Toyota is recalling 20,991 brand-new electric SUVs after finding a software conflict that can cut all power to the wheels while the vehicle is moving. The recall covers three closely related nameplates built on the shared Toyota-Subaru EV platform — the Toyota bZ, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra, all from the 2026 model year — according to the report Toyota filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA recall 26V393.

Key Points

• 20,991 vehicles affected: 11,495 Toyota bZ, 4,739 Lexus RZ, and 4,757 Subaru Solterra, all model-year 2026 (NHTSA)
• Cause: two chips inside the battery control computer can overwrite the same shared memory address
• Risk: total loss of drive power while underway; steering and brakes stay functional
• Fix: free software update at Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru dealers — no parts replacement
• Owner notification letters mailing in phases from August 3 through August 17, 2026 (Toyota)

The defect sits inside the battery ECU, the computer that manages power flow from the battery pack to the drive motors. NHTSA’s filing explains that two separate integrated circuits inside that ECU share a single memory address, and under certain conditions — especially when processing demand rises as the battery’s state of charge drops — one chip can immediately overwrite data the other chip just wrote there. After enough of those failed checks accumulate, the dashboard throws a malfunction warning and, per the filing, “the electric drive system shuts down.” Related safety systems, including pre-collision assist and vehicle stability control, can also go offline when it happens, according to the NHTSA report.

Toyota says it isn’t aware of any crashes or injuries tied to the flaw. As of June 11, 2026, the company had logged zero field technical reports and a single warranty claim connected to the issue in the United States, according to the NHTSA filing.

The fix doesn’t require a new part. Dealers will reflash the battery ECU with corrected software at no charge, and owners who already paid to diagnose or fix the problem can seek reimbursement through Toyota’s general reimbursement plan, per the recall filing and Toyota’s official recall notice. Toyota notified dealers on June 18, 2026, and owner letters are going out in a phased rollout between August 3 and August 17.

Because the bZ, RZ, and Solterra share the battery hardware and e-TNGA-based EV architecture that Toyota and Subaru co-developed, a single defect in that shared battery computer reaches all three brands at once — one reason automakers that split engineering costs across joint platforms can end up issuing recalls that stretch across multiple nameplates simultaneously.

Owners can check whether their vehicle is affected using their VIN at toyota.com/recall, lexus.com/recall, or subaru.com/recall, or through nhtsa.gov/recalls, per Toyota’s official notice. Toyota’s Brand Engagement Center, at 1-800-331-4331, can also confirm eligibility and schedule the repair.