Nearly 40,000 Toyota Highlanders Recalled in Canada Due to Seat Defect

A Toyota vehicle logo is pictured at an automotive dealership in Ottawa on Aug. 11, 2023. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Toyota is recalling nearly 40,000 of its Highlander models in Canada, citing a manufacturing defect that may cause seats to shift during a collision.

Transport Canada announced the recall of 39,897 of the Toyota SUVs in a recent advisory. The models affected by the recall are the Toyota Highlander 2021, 2022, and 2023, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2021, 2022, and 2023.

“On certain vehicles, the seatback recliners for the second-row seats may not have been manufactured properly,” the notice said. “As a result, the seatback(s) may not lock in position and could move in a crash.”

Anyone with the recalled model should not use the second-row seats to drive passengers until after repairs have been completed, the advisory said.

A Toyota Canada press release said the company is currently “preparing the remedy” for the issue.

“When available, Toyota dealers will replace the return springs in the recliner assemblies with improved ones, at no cost,” the car manufacturer said, adding that all owners of impacted vehicles will be notified by early May 2026.

Owners can also discover if their vehicle is part of the recall, by visiting the Toyota Canada recall website and entering the SUV’s vehicle identification number.

Toyota has recalled several of its models for a variety of issues over the past six months.

Nearly 20,000 Prius models in Canada were the subject of a recall at the end of January due to a defect that could result in the rear doors opening while the car is in motion.

The company also announced a safety recall last November affecting more than 13,000 of its trucks and SUVs sold in Canada due to a possible defect that could cause the engine to stall while driving.

Other Recalls

Volkswagen is recalling its 2026 and 2025 Jettas for an electrical issue that could cause the cars to overheat, creating a potential fire risk.

A March 13 recall notice published by Transport Canada said the transmission ground wire may not have been connected during production of certain vehicles, which could cause some to overheat.

“Wiring or parts that overheat can create the risk of a fire,” the advisory said.

Volkswagen will notify affected owners by mail who should then schedule a repair with their local dealership.

Ford has also issued a recall for 3,296 of its Explorer models due to a software issue that may result in the left or right headlamp being misaligned when the steering wheel is turned.

Only the 2025 and 2026 Platinum models equipped with the dynamic bending light feature are affected by the recall, according to the March 11 Transport Canada notice.

“A headlamp that isn’t aimed correctly could cause glare for oncoming drivers and could increase the risk of a crash,” the advisory said.

Ford will also contact all affected owners by mail. The company is offering a free repair at its dealerships to update the headlamp control module software.