Toyota Highlander Seat Recall, 550,000 SUVs Have a Second-Row Seat That May Not Lock in a Crash

Toyota recalled 550,007 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs in March 2026 because the second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position after adjustment — meaning passengers could be inadequately restrained in a crash. The recall covers model years 2021 through 2024. Toyota will replace the faulty return springs in the seat recliner assemblies at no cost. Owner notification letters began mailing April 20, 2026. No injuries have been reported.

Field	Detail
Recall Announced	March 5, 2026
NHTSA Campaign Numbers	26V128000 / 26TB06 / 26TA06
Vehicles Affected	550,007
Models Covered	2021–2024 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid
The Defect	Second-row seat back recliner may not fully lock after adjustment
The Risk	Increased injury risk for passengers in a crash at higher speeds
Fix	Free replacement of return springs in recliner assemblies
Owner Notification By	April 20 – May 4, 2026
Toyota Customer Service	1-800-331-4331
VIN Lookup	toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls
Injuries or Crashes Reported	None as of recall date

What you need to do right now: Check your VIN at toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your Highlander is on the list, contact your Toyota dealer to schedule a free repair. You do not need to wait for a letter to arrive in the mail.

The Seat Works Fine — Until You Adjust It. Then It May Never Fully Lock Again.

The recliner assemblies in the second-row seats of affected Highlanders may not fully lock after the seat back is adjusted. A seat back that has not been secured in a locked position may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash at higher speeds.

The problem is mechanical and specific. A supplier design modification, combined with spring orientation and component clearance, caused the recliner teeth to not fully engage when the seat back is adjusted. The issue is related to recliner assemblies manufactured during a specific supplier production window before an enhanced inspection process was implemented.

In plain terms: the spring that clicks the seat back into a locked position is too weak. Toyota discovered the problem during a routine quality inspection at the factory in October 2023, when one newly built Highlander’s second-row seat back skipped its first recline position and locked into the second. From there, engineers traced the defect back through the production run and determined every Highlander built between 2021 and 2024 with that supplier’s recliner assembly could be affected.

Why This Defect Is Specifically Dangerous for Families

The Highlander is one of the most popular family SUVs in the United States — bought precisely because parents trust it to keep children and passengers safe. The second row is where children in booster seats, elderly passengers, and rear-facing car seat users often ride. A seat back that quietly fails to lock after someone adjusts it for comfort can look and feel completely normal — right up until a collision.

A seat back that has not been secured in a locked position may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash at higher speeds. The seat belt alone cannot compensate for an unlocked seat back — the two systems work together, and when the seat structure fails, the belt cannot do its job properly.

Toyota Motor North America has received 10 field reports and 18 warranty claims related to the recall condition. No crashes or injuries have been confirmed as of the recall filing date, but the company chose to issue the recall voluntarily rather than wait for an incident to trigger a federal investigation.

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Exactly Which Highlanders Are Included — And Which Are Not

The recall affects 420,771 Highlander and 129,236 Highlander Hybrid vehicles, all from model years 2021 through 2024. All are U.S.-market vehicles.

The 2020 Highlander is not included. The 2025 and 2026 model years are not included — the defective supplier component was not used in those production runs. The third-row seats are also not affected by this defect. It may be wise for owners of the vehicle to seat occupants in the third row, if possible, as the rearmost seats are not affected by the same problem — at least until the repair is completed.

To confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, you need your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Every Highlander has it stamped on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield, and also on the door jamb sticker.

The Fix Is Free and Takes One Dealer Visit — Here’s How to Get It Done

Toyota will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies at no cost to the vehicle owners. The repair does not require you to leave your vehicle overnight. Dealers have already been instructed on the procedure and parts are available.

Here’s how to get the repair done:

1. Check your VIN. Go to toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls, enter your 17-digit VIN, and confirm your vehicle is included in campaign 26V128000.
2. Call your Toyota dealer. Contact your nearest authorized Toyota dealership to schedule the service appointment. Reference the recall campaign number.
3. Alternatively, call Toyota directly. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
4. Bring your vehicle in. The dealer will replace the return springs in both second-row recliner assemblies at no charge. Parts and labor are fully covered.
5. Keep your paperwork. Ask for a copy of the repair order showing the recall work was completed. This protects you if you sell the vehicle.

You do not need to wait for the mail notification. Dealers have already been instructed to replace the return springs in the recliner assemblies. If your VIN shows up on the recall list, you can schedule your appointment today.

Estimated time for the repair: typically under two hours for a seat spring replacement, though your dealer can give you a precise estimate.

Key Recall Dates at a Glance

Milestone	Date
Defect First Detected (Factory Inspection)	October 2023
Toyota Files Recall Notice with NHTSA	March 5, 2026
NHTSA Announces Recall Publicly	March 11, 2026
Dealer Notification Begins	March 5, 2026
Owner Notification Letters Begin Mailing	April 20, 2026
Owner Notification Letters Complete By	May 4, 2026
Remedy Available	Now — contact your dealer
Cost to Owner	$0

Frequently Asked Questions

My Highlander feels fine — do I still need to get this fixed?

 Yes. The defect is not always obvious to the driver or passengers. A seat back that appears locked may still have failed to engage its first recliner position. You will not know the seat is unlocked until it moves in a crash. The fix takes one dealer visit and costs nothing. There is no reason to delay.

Does this recall affect the 2020 Highlander? 

No. The 2020 model year is not included. The defective supplier recliner assembly was introduced with the 2021 model year redesign. If you own a 2020 Highlander, you do not need to take any action related to this recall.

My Highlander Hybrid is on the list — is the repair the same?

 Yes. The remedy is identical for both the standard Highlander and the Highlander Hybrid. Dealers replace the return springs in the second-row recliner assemblies on both variants using the same procedure.

I already received a recall letter — what do I do next?

 Call your Toyota dealer and schedule a service appointment. Bring the letter with you, or simply reference recall campaign number 26V128000 when you call. The repair is free.

Will this recall affect the resale value of my Highlander? 

A completed recall repair typically does not negatively affect resale value. In fact, a vehicle with documented recall work completed — shown on the Carfax or AutoCheck vehicle history report — can reassure buyers that the issue was resolved. Make sure you keep the dealer repair order showing the recall work was done.

Could this recall lead to a class action lawsuit? 

No legal action has been filed related to this specific recall as of March 31, 2026. Toyota discovered the defect through its own internal quality process and issued the recall voluntarily. However, recalls involving safety-critical components do sometimes attract litigation, particularly if injuries are later reported. This page will be updated if a lawsuit is filed.

What if my dealer says parts are not available yet?

 Ask the dealer to place your vehicle on a priority waitlist and confirm a timeline. You can also contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331 to ask about parts availability in your region. In the meantime, consider seating passengers in the third row when possible until the repair is complete.

Sources

• Toyota Motor North America official recall announcement: pressroom.toyota.com
• NHTSA recall database, Campaign No. 26V128000: nhtsa.gov/recalls
• Toyota VIN lookup tool: toyota.com/recall

Last Updated: March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.