2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-IN Hybrid

The defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The motor generator ECU may encounter an error, causing the plug-in-hybrid system to reduce power or shutdown when driven at higher speeds.

The risk

An unexpected powertrain shutdown can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy

Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed starting November 22, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 26TA22.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 30,978 vehicles across all model years covered

towed · 60 miles

The contact owns a 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with an EV inverter and transmission failure. The vehicle was pending repairs and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60.

NHTSA complaint 11760305. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

I am writing to report a safety concern involving the rear seatbelts in the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) updated moderate overlap front crash test (conducted at 40 mph with 40% overlap), the rear lap belt on the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid slid upward from the pelvis onto the lower abdomen of the rear dummy during the crash. This is known as submarining. IIHS rated the rear restraints and dummy kinematics as Poor for this reason, resulting in an overall Marginal rating for the vehicle in that test. In the same test, the non-plug-in hybrid version of the 2026 RAV4 kept the lap belt properly positioned on the pelvis and received an …

NHTSA complaint 11774348, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

While driving in heavy traffic, the engine shuddered then dashboard warnings: "Hybrid System Malfunction Output Power Reduced, Drive-Start Control Malfunction, AWD System Malfunction." I pulled over, parked, then the transmission wouldn't shift to drive or reverse.

NHTSA complaint 11767909. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

If I could select everything under the adaptive driver assistance details, I would. Upon startup, every warning light lit up on the car and messages popped that all of the safety systems were disabled on the car with a message to visit the dealer stating there was a "system malfunction." I turned the car off and turned it back on and all warnings remained and passenger airbags and other safety features remained disabled on the car.

NHTSA complaint 11766752. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The sunglasses holder above and between the driver and passenger suddenly opened while on the interstate, causing the sunglasses to fall out, creating a sudden distraction. The sunglasses could have also fallen by and interfered with the pedal assembly. The sunglasses holder continues to pop open while driving even when there is nothing inside of it.

NHTSA complaint 11766754. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The front windshield on my new 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid XSE, which is equipped with a head-up display (HUD) and uses HUD-specific laminated glass, appears to have an optical clarity/distortion issue. The original factory-installed windshield is still on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. From the first day I drove the vehicle, I noticed persistent optical artifacts when looking through the windshield. The issue is most noticeable around high-contrast objects, such as white lane markings against dark pavement, white vehicles with dark trim, signs, and other sharply defined edges. Instead of appearing clean and sharp, these edges can look slightly fuzzy, gritty, …

NHTSA complaint 11761281, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

On two separate occasions, the hatch has opened all by itself. One time was in public, and another time while sitting in my driveway overnight with the vehicle locked. This is a safety hazard as opening by itself could cause things to fall out of the back while driving, or theft/weather damage when just sitting in my driveway. I did not receive any notifications via the app, which alerts me if a door or hatch is opened. My last notification indicated that the car was locked. When I went outside this morning, the hatch was wide open and would not close using the fob or any buttons designated to close the hatch. I had to force it closed for it to work again. Based on my research, this is an …

NHTSA complaint 11760707, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.