Toyota has issued a safety recall affecting 7,847 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid SUVs in Canada over a software defect that could cause the vehicles to suddenly lose power while driving.
The recall covers certain 2026 model-year vehicles and is part of a larger North American recall affecting nearly 39,000 SUVs. Transport Canada warns that suddenly losing power to the wheels could raise the chance of a crash.
The issue involves the plug-in system’s motor generator control unit (MG ECU), which manages part of the plug-in hybrid system. Under certain conditions, a software error can prevent the system from operating correctly, potentially causing it to shut down while the vehicle is moving.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), affected vehicles may display warning lights before entering a reduced-power driving mode or shutting down completely.
The problem occurs when the vehicle requires a motor control mode used at higher speeds. If the system shuts down, power to the wheels can be lost.
In the United States, the recall covers another 30,978 vehicles manufactured between July 22, 2025, and August 19, 2026.
Toyota says the issue can be corrected with a software update performed at a dealership, free of charge. This is not an over-the-air (OTA) update, meaning owners will need to bring their vehicles in for service.
Canadian owners will receive recall notices by early December 2026. In the meantime, they can check whether their vehicle is affected using Toyota’s online VIN lookup tool.
You can read the full NHTSA recall notice below, and the Transport Canada recall here.
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