Toyota is telling more than half a million Highlander owners to take a closer look at their second row. The automaker has announced a major safety recall for roughly 550,000 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs in the U.S. after engineers found that a problem in the second row seat recliner mechanism can leave some seatbacks unsecured. An unlocked seatback could increase the risk of injury in a crash if it fails to stay put. Toyota says it will offer a free repair once replacement parts are available and plans to notify owners by early May.
What Toyota says and who’s affected
In a press release via Toyota, the company said the recall covers certain 2021–2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles, about 550,000 in the U.S. The issue centers on the return springs in some second row recliner assemblies, which may not fully secure the seatback after it is adjusted. According to Toyota, a seatback that is not properly locked “may fail to properly restrain occupants,” which raises the risk of injury in a higher-speed crash.
Repair steps and timeline
Toyota says it is preparing a remedy. Once the fix is ready, dealers will replace the return springs in the affected recliner assemblies with improved components at no cost to owners. Regional coverage from Cleveland.com notes that the company expects owner notification letters to be mailed by early May. As Cars.com reports, owners will be able to confirm recall status by entering a VIN or license plate on Toyota’s recall lookup or in the federal recall database maintained by NHTSA.
How to check your Highlander
If you drive a 2021–2024 Highlander or Highlander Hybrid, you do not have to wait for a letter. You can plug your VIN into Toyota’s recall lookup tool or search the database on the NHTSA website, or call Toyota’s Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331 for help. While you wait for parts and appointments, it is worth taking a quick look at your second row: any time you adjust a seatback, make sure it clicks firmly into a locked position. If a seatback feels loose or does not seem to latch securely, avoid putting passengers there until a dealer can perform the repair. Toyota says dealers will carry out the spring replacement free of charge once parts are in stock, in line with the company statement.
Why this matters
Swapping out return springs on roughly half a million SUVs is not a quick in-and-out job for the network, so owners should expect some wait times and scheduling bottlenecks at dealerships even after the official notices arrive. That kind of phased rollout is typical for large recalls while suppliers churn out enough parts and ship them across the country. The campaign adds to a string of recent seat and restraint fixes involving Toyota that have caught the eye of industry watchers, and it is another reminder that the seemingly boring bits of a car’s interior, like seat mechanisms, remain a regular focus for safety regulators and automakers alike.
