Dive Brief:
- Toyota Motor North America has recalled over 1 million vehicles due to a software error in the parking assistance system that can compromise the rearview camera image, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The recall spans 21 Toyota, Lexus and Subaru models across 2022-2026 model years, including specific versions of the Toyota bZ4X, Camry, Crown, Crown Signia, Grand Highlander, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Mirai, Prius, RAV4, Sienna and Venza, as well as the Lexus ES, GX, LC, LS, NX, RX, RZ and TX. All of the affected vehicles are estimated to have the defect.
- Dealers will update the software on the vehicles at no cost. Interim owner notifications will sent beginning Dec. 16, with additional letters sent once the final remedy is available.
Dive Insight:
The problem stems from a bug in Toyota’s parking assistance software, which processes and displays the rearview camera image. A programming error can cause the image to briefly freeze or fail to appear, increasing the risk of a rear crash, according to the recall report.
The image freezing issue may occur when the vehicle shifted into reverse shortly after the ignition starts, or after the vehicle is switched off then powered back on again.
Between April and December 2024, Toyota conducted a review of its panoramic view monitor software in Japan after field reports it received motivated the automaker to investigate possible rearview camera image interruption issues.
Toyota confirmed that, in certain situations, the parking assistance software could fail, which could affect vehicles worldwide, including in the U.S. market.
Between December 2024 and October 2025, Toyota continued to investigate the problem to determine the exact conditions that could trigger the camera display issues. Its testing revealed that the camera image could freeze for nearly two seconds if the vehicle is shifted into reverse shortly after startup. In addition, the system can record incorrect data if the software is recalibrating when the vehicle is restarted.
The analysis led Toyota to approve a recall on Oct. 24.
Toyota traced the problem to parking assistance software from Tier 1 supplier Denso. Only vehicles manufactured with Denso’s specific software are affected by the issue.
Although Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the parking assistance software in the majority of the recalled vehicles, Subaru dealers will address the update for the electric Solterra, which was co-developed with Toyota and shares its platform with the bZ4X.
The latest recall follows a September recall of nearly 400,000 Toyota models for a similar rearview camera display issues, however these vehicles used software supplied by Panasonic.