Now it’s Toyota’s turn. The automaker is recalling nearly 600,000 vehicles sold under both the Toyota and Lexus badges because their digital instrument panels can fail. Similar problems have plagued its competitors this year, notably Ford, reports Headlight.News.
The Lexus RX is one of the models facing recall.
Digital instrument panels are becoming the norm across the auto industry these days, but that does have a downside if the technology fails.
Toyota said Tuesday it will recall nearly 600,000 late model vehicles because their digital gauge clusters can unexpectedly glitch, meaning motorists won’t be able to see the speedometers, warning lights, turn signal indicators and other information critical to the driving process.
The problem has become increasingly common as manufacturers abandon traditional mechanical gauges and replace them with digital gauge and infotainment displays. That has impacted a wide range of brands, of late, including European and Asian marques including Audi and Kia, as well as domestic brands like Ford which this month announced a recall covering 1.9 million vehicles for faulty backup camera displays.
What’s the problem
The 12.3-inch digital displays in a number of Toyota and Lexus models can suddenly go blank.
Toyota notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it will recall 591,000 Lexus and Toyota-badged models due to a glitch that can cause their 12.3-inch digital gauge clusters to unexpectedly go blank when the vehicles are started up. Technically, this doesn’t impact drivability, but Toyota noted that, if this happens, motorists will lose critical information, including vehicle speed, along with warnings light, turn signal indicators and other necessary information.
A broad range of products are covered by the recall which dates back to at least 2013 when the 12.3-inch screens were first introduced.
The Japanese automaker didn’t indicate specific model years covered by the recall, but the service action affects products including:Toyota Venza, Crown Signia, RAV4, GR Corolla, 4Runner, Camry, Grand Highlander, Tacoma, and Highlander. Lexus models include the LS, RX, and TX series of vehicles.
What next
The 4Runner is another Toyota model covered by the recall.
Toyota indicated there are two possible fixes for the digital display problem:
- It plans to launch a software update to most or all of the vehicles, a move that would sideline vehicles;
- If that doesn’t work, Toyota said, the ComboMeter and display may have to be entirely replaced with a new one.
The good news for owners is that repairs will be made, if needed, at not charge. The downside is that Toyota doesn’t have a fix yet and now expects it will take until November before it notifies customers to bring their vehicles in for repairs.
More Toyota News
- A Week With the 2025 Toyota Corolla FX
- First Drive: 2026 Toyota bZ
- Toyota Has a Dozen Electrified Products Coming
A digital epidemic?
The 2018 Ford Edge is one of the models covered by the latest Ford recall.
Digital display technology is becoming increasing commonplace in today’s vehicles, even low-end offerings, while high-end products can offer six or more displays.. But a quick check of NHTSA’s recall database shows they are facing a number of quality and reliability issues.
Kia and Hyundai have ordered display recalls over the past two years, while 44,000 Audi sedans and SUVs dating back to the 2021 model year were targeted by a service action in April.
Ford has by far ordered the most screen-related recalls, more than a dozen so far this year. In Ford’s case the problem centers around faulty backup cameras. The latest Ford recall was announced this week and called for the repair or replacement of the primary digital displays in 1.9 million late-model Lincoln and Ford models.
0 Comments