2022 Toyota Recalls and Safety Alerts

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 75,316 model year 2022-2023 Tacoma pickup trucks.

One or more of the individual welds in the upper child seat anchors may be insufficient.

An insufficient weld may prevent the child seat from being anchored properly, allowing it to move during a sudden stop or crash and increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on September 2, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TB09/ 22TA09.

Southeast Toyota Distributors (SET) is recalling 280 model year 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels.

The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect.

An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

SET will mail replacement labels to owners free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on September 4, 2022.

Owners may contact SET's customer service at (954) 429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 3,533 model year 2022 Rav4s, Rav4 Hybrids, and Rav4 Primes.

The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor to incorrectly detect an occupant.

Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on September 2, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA08.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 31,428 model year 2022 Tundras and Tundra Hybrids equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor system.

Incorrect programming of the parking-assist electronic control unit (ECU) software may cause the front camera image to appear on the multimedia display instead of the rear camera image when the shifter is placed into reverse.

A rearview camera that fails to display the correct image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will reprogram the parking assist ECU free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 27, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA07.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 661 model year 2023 Subaru Solterra and Toyota BZ4X vehicles.

The hub bolts on the wheels may loosen, causing a wheel to detach from the vehicle after low-mileage use.

A wheel detaching from a moving vehicle can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they are repaired. A remedy for the issue is currently under development.

Letters notifying owners of the safety risk were expected to be mailed in June, and a second letter will be sent once the remedy is available.

Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at (800) 331-4331 for more information.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 46,176 model year 2022 Tundras and Tundra Hybrids.

The flange nuts on the axle shaft sub-assemblies can loosen over time and potentially cause one or both axle shaft sub-assemblies to separate from the axle housing.

Axle shaft separation can cause a loss of vehicle stability and brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect the rear axle assembly, tighten the axle flange nuts, and replace any damaged axle-related components -- if necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on July 15, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA05.

Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling 661 model year 2022 4Runners, Tacomas, Highlanders and Highlander Hybrids.

The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible.

An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

GST will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 27, 2022.

Owners may contact GST customer service at (713) 744-3465. GST's number for this recall is 22R1.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 18,101 model year 2022 Tundra pickup trucks with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system.

The parking assist electronic control unit (ECU) software may prevent transmission of the rearview camera signal during cold weather, preventing the rearview image from displaying.

A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will reprogram the parking assist ECU software free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 30, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA04.

Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 458,054 of the following vehicles:

• Model year 2022 Lexus LX, Lexus NX HEV, Lexus NX PHEV, & Toyota RAV4 HEV, and
• Model year 2021-2022 Lexus LS HEV, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna & Venza, and model year 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander HEV vehicles.

The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system.

Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 16, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03; Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 36,558 model year 2021 C-HRs.

The radar sensor may not have been activated during production, making the pre-collision system (PCS) inoperative.

An inoperative PCS that does not provide a malfunction indicator to the driver, or braking assist as expected, can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and activate the radar sensor -- as necessary-- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 11, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA02.

Honda and Toyota have emerged as favorites in U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of best family cars. This year, the publication evaluated 96 vehicles and named winners across nine categories.

Honda picked up the most awards this year with four, while Toyota was not far behind with two. The Honda Odyssey took the category of Best Minivan for Families for the 12th straight year, the longest streak in the history of the awards. 

The Honda Passport won Best 2-Row SUV for Families for the third time in a row, and the Honda Accord notched a third win as the Best Midsize Sedan for Families. The Honda Accord Hybrid was named the Best Hybrid Car for Families.

Sajid, of Spring, Texas, told us he owns four Hondas, including an Accord and an Odyssey. He says the brand has provided reliable rides for his family. 

“Engine design for power to haul 8 people for family members with kids for school rides, soccer, playground, and other various track and field events, as well for going to the beach and family vacations to Florida Disney Land, etc.,” Sajid wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review.

Toyota makes a strong showing

Toyota also made a strong showing in the rankings, with the Toyota Highlander Hybrid winning Best Hybrid SUV for Families for the ninth time. Meanwhile, the Toyota Avalon was named the Best Large Car for Families for the fourth year in a row.

The Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Kia brands each earned one spot in the rankings. The Chevrolet Suburban won Best Large SUV for Families for the fourth time overall and the second year in a row. 

The Hyundai Tucson won the Best Compact SUV for Families category, while the Kia Telluride received the Best 3-Row SUV for Families for the third consecutive year.

