Toyota Recalls 228,367 Sienna Hybrids in the US Over Seat Backs That Can Come Loose in a Crash

Toyota is recalling 228,367 vehicles in the United States because seat backs in certain Sienna Hybrid minivans can fail to stay secured in a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday. Reuters reported the recall on Tuesday, October 27, citing the federal safety agency.

The recall covers certain Toyota Sienna Hybrid vehicles from the 2022 through 2026 model years.

What can go wrong

NHTSA said that in certain frontal crashes, the force of the crash could disengage a seat back from its locked position. A seat back that comes loose cannot properly restrain the person sitting in it, and that raises the risk of injury in the crash.

The Canadian notice for the same defect, published by Transport Canada on October 20 and updated on October 23, describes the mechanism in more detail. It says the mechanisms that lock the second-row seat recliners in position may disengage under certain conditions when a seat belt pretensioner activates, and that a seatback that moves in a crash could increase the risk of injury. A pretensioner is the part of the restraint system that pulls a seat belt tight at the start of a crash. Transport Canada says the software in the supplemental restraint system electronic control unit controls the pretensioners in these vehicles.

The fix in the United States

Dealers in the United States will update software or replace seat backs, free of charge, depending on the vehicle configuration, NHTSA said. The US summary published by Reuters did not give a date for owner notification letters.

This action is separate from an earlier Sienna seat case. In October 2025, Toyota recalled 54,631 model year 2025 Sienna Hybrids because second-row seat rails may have been improperly welded, according to NHTSA records cited in reporting on that case. A California federal judge ruled on October 15, 2026, that a class action over repair delays in that case can go forward. That case is about seat rails and welds, not seat back locks.

The same defect in Canada

Canada acted on the same defect a week earlier. Transport Canada says its recall, number 2026505, covers Sienna Hybrid minivans from the 2022 through 2026 model years, and CTV News reported that more than 24,000 vehicles are involved in Canada.

For Canada, Toyota advises owners not to use the second-row seats to transport passengers until the recall repairs have been completed. Toyota will notify Canadian owners by mail and tell them to take the vehicle to a dealership, where dealers will update the software in the supplemental restraint system electronic control unit. Canadian owners can check a vehicle identification number on the Toyota Canada recall lookup page or call Toyota at 1-888-869-6828, CTV News reported.

That Canadian guidance was written for the Canadian recall. US owners should follow the instructions that come with the US recall, where dealers will apply the software update or the seat back replacement that fits their vehicle, at no charge.

Timeline

Oct 20, 2026: Transport Canada publishes recall 2026505 for 2022 to 2026 Toyota Sienna Hybrid minivans, saying second-row seat recliner locks may disengage when a seat belt pretensioner activates.

Oct 23, 2026: Transport Canada updates the notice. CTV News reports more than 24,000 vehicles are involved in Canada and that Toyota advises owners not to use the second-row seats until repairs are done.

Oct 27, 2026: NHTSA says Toyota is recalling 228,367 Sienna Hybrid vehicles in the United States. Reuters reports the US recall on Tuesday.