About 15,000 additional Toyota Kluger SUVs in Australia were added to a safety recall tied to second-row seatbacks that may fail to latch securely.
With that expansion, the recall now covers 46,467 vehicles. The federal transport department said the defect could raise the risk of injury or death in a crash.
Here's what to know
According to PerthNow, the SUVs were built from March 2021 through June 2025. The outlet said more than 34,300 vehicles built between March 2021 and November 2023 were already part of the March recall.
Australia's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport, and the Arts' recall document added details. At the center of it is the second-row seat recliner mechanism, which "may not fully engage during seat back adjustment."
If that happens, "the seat back could move inadvertently," the department warned. A second-row seat that does not remain locked may not properly restrain passengers during hard braking or a crash.
"It could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants," the recall stated.
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Beyond the inherent safety hazards, car recalls can lower confidence in the build quality of cars. For drivers expecting new cars to be safer than past models, these issues can be both dangerous and frustrating.
What can be done?
Toyota said the repair will be free, with dealers replacing the seat back return springs in the recliner assembly at no cost to owners.
The company also said it will contact affected owners in writing and ask them to book an appointment with their preferred Toyota dealer.
The transport department included a link to vehicle identification numbers on its recall page for owners who want to verify if their car is impacted.
Where can I learn more?
Similar safety recalls have hit several major automakers in recent months. They involve seat belts, airbags, brakes, and even fire risks.
• Ford recalled 420,000 SUVs after a seat belt issue raised injury concerns.
• Nissan recalled 4,000 2026 Leaf EVs after an infant seat belt flaw surfaced.
• Honda recalled 40,000 vehicles in Canada over an airbag safety risk.
• Hyundai recalled 421,000 SUVs and trucks over a brake-slamming glitch tied to collisions.
• Kia warned Telluride owners to park outdoors over fire risk affecting 463,000 SUVs.
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