Toyota has issued a safety recall covering nearly 21,000 battery-electric vehicles in the United States after identifying a software issue that could cause a sudden loss of driving power.
The recall affects 20,991 vehicles from the 2026 model year, including the Toyota bZ, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra. All three electric SUVs share Toyota’s e-TNGA dedicated EV platform and use the same high-voltage battery electronic control unit (ECU).
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the battery ECU software may malfunction, potentially causing the vehicle to lose propulsion while driving. A loss of driving power could increase the risk of a crash.
The recall covers:
– 11,495 Toyota bZ models
– 4,757 Subaru Solterra models
– 4,739 Lexus RZ models
Toyota estimates that every vehicle included in the campaign contains the software defect. Other Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru EVs are not affected because they either use a different battery ECU or different software.
To correct the issue, owners will need to visit an authorized dealer, where technicians will install updated battery ECU software at no cost.
Unlike some software-related fixes, this repair cannot be completed through an over-the-air (OTA) update, making a dealer visit necessary.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed beginning August 3, 2026.
Toyota customers with questions can contact the automaker’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. The company’s internal recall numbers are 26LA07 and 26TA11, while Subaru’s recall number is WRG26. Owners can also contact the NHTSA Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit NHTSA.gov. The NHTSA campaign number is 26V393.
At present, the recall applies only to vehicles sold in the United States. However, because the affected models are built at Toyota’s Motomachi plant in Japan—the same factory that produces vehicles for other global markets—additional recalls elsewhere remain possible.
Toyota announced a separate recall in Japan on June 19, covering 4,808 Toyota bZ4X (sold as the Toyota bZ in the U.S.), Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra models. Australia has also issued a recall affecting 1,101 Toyota bZ4X vehicles and four Lexus RZ models.
No equivalent recall has yet been announced for Europe.
This is not the first recall involving Toyota’s trio of e-TNGA electric SUVs. Last year, Toyota recalled 94,320 Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, and Lexus RZ vehicles in the U.S. to address a problem with the heating system control.
Despite the latest recall, Toyota’s electric vehicle business has gained momentum in 2026. Following significant updates that included increased driving range and the addition of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, the redesigned Toyota bZ has become one of the fastest-selling EVs in the U.S., ranking as the country’s third best-selling electric vehicle during the first quarter, behind only the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3.
[source: Electrek]
