Toyota Recalls 280K Vehicles Over Transmission Problem

Toyota has announced a recall of nearly 280,000 vehicles, including certain Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, and Lexus LX 600 models, due to a transmission problem that poses a safety risk. The affected vehicles include some 2022 Toyota Tundra pickups and Lexus LX 600 SUVs, as well as 2023 and 2024 Toyota Sequoia SUVs.

The issue stems from certain components of the transmission not disengaging immediately when the vehicle is shifted into neutral. This can result in engine power being transferred to the wheels, causing the vehicle to move forward at low speeds, especially on flat surfaces. Toyota has highlighted the potential for this problem to increase the risk of a crash.

To address this issue, Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the transmission software free of charge for affected vehicles. Despite requests for comment, Toyota has not responded to inquiries from Forbes regarding this recall.

In related news, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that Honda had the highest number of potentially affected vehicles by recalls last year, with 6.3 million, followed by Ford with 6.1 million and Kia with 3.1 million. Toyota’s recall of 4.2 million vehicles last year, as reported by NHTSA data, was largely due to a one-million-vehicle recall in late December aimed at fixing an electrical issue that could prevent airbags from deploying.