Toyota has recalled more than 1 million cars due to faulty rearview cameras. What to know if your vehicle is affected

America’s most popular car brand is recalling more than one million vehicles (1).

On October 30, Japanese vehicle manufacturer Toyota announced a widespread recall of several models released between 2020 and 2023 as a result of malfunctioning rearview cameras (2). The Toyota Newsroom stated that drivers of some Toyota and Lexus models could experience a blacked out or frozen camera when reversing, a violation of federal auto safety standards (3).

Some of the affected models include the Camry, Highlander and Prius. Toyota says affected drivers will be notified of the recall by the end of December 2025.

A faulty rearview camera may not seem like a serious enough problem to send your car to the shop, but companies only issue recalls after receiving customer complaints and when there is a verified safety risk (4). A malfunctioning rearview camera may not alert drivers to obstacles, animals, or children in the rear of the car, and creates an additional blind spot for drivers of newer vehicles who are not used to having to look back or check their mirrors when reversing (5).

It’s difficult to deal with a recalled vehicle, but it’s important to fix the problem. Here’s what drivers need to know.

Recalls are not uncommon: Nearly 30 million vehicles in the U.S. were affected by nearly 1,100 different recalls in 2024, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (6) .

If a driver is alerted to a recall, they should schedule service with the car dealer as soon as possible, especially if the issue presents a serious safety risk. Some recalls, such as a defective camera, may not pose immediate risks. In this case, Toyota will not issue notices to affected drivers until December. But sometimes your car may need urgent repair.

Fortunately, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to pay for the repair. But getting the car back on the road is not always easy.

Automakers may announce that they need a fix before they are actually ready to make repairs.

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According to Michael Crossen, senior automotive technician at Consumer Reports, “Automakers may announce a recall before they have figured out how to handle the problem, due to federal reporting requirements.”

“If that happens, you will have to wait for a second notice to let you know the repair is ready.”

Additionally, since hundreds of thousands of vehicles will, at least in theory, be coming to dealerships for the same problem, there is a chance that the required part will not be available or that the next open appointment will not be as soon as you would prefer.

However, what is more inconvenient for affected drivers is when a dealer deliberately delays repairs. Raymond Roth, principal and leader of the auto recall practice at analytics firm Stout, says that since dealers can’t make money on recall repairs, they might prioritize other work first.

“We have seen some cases of dealers telling vehicle owners that parts were not available when in fact they were, because (the dealers) considered other repair jobs to be more profitable,” Roth told Consumer Reports (7).

If you have a vehicle that was hit, the notice will probably come in the mail and you may receive more than one. If you receive a recall notice, call your auto dealer to schedule the repair. Make sure it is an authorized dealer who works directly with the recall issuer and carry the recall letter with you.

And remember, the only cost to you will probably be time in your day. You should consider asking the dealer for a loaner vehicle, especially if the problem has made your car undrivable or the repair will take hours or even days.

If your model is listed in a recall but you have not received a notice, do not assume that you are not affected, as manufacturers have 60 days to issue notices (8). If you want to check if your car has a current recall, you can enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s recall checker (9).

We rely only on verified sources and credible third-party reports. For more information, see our editorial guidelines and ethics.

Experian(1); USA Today (2); Toyota (3); NHTSA (4); Arnold & Itkin Trial Lawyers (5); NHTSA (6); Consumer Reports (7); Acura of Lehigh Valley (8); NHTSA (9)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.