Although Toyota is considered one of the most reliable car manufacturers, it is currently facing a challenge. It is experiencing problems that are not mechanical, but digital, with one of its models. The company has announced a massive recall of almost 400,000 vehicles in the United States alone due to a critical safety flaw. If you own a large Toyota pickup truck or SUV, you may need to continue reading this article.
Toyota Recall: Models Affected
This recall affects 393,838 vehicles of three very specific car models:
- Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid (model years 2022-2025).
- Toyota Sequoia Hybrid (model years 2023-2025).
This is due to a software error affecting the rearview camera. This is one of the most modern features of these vehicles, the 14-inch multimedia screen. With technology, we have become accustomed to many driving conveniences… Among them, not looking in the rearview mirrors and relying exclusively on cameras. The problem arises when this camera stops working just when we are using it.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when the driver puts the car in reverse, the software can fail. This causes the screen to go completely black, green, or display a distorted image. What kind of software failure causes the driver to lose visibility? If they have also lost the habit of looking in the rearview mirror, or simply turning around while driving as was done in cars before there were so many automatic features, the risk of hitting pedestrians becomes greater.
The good news is that this error is easily fixable. Toyota dealers will install a software update on the display system when they receive the car. This will be free of charge for owners who bring their cars in. Notification letters to affected owners will begin to be sent out on November 16, 2025. If you have a recent model Tundra or Sequoyah, you can expect to be contacted.
Why Even Toyota Has Constant Recalls
In this age of ubiquitous high technology, no car brand is immune to software errors. Recalls are legally mandated actions that manufacturers take when one of their vehicles does not meet U.S. federal safety standards. With modern vehicles full of sensors, wiring, and software, the complexity involved makes small errors much more likely. Toyota’s reputation for zero failures is enviable, but even they have had to issue recalls in recent years.
Some of Toyota’s most serious faults since 2020 have been, for example, problems with airbags that might not deploy. Yes, something as serious as airbags gave Toyota headaches. In December 2023, the Japanese brand recalled 1 million vehicles (including the 2020 to 2022 Camry, Corolla, and RAV4 models) from the roads because a faulty sensor could prevent the airbags from deploying in the event of an accident. Fortunately, only a sensor replacement was required, which was an easy fix.
On a less serious note, last March Toyota called its dealers to recall 167,802 Sienna minivans (2021-2025) because the bolts on the third-row seats were not tightened properly. All that was required was to tighten the bolts (another easy-to-fix recall).
In July 2023, about 100,000 Toyota Tundra models were recalled due to metal debris from the manufacturing process. This metal residue could damage the crankshaft, resulting in stratospherically expensive repairs. The engines in these models were replaced.
Although recall news is often alarming, general law requires that all such problems be corrected at no cost to the customer. The current problem with the rearview camera, although serious, is easily solved with a software update (similar to updating Windows on a computer).
If you own a Tundra (2022-2025) or a Sequoia Hybrid (2023-2025), contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Or better yet, check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA website.