failure in the rear camera system.
And although the rear camera may seem like just another feature, it is not, and in the United States, it must work properly, it cannot turn off, freeze, or display a black screen. We all know how useful this camera is for reversing, but it is also a guarantee that the driver will not run over anyone when backing up.
What is happening with Toyota?
It all points to a software error that prevents the camera image from appearing correctly on the dashboard screen, and in some cases, it freezes; in others, the camera simply does not turn on.
It may sound simple, but federal regulations require that rear visibility must be available at all times when reverse gear is engaged (and the image must appear within 3 seconds). So, beyond being inconvenient, we are talking about a real risk of accidents, especially in parking lots or narrow streets where a pedestrian could pass behind the vehicle at any moment and not be seen.
Toyota confirmed that the affected models include versions of the Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Prius, and several Lexus vehicles listed below. There are also some Subaru Solterra models, since they use the same camera system developed by Toyota.
Affected models
The recall covers vehicles manufactured between 2022 and 2026.
Toyota:
- Camry
- RAV4
- Highlander
- Prius
- Crown
- 4Runner
- Tacoma
Lexus:
- RX
- NX
- GX
- TX
- LS
- LX
Other recalls
Although we are not used to seeing this happen to Toyota, since it is one of the most reliable brands on the market, this year they have already had to carry out another massive recall of Toyota Tundra and Sequoia hybrids for similar failures.
Why rear cameras are so important
Since 2018, all new cars sold in the United States must have a backup camera. This is because these systems help prevent accidents and collisions with objects or pedestrians that are outside the driver’s field of vision.
So, when they fail, the risk increases, especially in residential areas or low-light conditions, and even more when cars are parked perpendicularly. And it has not only happened to Toyota, Ford, Stellantis, and other brands have also had to recall millions of vehicles for the same issue.
1.5 million vehicles recalled…
It has not been Toyota’s year. Among the problems detected this year are electrical failures, software errors in the instrument panel, and now, rear camera issues.
In September, for example, almost 600,000 units were recalled due to a malfunction that prevented the driver’s panel from displaying basic information such as speed or tire pressure.
What should I do with my vehicle?
Don’t panic, Toyota will notify owners when they can go to an official dealership to have the software updated.
In the meantime, if you want to check whether your car is affected, you can do it yourself:
- Go to www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Enter your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
- Or call 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-888-275-9171).
For decades, Toyota has been the most reliable brand on the market. But our cars are becoming increasingly complex, and the challenges are greater, each year they add more cameras, more software, more safety… but that also multiplies the chances of failure, of course. So it’s time for a quick trip to the dealership to fix this issue.
Fortunately, Toyota has responded quickly and transparently; they know that the most important thing about their brand is the trust of their drivers.