Toyota Tundra Recall Issued Over Potential Reverse Light Failures

Owners and lessees of 2022-2025 Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid trucks will be notified in mid-July about free repairs and reverse light assembly replacements.

A recall has been issued for approximately 443,000 Tundra vehicles, after the manufacturer acknowledged that there is a risk of moisture accumulating in the tail lights, which may cause them to stop working and increase the risk of an auto accident.

The manufacturer filed the voluntary safety recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 15, due to a risk of moisture intrusion over time, which may allow water to accumulate in the assembly and short out the electrical components.

Tail lights and reverse lights play a critical role in vehicle safety, especially during low-light conditions. Reverse lights illuminate the area behind the vehicle, helping drivers see obstacles while backing up, and signal to pedestrians and nearby drivers that the vehicle is moving in reverse. 

If these lights fail, drivers may have limited rear visibility, particularly at night or in dimly lit areas like parking garages or driveways. Without visual cues from functioning reverse lights, other motorists or pedestrians may be unaware of the vehicle’s movement, potentially leading to backover accidents, fender benders or serious injuries.

Toyota warns that failure of these lights could increase the risk of collisions and has begun working with regulators and dealerships to address the issue.

The recall specifically includes model year 2022 through 2025 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles sold through licensed dealers within the U.S.

Toyota plans to begin notifying affected customers in mid-July, providing instructions on how to schedule a free replacement of the reverse lamp assemblies at their local dealership. If corrosion is found to have spread into the wiring harness connector, technicians will also repair or replace the harness as needed.

Customers with questions about the recall can contact Toyota customer support at 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota Driving Data Lawsuits

As the automaker continues to implement repairs for hundreds of thousands of vehicles recalled this year already, Toyota is also facing  a driving data collection lawsuit, raising allegations that the manufacturer unlawfully used tracking devices in its vehicles to collect, store, and sell customer driving data to insurance companies without consent. 

A complaint brought by Philip Siefke in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas last month claims the automaker shared his vehicle’s driving data with Progressive insurance company, despite never having received any authorization from him to do so.

Siefke’s complaint mirrors a series of GM OnStar lawsuits, which have been filed in recent months over General Motors’ admission that it used its OnStar service to collect driver data and share it with third-party analytics companies, including LexisNexis and Verisk Analytics, which then forwarded the information to multiple insurance companies, affecting drivers’ premiums. 

Individuals pursuing individual arbitration claims or participating in driving data class action lawsuits are seeking various forms of compensation and legal remedies, due to alleged improper data collection practices.