Toyota Recalls Highlander and Highlander Hybrid Vehicles Over Seat Back Locking Issue
Areazine synthesizes this NHTSA vehicle recall directly from NHTSA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
Toyota is recalling approximately 550,007 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles from model years 2021-2024 because second-row seat backs may fail to lock, increasing injury risks.
What this NHTSA vehicle recall tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by NHTSA on April 6, 2026 and geographically references United States. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Vehicle Recalls - determines the consumer-protection framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, repairs, or the recall itself) are available to affected consumers and which agency holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
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What Happened
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing has issued a recall for certain 2021-2024 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The manufacturer identified a defect where the second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Which Products Are Affected
This recall affects approximately 550,007 units. The following models and years are included:
- Toyota Highlander: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
What You Should Do
Owners of the affected vehicles should contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's internal reference numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06. Authorized dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by April 20, 2026.
Why This Matters
A seat back that fails to lock properly may not adequately restrain an occupant during a vehicle crash. This failure significantly increases the risk of injury to passengers in the second row.
Source
Information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Campaign Number 26V128000.
Original source: NHTSA Official Notice ↗
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