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Toyota has cultivated a reputation around the world for being ultra-durable and reliable. However, even the best of us still run into problems, and that's what you'll find in Toyota's biggest unibody SUVs. The automaker has recalled a relatively small number of Toyota Grand Highlanders and Lexus TXs for a defective part that, if it breaks, could potentially cause an accident.
Axle Carriers Can Break
The recall covers just 5,408 2026 Toyota Grand Highlanders and Lexus TXs across all powertrains, including the regular combustion, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions. The majority are hybrid Grand Highlanders at 2,449, followed by 1,510 non-hybrid Grand Highlanders, 1,191 non-hybrid Lexus TX models. The remaining vehicles are the less-than 300 hybrid and plug-in hybrid TXs. The recall has to do with the left and right rear axle carriers. According to recall documentation, these components are made of forged aluminum, and a batch from a supplier didn't go through the full set of manufacturing processes. As a result, the carriers aren't as strong as they're supposed to be, and could break.
This is a particular issue as these axle carriers are integral to the rear suspension. The recall notes that these carriers attach to the rear suspension control arms, and they're most likely to break where they attach to the toe control arms. For those unfamiliar, "toe" refers to how much the wheels and tires point inward or outward (like how, if you look down at your feet, you can point your toes in toward each other, or outward). If these carriers break, it could cause that element of the wheel alignment to suddenly change, potentially making the vehicle unstable and difficult to control, which could, of course, lead to a crash.
Fortunately, no incidents have been reported connected to this issue, and that also means that no one has been hurt. One of Toyota's suppliers alerted the company that some of these carriers were not manufactured correctly. The automaker then did some studies on the parts and found they likely wouldn't hold up, which led it to issue the recall.
Even Fewer Vehicles Are Affected Than It Seems
At 5,408 vehicles, this is a small recall, and the number of vehicles that actually have a defective part is even smaller. According to the recall documentation, not all of the defective axle carriers were even used in American Grand Highlanders and TXs. In fact, Toyota estimates only 5% of the recalled vehicles will actually have the recalled parts.
However, if you do have a recalled vehicle, it's still important that you bring it to your local Toyota or Lexus dealer to have it checked out, due to the potential danger. Once you've brought your vehicle to the dealer, technicians will check to see what specific axle carriers are fitted. If they're the improperly manufactured ones, the dealer will replace them at no charge. If they're not the defective parts, you'll be able to take off with nothing to worry about. So, even though you'll need to take some time to go to your dealer, there's a decent chance it'll at least be a short trip.
Source: NHTSA