"With winners from nine different vehicle classes, the Best Cars for Families awards offer choices that will work for every family," said Jim Sharifi, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "The 2022 award winners offer the features, safety, and space that will appeal to new parents, as well as parents with teen drivers or households that include grandparents."

The criteria for the judging focused on a combination of safety and reliability ratings, excellent reviews from the automotive press, passenger and cargo space, and features that keep the entire family safe, connected, and entertained. 

The judges also considered vehicle technology, such as in-car wireless internet, teen driver controls, automatic braking, surround-view parking camera systems, and hands-free cargo doors. They were given equal weight to more traditional criteria, such as passenger and cargo space.

With the price of new and used vehicles at all-time highs, it pays to choose a car or truck that will last for years beyond the end of monthly payments. A study by iSeeCars.com found that certain brands and certain types of vehicles last longer than the competition.

Toyota earns the top spot among automotive brands, with 2.3% of its vehicles reaching 200,000 miles. That's almost double the average for all vehicles. In second place is Honda, with 1.9% of its fleet reaching the 200,000 milestone.

If the average motorist drives 15,000 miles a year, then it would take around 13 years to put 200,000 miles on a car or truck.

“Toyotas have a reputation for lasting a long time, so if you’ve already got a Toyota you’re in good shape,” Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.com told ConsumerAffairs. “If you’re looking to buy a car and want it to last as long as possible, Toyota is a good option.”

SUVs also go the distance

Among types of vehicles, full-size SUVs have the best chance of delivering at least 200,000 miles. If it happens to be a Toyota SUV, the odds are even better.

The Toyota Land Cruiser has the best chance of getting past 200,000 miles, according to the study, which found that 18% of Land Cruisers have reached that mark. The Toyota Sequoia is in second place. 

These truck-based, body-on-frame SUVs occupy the top spots by a wide margin, with the Sequoia being twice as likely to reach 200,000 miles as the next ranked car on the list. 

“The body on frame construction of something like a Land Cruiser or Chevy Suburban generally makes it a very durable design,” Brauer said. “Also, you get the functionality of a truck with the practicality of a three-row SUV.”

In fact, Toyota places five additional models – seven in all – within the top 15. The study shows that at least 3.2% of all 4Runner, Tundra, Avalon, Prius, and Sienna vehicles make it to 200,000 miles or further. Among the auto industry as a whole, the average is only 1.2%.

Strong showing from U.S. manufacturers

Five American, full-size SUVs make the list, including the third-ranked Chevrolet Suburban, the fourth-ranked GMC Yukon XL, the sixth-ranked Ford Expedition, the seventh-ranked Chevrolet Tahoe, and the twelfth-ranked GMC Yukon. 

What these vehicles have in common is that they are all manufactured by General Motors. Brauer says the Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, and Chevrolet Tahoe share a platform and many common parts, which helps explain their durability.

Toyota also leads in pickup trucks making it past 200,000 miles. The Tundra is in first place and the Tacoma is in third, with the Honda Ridgeline sandwiched in between in second place. The Ford F-150, America’s best-selling vehicle, ranks 5th.

Car and truck prices, both new and used, continue to move higher because of vehicle shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For that reason, automotive experts suggest that consumers pay close attention to how well a vehicle holds its value.

When it comes to brands, the experts at Kelley Blue Book (KBB) say it’s hard to go wrong with a Toyota or its luxury brand Lexus.

You may know that a new car is worth thousands less the moment you purchase it, but some brands and models lose more money over time than others. In its analysis of the 2022 model year, KBB puts Toyota on top in this metric. To reach that conclusion, it projected retained value through the first five years of ownership.

"Toyota and Lexus, respectively, are the best vehicle brand and luxury brand for 2022 in terms of the highest average projected resale value across their full lineups,” said Janice Yoell, senior manager of valuations for Kelley Blue Book. 

Consumers tend to agree

Consumers posting reviews of Toyota at ConsumerAffairs tend to agree. The brand earns 4.2 stars in our 5-star rating system. Lawrence, of Florence, Ariz., told us that he’s driven Chevys, Fords, and Nissans but always comes back to Toyota for its value and reliability.

“Toyota is incredible for what you pay, as long as you take care of it maintenance-wise,” Lawrence wrote in his review.

“You can very easily run it for 300,000 to 500,000 miles, which is why I buy them, I got 350,000 miles out of my last Corolla and now I have a Tacoma that has 130,000 miles and still runs great and along with that everything still works on the truck.”

