Toyota is facing another major recall — this time involving more than one million vehicles across its Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru brands — after discovering a fault in the rearview camera system that could cause the image to freeze or fail altogether while reversing. The issue leaves drivers without a clear view of what’s behind them, creating a serious safety risk.
A New Recall, A Familiar Problem
The defect, linked to components supplied by Denso, affects a wide range of models equipped with the Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. In certain situations — especially if the vehicle is put into reverse shortly after the engine starts — the backup camera feed may not appear on the screen or may freeze without warning.
This is more than just an inconvenience. Since rearview cameras have been mandatory on all vehicles sold in the U.S. since 2018, the issue also puts Toyota in violation of federal safety regulations.
The Second Camera Recall in a Month
What makes this recall especially noteworthy is its timing. Less than a month ago, Toyota recalled nearly 394,000 vehicles for a similar rearview camera problem, though that case involved a different supplier — Panasonic. In that earlier recall, the malfunction was obvious: the screen would split into black and green.
This time, however, the glitch is more deceptive — the image might simply freeze, fooling drivers into thinking everything is fine when it isn’t.
The Fix Is Simple, But Requires a Dealer Visit
Fortunately, the solution doesn’t involve replacing any hardware. Instead, a software update to the Parking Assist ECU will fix the problem. But there’s a catch — it can’t be done over the air (OTA). Owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles will need to visit their local dealerships for the update, while Subaru Solterra owners will be serviced through Subaru dealers.
Over One Million Vehicles Impacted
In total, 1,024,407 vehicles are affected by the recall. Roughly half are Toyota models, slightly fewer are Lexus, and about 20,000 are Subaru vehicles — primarily the Solterra, which shares its platform with Toyota’s bZ4X.
The list includes some of each brand’s most popular models:
Toyota: Camry, Crown, Highlander, Grand Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Mirai, Sienna, and Venza
Lexus: RX, TX, GX, LX, LC, LS, NX, and ES
Subaru: Solterra
Among the largest numbers: over 125,000 Lexus RX units, 45,000 Toyota Highlanders, and 67,000 Toyota Grand Highlanders are affected.
Safety First — and No Reported Injuries
Toyota and Lexus owners will be contacted directly, and dealerships will perform the software update free of charge. The company says it’s acting out of caution and commitment to safety — and confirms that, so far, no accidents or injuries related to this defect have been reported.
For Toyota, this recall is a reminder of how complex modern vehicle systems have become — and how even a simple camera glitch can trigger a million-vehicle campaign in the pursuit of keeping drivers safe.
