Toyota Highlander Seatback Locks May Fail, Potentially Resulting in Serious Injuries: NHTSA

Internal testing revealed that approximately 3.5% of Toyota Highlander seats failed to stay locked in position after adjustment, suggesting the issue could be present in more than 19,000 vehicles.

Federal highway safety officials have announced a recall of more than 550,000 Toyota Highlander vehicles due to a design defect that may cause the second row seatback to fail to lock into position, posing a risk to occupants during a crash.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Toyota Highlander recall on March 5, warning that if the seatback lock fails, the seat may move forward during a sudden stop or auto accident, increasing the risk of injury.

A seatback lock is a mechanical latch that secures a vehicle seat’s backrest in place after it has been adjusted. The mechanism prevents the seat from folding forward or shifting unexpectedly, helping ensure occupants remain properly supported and restrained during normal driving conditions or in the event of a crash.

Seat Collapse Injury Lawsuits

Over the last year, several automakers have faced similar seat locking or seatback failure problems, which have led to a series of lawsuits alleging that defective seat designs can collapse during rear-end collisions and cause catastrophic injuries.

A class action lawsuit filed last month alleges defects in certain Dodge and Chrysler vehicles can cause the front seats to suddenly collapse during rear-end collisions. In December 2025, a Hyundai seat collapse lawsuit claimed defects in the driver’s seat, headrest and seatbelt system of a 2023 Hyundai Kona caused catastrophic spinal injuries that left a New Jersey man paralyzed.

Another case involving a Hyundai Tucson alleges a front seat collapse during a rear-end crash resulted in the death of a Pennsylvania man’s wife and left him paraplegic. In addition, an April 2025 lawsuit involving a Kia Sorento claims a woman was paralyzed when the front passenger seat in her vehicle suddenly collapsed after being struck from behind by a pickup truck.

Toyota Highlander Recall

According to the NHTSA safety report, the recall affects 550,007 model year 2021 through 2024 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. While no crashes or injuries have been linked to the issue, Toyota has received at least 10 field reports and 18 warranty claims related to the seatback locking problem.

Toyota first identified the issue in October 2023 during a routine inspection at an assembly plant, when a second-row seatback skipped its first locking position during adjustment. The automaker and its supplier then launched additional inspections to identify potentially defective components.

During the investigation, Toyota learned the seat recliner supplier had implemented a design change in 2021 that affected how the seatback locking mechanism engages. Follow-up testing found that some seatbacks failed to remain locked after adjustment.

In a survey of vehicles already on the road, 12 of 343 second-row seats tested failed to stay locked in position. Further analysis determined the design change altered how the ratchet and pawl components interact, potentially allowing the seatback to disengage.

Based on those findings, Toyota decided on February 27, 2026 to conduct a safety recall of the affected vehicles. Owner notification letters are expected to begin mailing April 10. Dealers will replace the seatback recliner return springs free of charge.

Toyota has assigned recall numbers 26TB06 and 26TA06. Owners seeking additional information can contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or visit www.nhtsa.gov.

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