Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (NYSE: TM, 7203T) is recalling ~4400 model year 2025-2026 Lexus LX600 vehicles for software problems that can cause transmission damage, sudden loss of power and fires.
“The subject vehicles are equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission that contains linear solenoids to control the shifting of gears. If a solenoid failure occurs under certain driving conditions, communication may not occur between the Transmission Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Engine ECU about the failure, resulting in the transmission over-revving in certain gears. This could result in damage to the transmission and a loss of motive power while driving at higher speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash,” Toyota said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.
If certain damage occurs to the transmission housing, there is also the possibility for a transmission fluid leak from the housing that, in the presence of an ignition source, could increase the risk of a fire,” Toyota said.
Chronology
October 2025 – Early February 2026
- During review of an internal audit, Toyota identified a potential issue in Transmission ECU programming and began an investigation. Specifically, the issue identified was that, in the event of a linear solenoid failure, a failure signal may not be transmitted to the Engine ECU. The signal is used to trigger over- revving suppression. To identify what the potential consequences on the vehicle are if the transmission experiences an over-revving condition as a result of this issue, Toyota initiated preparation for reproduction testing. In addition, Toyota began collecting and analyzing remote vehicle data from relevant vehicles in Japan market to understand whether a linear solenoid failure could occur in the field and whether subsequent driving patterns could lead to over-revving that would not be suppressed due to identified software issue. Toyota completed the remote data analysis in November 2025 and found no relevant diagnostic trouble codes from the vehicles where it could obtain the remote vehicle data in Japan.
January 2026
- Toyota expanded the remote vehicle data collection to other markets and models in order to find field vehicles that had experienced a linear solenoid failure. The additional data reviewed identified vehicles that had experienced linear solenoid failures and that there were subsequent customer usage patterns that could potentially lead to an over revving condition that would not be suppressed due to the software issue. In addition, reproduction testing verified the type of transmission damage that could occur, which includes the potential for a loss of motive power as well as transmission fluid leaking that could contact hot exhaust system components.
12 February 2026
- Based on the results of the above investigation, Toyota decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall campaign.
- As of 2 February 2026 based on a diligent review of records, Toyota’s best engineering judgment is that there are no Toyota Field Technical Reports and no warranty claims on the subject vehicles that have been received from U.S. sources that relate or may relate to this condition
Dealers will update the transmission ECU software [supplied by Aisin in Japan. – AutoCrat] free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 25 April 2026. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is 26LA01.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Transmission Failures – Toyota Recalls 2025-26 Lexus LX600s
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (NYSE: TM, 7203T) is recalling ~4400 model year 2025-2026 Lexus LX600 vehicles for software problems that can cause transmission damage, sudden loss of power and fires.
“The subject vehicles are equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission that contains linear solenoids to control the shifting of gears. If a solenoid failure occurs under certain driving conditions, communication may not occur between the Transmission Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Engine ECU about the failure, resulting in the transmission over-revving in certain gears. This could result in damage to the transmission and a loss of motive power while driving at higher speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash,” Toyota said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.
If certain damage occurs to the transmission housing, there is also the possibility for a transmission fluid leak from the housing that, in the presence of an ignition source, could increase the risk of a fire,” Toyota said.
Chronology
October 2025 – Early February 2026
January 2026
12 February 2026
Dealers will update the transmission ECU software [supplied by Aisin in Japan. – AutoCrat] free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 25 April 2026. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is 26LA01.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.