Toyota Highlander Recall Issued Over Stall, Accident Risk

Nearly 40,000 Toyota Highlander vehicles have been recalled due to a programming error, which could result in a fuel shortage that leads to a sudden engine stall, increasing the risk of an auto accident if the vehicle is in motion.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a Toyota Highlander recall on March 27, following customer reports of the engines unexpectedly stalling due to a programming error in the engine fuel supply module.

The impacted vehicles are equipped with a start-stop feature, which shuts the engine down and restarts it while the vehicle is temporarily stopped. During these start-stop events, the Engine Control Unit (ECU) cuts off the fuel supply under certain driving conditions.

According to Toyota, a software programming error may cause the ECU to fail to re-enable the fuel flow to the engine after a start-stop event, which could lead to stalling and an increased risk of crashing.

The recall includes approximately 38,810 model year 2020 Toyota Highlander vehicles  manufactured between June 24, 2019 and March 4, 2020. The impacted vehicles were manufactured by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing of Plano, Texas. They were distributed for sale throughout the U.S. to licensed dealers.

Toyota announced it will begin notifying owners by mailed notice, and will provide instructions on how to schedule a repair appointment at their local dealer, who will be instructed to reprogram the ECU free of charge.

Highlander customers are being warned to be cautious of warning lights illuminating on the dashboard, which may be indicating the engine is stalling.

Since no physical components are required, Toyota announced the recall repair campaign is expected to begin on April 24, 2020. Customers with additional questions or concerns may contact Toyota Customer Service at 1-888-270-9371 and reference the recall number 20TA06.