- Toyota and Lexus are recalling over 40,000 vehicles due to potentially damaged seat belts.
- The recall impacts a number of popular models including the Camry, RX, and NX.
- Dealers will inspect the second-row center seat belt and replace it, if necessary.
Seat belts are one of the most important safety features and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates they saved 14,955 lives in 2017 alone. Given that, it’s alarming when vehicles are being recalled because their seat belts could be damaged.
However, Toyota and Lexus are recalling 40,922 vehicles because their second-row center seat belt webbing may be damaged. According to the government, incorrect tooling was used during the “hot-knife cutting process” and this could have damaged the seat belt, causing them not to perform as intended.
More: Toyota RAV4 And Lexus NX Recalled For Wheels And Brakes That Might Fall Off
The seat belts were made by Joyson Safety Systems in Mexico and the problem was discovered after a routine inspection of parts found a “melt mark” on seat belt webbing. This led to an investigation, which eventually determined that the “webbing strength of second-row center seatbelts did not meet certain requirements” of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
The recall impacts the 2025 Camry as well as the 2025 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350h. Other impacted models include the 2024-2025 Lexus RX350, RX350h, and RX500h.
Owner notifications are expected to be mailed out in late March or early April, and customers will be instructed to take their vehicle to the dealership. There, technicians will examine the seat belt webbing and replace the seat belt assembly if necessary.
While Toyota believes that less than 0.1% of vehicles have bad seat belts, the recall impacts 32,529 Camry sedans. That’s a bulk of the population and the second most impacted model is the Lexus RX350 at 3,242 units.
