Australia\u2019s roads are about to see a lot more Toyota and Lexus vehicles heading back to dealerships\u2014thanks to a potential fault with the surround-view camera system in over 130,000 cars. But don\u2019t panic just yet. While the issue may sound serious, it\u2019s more of a software glitch than a hardware failure. If you own one of the affected vehicles, here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n
The recall involves more than 130,000 vehicles from Toyota and Lexus, spanning models built between 2021 and 2025. The problem lies with the parking assist ECU (Electronic Control Unit), which controls the surround-view camera system. According to the carmakers, the software within the ECU may cause the rear-view image to freeze or fail to display. The issue occurs when the car is switched on and reverse gear is engaged within a specific time window after ignition. It’s not a major safety risk, but it can make reversing or parking a little trickier if the camera fails to display properly.<\/p>\n
While the issue sounds like it could be a major inconvenience, Toyota and Lexus have made it clear that it\u2019s a relatively simple fix: a free reprogramming of the affected vehicles\u2019 parking assist ECU. The process is expected to take about an hour at the dealership, although depending on the service schedule, you might need to leave your car with them for a bit longer. The good news is that the fix is totally free of charge.<\/p>\n
The recall affects a range of popular models from both brands. Toyota is recalling 108,862 vehicles, including the 2023-2025 Toyota bZ4X electric, 2022-2025 Toyota RAV4 hybrid, and 2022-2025 Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series diesel, among others. Lexus is recalling 27,490 cars, including the 2022-2025 Lexus ES300h hybrid, 2023-2025 Lexus RX350 hybrid, and 2021-2025 Lexus LX500d diesel, details Drive<\/a>.<\/p>\n Both Toyota and Lexus owners will be contacted directly to arrange for their vehicles to be reprogrammed. However, even if you haven\u2019t received a call yet, you can always check whether your car is affected by visiting the Toyota or Lexus website and entering your vehicle\u2019s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).<\/p>\n Now, here\u2019s an important distinction to make: this is being described as a \u201ccustomer service exercise,\u201d not a safety recall. A safety recall would usually require the company to report the issue to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. In this case, however, Toyota and Lexus are voluntarily recalling the vehicles to address the software issue, not a critical safety flaw.<\/p>\n So, while it\u2019s not exactly a dire emergency, it\u2019s still a good idea to take care of it sooner rather than later. You might not notice the problem immediately, but if you do rely on the surround-view camera, especially for reversing, it could be a bit frustrating to have it freeze or not display the image.<\/p>\nWhat Is a \u201cCustomer Service Exercise\u201d?<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s Next for Affected Owners?<\/h2>\n