You might not expect to have many recalls placed on Toyota vehicles, but a recent recall has been issued for some Toyota Corolla Cross compact SUVs.
Recalls are part of the automotive world. Every automaker faces them regularly, and most vehicles will be subject to at least one recall during its lifetime. Still, we expect most Toyota vehicles to be worry-free and without issue, but that’s not generally the case. Whether it’s a new model or one that’s been around for several years, nearly all vehicles have recalls issued on them at some point in their lifetime.
The most recent Toyota recall is for model year 2023 and 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid models.
Safety is the name of the game
What causes most recalls? They usually have everything to do with the safety systems in a vehicle, and most models have a failure at some point. Anything that can create an unsafe situation or could fail to operate can be subject to a safety recall. Not long ago, the largest recall in history had everything to do with faulty airbags that could kill people if they inflated improperly, at the wrong time, or exploded. Thankfully, this most recent issue with the Corolla Cross isn’t quite as serious as the Takata airbag problem.
Braking is extremely important
The recall for the Toyota Corolla Cross models applies to the braking system. The issue can cause an increase in the stopping distance of these vehicles, which can increase the risk of a crash. The braking system in any vehicle is one of the most important parts of staying out of a crash. When the brakes work right, and the tires are properly inflated and have enough tread, stopping quickly is pretty easy. Unfortunately, the issues for this small Toyota SUV cause the braking distance to be more than expected.
How is the braking system impacted, specifically?
The issues impacting these Toyota SUVs don’t happen every time the vehicle is slowed or brought to a stop while turning, but it can happen. The way this recall is being described is:
“In certain situations, during brake application when turning a corner, a driver may temporarily experience a hard brake pedal that can cause the stopping distance to be more than expected. This can increase the risk of a crash.” – Toyota Newsroom
This could be a problem for many drivers, and because the issue is unpredictable, it could show up at any time and cause the vehicle to crash.
How many Toyota vehicles are impacted?
The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid models under this recall were produced from June 2022 to September 2024. This recall impacts nearly 42,000 vehicles in the United States and close to 51,000 models in North America. This might sound like a large number of vehicles, but in the grand scheme of things, there is only a small percentage of Toyota vehicles on the road today.
What can owners of recalled vehicles do to fix this problem?
All involved vehicles can be brought to Toyota dealers to have the programming of the skid control ECU software for the brake actuator updated. This service will be performed free of charge and should correct the problem, which will allow this batch of Corolla Cross Hybrid models to be made safe to drive once again.
Owners will receive notification of this Toyota recall late in November. If you want to learn if your vehicle is subject to this recall, you can do so by searching the VIN on the NHTSA website or the Toyota website under the recall pages for either site.
Should you check for recalls when buying a vehicle?
Typically, new vehicles that have recalls issued on them will have the recall corrected before being sold, but that doesn’t apply to used vehicles. If a dealership has a used vehicle on the lot, it probably has had all of its recall work done before being put out for sale, but that’s not always the case.
When you purchase a vehicle individually from a private seller, you should check the VIN to see if there are any open recalls before completing the purchase. Sometimes, recalls are issued and owners don’t have them addressed, which can cause serious problems for you down the road if you buy from a private seller.
As for the thousands of Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid models under recall, owners will be able to have these vehicles fixed soon. If you own one of them, it’s a good idea to leave extra braking distance until this recall is addressed.
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