Toyota Asks Owners To Avoid Second Row Seats After Recall

Toyota has issued a safety recall for certain Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs after identifying a problem with the second‑row seat recliner assembly. The issue could prevent the seatback from fully locking after adjustment, potentially increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

The recall affects approximately 550,000 vehicles in the United States and nearly 40,000 units in Canada from the 2021–2023 model years. Toyota says no injuries related to the issue have been reported so far.

Seat Recliner Issue Identified

According to the automaker, the defect stems from the seat recliner assembly where the return springs may not function as intended. If the seatback does not properly lock into place, it may fail to restrain occupants effectively during a high‑speed collision.

As a precaution, Toyota has advised owners to avoid using the second‑row seats for passengers until the repair has been completed.

Toyota To Fix The Problem Free Of Cost

Toyota will notify affected owners by early May. Customers will need to bring their vehicles to authorized dealerships where technicians will replace the return springs in the seat recliner assembly with improved components.

The repair will be carried out free of charge. The current-generation Highlander debuted in 2020 and remains one of Toyota’s popular three-row midsize SUVs.