Toyota’s speedy SUV has a problem with a key safety feature
Electronic stability control (ESC) has saved thousands of lives, which is why the technology has been mandated for all new vehicles in the U.S. since 2012. The system’s ability to detect and reduce a loss of traction is especially crucial in powerful vehicles, when it’s likelier that a driver could lose control. It’s exactly this risk that some drivers of the Toyota bZ Woodland are facing. The surprisingly potent EV is a recent addition to Toyota’s lineup, but the ESC system on certain variants could deactivate under certain conditions, which has led to the model being recalled.
Related: Toyota’s Electric SUV Is as Quick as a Supra—And That’s the Problem
Toyota bZ Stability Control Recall
Toyota
The recall applies specifically to 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland models equipped with a tow converter. According to the recall report published on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, an electrical short could cause the ESC system to deactivate.
“An electrical short circuit may occur within the tow converter printed circuit board, which can deactivate the electronic stability control system and cause the brake lights to remain illuminated,” states the report.
Toyota
The illumination of the brake lights even when the driver isn’t braking is another hazard that could increase the risk of a crash. The tow converter for these models controls the trailer lighting system when a trailer is connected. If the short occurs, the stop lamps may remain activated.
Newly introduced for the 2026 model year, the electric bZ Woodland is one of the automaker’s quickest vehicles. Its dual motors produce 375 horsepower and independent tests show that it can reach 60 mph in under four seconds; Toyota claims a time of 4.5 seconds, making this the automaker’s quickest SUV. A vehicle with that much power could be particularly dangerous if the ESC system fails.
Fortunately, only 407 units of the SUV are affected by the recall.
What Owners Should Do Now
Toyota
Owners of the Toyota bZ Woodland without the tow converter are not affected. Those who do have this feature equipped will receive a notification letter from Toyota between September 21 and October 5, 2026, should their vehicle be part of the recall group. Owners may also contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331 for more information; they can use recall numbers 26TB15 and 26TA15. The recall report does not indicate when the vehicle identification numbers for impacted models will become searchable on the NHTSA’s website.
Vehicles with the problem will need to be returned to a Toyota dealer to have the tow converter replaced, which will be done at no charge to the customer. All affected vehicles are still well within the active warranty period for the bZ Woodland.
We would advise bZ Woodland owners to drive cautiously until their vehicles can be inspected or to avoid towing anything as far as possible. Toyota has not listed any driver warnings that may display when the issue occurs, so drivers may be unaware that the ESC system has deactivated or that the stop lights are faulty.
The NHTSA estimates that ESC systems saved 4,100 lives between 2010 and 2014 alone, and likely many thousands more since then. Furthermore, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) previously ran a study suggesting that the risk of fatal single-vehicle rollovers for SUVs was reduced by a staggering 75%, thanks to ESC.
Related: What is traction control? How it works, why it matters