Trucks and SUVs retain more value

When it comes to individual models, Honda and Subaru also make a strong showing. When judged on its ability to retain value, the Honda Civic leads the compact category, while the Honda Accord is the top midsize sedan.

The Subaru Crosstrek leads the subcompact SUV category, with the Forrester leading the compact SUVs and the Outback holding the most value in the mid-size SUV group.

“Trucks and SUVs continue to dominate among the top 10 vehicles, including a brand-new Best Resale Value Award winner this year with the Ford Maverick compact pickup – which also was named Best New Model for 2022 by Kelley Blue Book,” Yoell said. “It's also notable that an electrified vehicle – the Tesla Model X – is among the top 10, another indication of how electrified vehicles are becoming more mainstream in today's marketplace."

Even though used car prices have risen in the last year, KBB says that trend may end with the pandemic. It says the average 2022 model year vehicle will only retain about 43% of its original value after a five-year ownership period. If you do the math, that means a $45,000 new car today will only be worth somewhere close to $19,350 after five years. 

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 41,544 model year 2021 Venza Hybrids.

Water may enter the rear turn signal LED lights, allowing condensation to form on the circuit board. That additional condensation may cause a short circuit.

A short circuit can cause dimming or failure of the rear turn signals and hazard lights, reducing the vehicle's visibility to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace both rear turn signal LED bulbs and replace the rear turn signal light assembly -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on March 19, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TB01/22TA01.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 151 JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for model year 2007-2021 Tundras and model year 2008-2022 Sequoias, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121.

The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on February 21, 2022.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.

Southeast Toyota Distributors (SET) is recalling 78 model year 2022 Toyota 4Runners.

The driver's side high beam may be inoperable after the installation of accessory fog lights.

An inoperable driver's side high beam may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will install an updated wiring harness free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on February 10, 2022.

Owners may contact SET customer service at (866) 405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET21A.

On the heels of capturing first place in electric vehicle sales for the 22nd year in a row, Toyota has announced that it will bring 30 new EVs to market by 2030. The company is committing $70 billion to the project. 

Half of that – $35 billion – is earmarked for the development of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) line-up. That investment alone is a major shift for Toyota. Only months ago, it was a hold-out when 30 countries and six automakers made a commitment to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2040.

All-electric appears to be the future

Toyota may have been slow to respond when compared to its peers, but its timing is still good. A recent report from BloombergNEF shows that electric vehicle sales keep trending upward: around 5.6 million units in 2021, up from 2.1m in 2019 and 3.1m in 2020. 

Consumers are getting more choices as the field expands. The report said there are now more than 500 zero-emission vehicle models available to buy around the world, up 37% since 2019. However, those who still prefer gas-powered vehicles will still get what they want from Toyota.

"We want to leave all people with a choice, and rather than where or what we will focus on, we will wait a little longer until we understand where the market is going," Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda said at a press conference announcing its BEV initiative. Toyoda said his company was still pursuing a diverse strategy towards carbon-reduction, which will include hybrids and hydrogen-powered vehicles as well.

Toyota starts strong with first all-electric option

The first all-electric vehicle Toyota will present to consumers is the bZ4X – “bz” being short for “beyond zero.” Scheduled to go on sale in mid-2022, the bZ will have a manufacturer-estimated range of up to 250 miles for XLE (executive luxury edition) front-wheel-drive models. 

KelleyBlueBook (KBB) said it expects the 2023 Toyota bZ4X electric SUV to have a starting price of around $36,000; that price could extend to around $43,000 depending on what add-ons buyers purchase. Consumers might be able to get a break on those prices if the U.S. government or individual states toss in EV tax rebates.

In his review of the bZ4X, KBB’s Nick Kurczewski said the vehicle sports a crossover-meets-wagon look that’s similar to the Kia EV6, another electric crossover that consumers will see popping up in showrooms soon.

Gadget lovers will no doubt like the interior of the bZ4X. Kurczewski said the cabin is dominated by a large central touchscreen, plus all the tech needed to power Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless device charging, Amazon Alexa, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.

“Safety is taken into consideration, too,” Kurczewski said. “The 2023 bZ4x is the first Toyota vehicle to come standard with the automaker’s Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of active driver aids. This includes upgraded versions of existing systems (like pre-collision warning), along with features like low-light cyclist detection, guardrail detection, and daytime motorcyclist detection.”