A software defect means the hybrid part of the drivetrain could suddenly cut out while the SUV is in traffic
2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV GR Sport Photo by ToyotaToyota is recalling more than 30,000 newer examples of its RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid in the U.S. because a software issue with the motor generator’s electronic control unit (ECU) could cause the SUV to suddenly lose power while driving. Specifically, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety campaign covers some 30,978 hybrid sport-utilities from the 2026 model year; Transport Canada has yet to make public a counterpart recall on its website for Toyota on this side of the border, but we’ll update this article when that information becomes available.
On affected vehicles, a communication fault in the motor generator’s ECU during start-up may leave the higher-speed control mode for said generators unavailable when driving at, well, higher speeds, explains outlet Motor1. If this happens and the rear motor fails, the RAV4 will enter a “fail-safe limp-home mode” that disables the rear-wheel drive, leaving only the front wheels driven. If the fault hits the front motor, though, the entire plug-in hybrid system may shut down and all forward propulsion may be lost, which can be rather dangerous if it happens at speed.
The good news is that Toyota has fielded only a very small number of warranty claims tied to this issue; and that the fix involved simply reflashing the ECU at the owner’s local Toyota dealer. The automaker has labelled this recall 26TA22 internally, and in the U.S., owners of affected vehicles should be notified by mail in December.
Toyota issued a similar recall tied to sudden power loss just over a month ago, though in that case the affected model was not the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, but the 2026 C-HR. The electric SUV specifically had an issue with its regenerative braking system, and a little over 1,000 examples were affected in Canada.
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| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda recalls Accord, CR-V hybrids for earlier repair-kit issue (again) | 0 | 12.29 | 15-10-2026 |
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