Another Weak Link
Earlier this year, Toyota issued recall number 26V437 to address a defect in forged-aluminum rear axle carriers on its larger vehicles, including the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX. Supplied by North Carolina-based Bharat Forge Aluminum USA, some rear axle carriers did not go through the aging furnace process, leaving their strength below specification and potentially causing cracks.
Now, Toyota is encountering a similar issue with 617 vehicles, but this time, it involves forged-aluminum front steering knuckles. They were also sourced from the same supplier, and one batch skipped the aging furnace step, leaving the parts prone to fracture under a large impact, such as hitting a pothole or curb. If that happens, steering control may be reduced or lost, increasing crash risk.
Lexus
A Bad Batch Gets Around
The latest recall (26V598) pulls back 2026 model-year vehicles, including 196 Lexus RX 350s, 127 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrids, 126 Toyota Grand Highlanders, 83 Lexus RX 350hs, 61 Lexus TX 350s, 23 Lexus TX 500hs, and one Lexus RX 500h. They were produced in a tight window between June 18 and June 26, 2026, though Toyota cannot estimate the percentage of vehicles containing the defect.
The supplier first identified the defect in late June 2026 during a standard quality audit. The supplier contacted Toyota after the batch had already shipped. The Japanese marque investigated before deciding to issue a voluntary safety recall on September 11. As of September 9, the company said it had received no U.S. warranty claims or Field Technical Reports related or potentially related to the issue.
While the manufacturing lapse occurred at the supplier, Toyota still has some responsibility for ensuring the parts installed in its vehicles are in tip-top shape. After all, Toyota’s name appears in NHTSA’s recall database, a list Ford currently leads by a wide margin. Having a high recall count can bring added scrutiny to automakers.
Lexus
Toyota Knuckles Down
Affected owners will be notified from November 2 through November 16, 2026. Toyota and Lexus dealers will inspect the vehicles and, if necessary, replace the front steering knuckles at no cost.
So far this year, Toyota has issued 24 recalls, the third-most behind Ford with 75 and Stellantis with 35. Recent safety campaigns include a stability control defect involving 407 bZ Woodlands and a driver’s display problem affecting more than 500,000 Camrys.
Toyota
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