Toyota Recalls and Class Action Lawsuits

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 161 model year 2020-2021 Toyota Avalons, model year 2020 Avalon Hybrids, RAV4s and RAV4 Hybrids.

Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's airbag in a crash.

An air bag that does not deploy as designed can increase the risk of injury.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin January 18, 2021.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 413 model year 2021 RAV4 Prime vehicles.

The headlight aiming caps may have been improperly closed, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam.

Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing the visibility of an oncoming driver or the vehicle operator, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will close the aiming caps on the headlights free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin January 4, 2021.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA15.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is expanding an earlier recall to include another 1,517,721 of the following vehicles:

• Model year 2018-2019 4Runners,
• Model year 2019-2020 Avalons,
• Model year 2019 Corolla Hatchbacks,
• Model year 2017-2019 Highlanders,
• Model year 2018-2020 Camrys,
• Model year 2020 Corollas,
• Model year 2018-2019 Land Cruisers,
• Model year 2017-2020 Tacomas,
• Model year 2019-2020 RAV4s,
• Model year 2019-2020 Sequoias,
• Model year 2017-2020 Siennas,
• Model year 2019-2020 Tundras,
• Model year 2018-2020 Lexus ES350s,
• Model year 2017 Lexus GS200t's,
• Model year 2017-2019 Lexus GS350s,
• Model year 2019 Lexus GS300s,
• Model year 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h's,
• Model year 2019-2020 Lexus LS500s,
• Model year 2018-2019 Lexus GX460s,
• Model year 2017 Lexus IS200t's,
• Model year 2019 Lexus IS300s, 2019 Lexus IS350,
• Model year 2018-2020 Lexus LC500s,
• Model year 2018 Lexus LS500s,
• Model year2019 Lexus LS500h's,
• Model year 2018-2019 Lexus LX570s,
• Model year 2017 Lexus RC200t's,
• Model year 2019 Lexus RC300s & RC350s,
• Model year 2017 & 2019-2020 Lexus RX350s,
• Model year 2018-2020 RX350Ls,
• Model year 2019 Lexus UX200, and
• Model year2018-2019 Lexus NX300s.

The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

If the fuel pump fails while the vehicle is being driven, the engine can stall increasing the risk of a crash

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 23, 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 442-8696. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 3,121 model year 2020 Highlanders and Highlander hybrids.

Incorrect seat trim covers on one or both of the front seats can prevent the seat-mounted side airbag from deploying properly.

Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side airbag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats and replace the seat trim covers -- as necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 13, 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 442-8696. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB14 / 20TA14.

Toyota is recalling about 183,000 model year 2018-2020 Tundra pickup trucks.

The wire harness connected to the front turn signal bulbs was assembled incorrectly, causing them not to illuminate as brightly as intended.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the wire harness connected to the front turn signal bulbs free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin in mid-September 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 46 model year 2019-2020 RAV4s and model year 2020 RAV4 Hybrids with electric power steering (EPS).

Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.

A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box free of charge.

This recall is expected to begin August 10, 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (888) 270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.

Toyota is recalling about 267,000 model year 2013-2015 Prius and model year 2014-2017 Prius vehicles.

The vehicles were designed to enter a failsafe driving mode in response to certain hybrid system faults, but in rare situations, the vehicle may fail to do so.

If this occurs, the vehicle could lose power and stall. While power steering and braking would remain operational, a vehicle stall while driving at higher speeds could increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the hybrid system software at no charge. Additionally, if the vehicle has experienced an inverter failure with certain hybrid system faults related to this condition, the inverter will be repaired or replaced at no charge.

The recall is expected to begin in late August 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331.

Toyota is recalling about 1,000 model year 2020 Corolla Hatchbacks.

A connector in the rear hatch of the vehicle may have been damaged during production, resulting in the backup lamps possibly becoming inoperative over time.

If backup lamps do not illuminate when the vehicle is operated in reverse, there can be an increased risk of a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear hatch wire harness with a new one free of charge

The recall is expected to begin in early June 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 38,810 model year 2020 Highlanders with a 3.5 L, V6 (2GR-FKS) gasoline engine.

Due to an Engine Control Unit (ECU) programming error, fuel may not be correctly supplied to the engine while using the stop and restart feature.

Improper fuel supply programming can result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECU free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin April 24, 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (888) 270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA06.

Toyota is recalling approximately 39,000 model year 2020 Highlanders.

The recalled vehicles are equipped with a feature that stops and restarts the engine. Under certain driving patterns and vehicle conditions, this feature may not operate correctly resulting in a vehicle stall.

If a vehicle stall occurs, an audible chime will sound and multiple warning indicators will illuminate. If a vehicle stall occurs while being driven at higher speeds, this could increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the engine control unit (ECU) at no cost.

The recall is expected to begin by mid-May 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331.

Toyota is expanding an earlier recall involving fuel pumps for a total of 1.8 million vehicles.

The flowing model year and models are included:

• 2013-2015 Lexus LS 460;
• 2013-2014 Lexus GS 350;
• 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser, Lexus IS-F;
• 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser; Lexus GX 460, IS 350, LX 570;
• 2015 Lexus NX 200t, RC 350;
• 2017 Lexus IS 200t, RC 200t;
• 2017-2019 Toyota Sienna; Lexus RX 350;
• 2018 Lexus GS 300;
• 2018-2019 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra; Lexus ES 350, GS 350, IS 300, IS 350, LC 500, LC 500h, LS 500, LS 500h, RC 300, RC 350, RX 350L.

The fuel pumps in these vehicles stop operating, displaying warning lights and messages on the instrument panel, and causing the the engine to run rough.

This can result in a vehicle stall, and the vehicle may be unable to be restarted. If a vehicle stall occurs while being driven at higher speeds, this could increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Toyota and Lexus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the involved fuel pump with an improved one at no cost to customers.

Owners of vehicles not included in the original recall will be notified by early May.

Owners with questions may contact Toyota at (800 331 4331 or Lexus at (800) 255-3987.

Toyota is recalling about 44,00 model year 2020 Avalon Hybrids, Camrys, Camry Hybrids; model year 2019-2020 RAV4s, RAV4 Hybrids and model year 2020 Lexus ES 300h vehicles.

Some of the vehicles may be equipped with an engine block that was manufactured incorrectly, which may cause coolant to leak internally and/or externally during normal engine operation.

This can lead to engine noise, engine smoke, warning lights/malfunction indicator illumination, an audible chime sounding, and/or, in some cases, engine overheating and possible internal mechanical engine damage.

In a conventional gasoline vehicle, the vehicle could stall while being driven at higher speeds without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

For both hybrid and conventional gasoline vehicles, the mechanical engine damage could cause engine oil to leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, can lead to an increased risk of fire.

What to do

Toyota and Lexus will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine block casting serial number to determine if it is involved. In the cases where an involved engine block is identified, dealers will replace the engine including the engine block with a new one free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin by early April.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331 or Lexus customer service at (800) 255-3987.