Toyota Highlander recall: Nearly 40,000 SUVs flagged in Canada over second-row seat issue

A Toyota Highlander recall has been issued affecting thousands of vehicles in Canada, with authorities warning that a defect in the second-row seat mechanism could increase the risk of injury during a crash. According to Canada’s official motor vehicle safety database, the recall involves nearly 39,897 units of the Toyota Highlander and Toyota Highlander Hybrid due to a manufacturing problem affecting the seatback recliner mechanism.

Toyota Highlander recall: What the defect is

Information from Transport Canada states that some vehicles may have a problem with the second-row seat assemblies that prevents the seatbacks from locking properly. A notice on the Government of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database states that on certain vehicles, the seatback recliners for second-row seats “may not lock in position and could move in a crash.”


“A seatback that moves could increase the risk of injury in a crash,” the notice, first posted on March 5 and updated on Tuesday, March 10 reads.

Which vehicles are affected by Highlander recall

The Toyota Highlander recall applies to the following model years:

• Toyota Highlander: 2021, 2022 and 2023
  
• Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 2021, 2022 and 2023
  

Authorities advise owners of affected vehicles not to use the second-row seats for passengers until repairs have been completed.

What owners should do after Toyota Highlander recalled in Canada

Toyota will contact affected owners by mail with instructions. The notice will advise them to bring their vehicle to a dealership, where technicians will replace the spring in the affected seat recliner assemblies.

Toyota Highlander has also been recalled in the United States at the same time. In that case, a little over 550,000 Highlander SUVs are being recalled because of a supplier defect that could cause the seatbacks to fail to lock properly.

The US recall covers Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles from model years 2021 to 2024 equipped with recliner technology in the second-row seats.

Recent Toyota recalls in 2026

Since the beginning of 2026, Toyota has issued several recall notices across different models. In January, the company recalled 12,179 units of the Toyota Tundra trucks from model years 2024 and 2025 due to an issue that could affect the rearview camera.

Also Read: Transport Canada recalls nearly 20,000 Toyota vehicles over serious injury risk; Check out the reason behind this decision

Then again in February, nearly 20,000 units of the Toyota Prius were recalled over a risk that the rear doors could open while the vehicle is in motion.