Toyota Recalls Over 1 Million Vehicles in U.S. Due to Backup Camera Flaw

Toyota Motor Corp. shares slid into negative territory during early trading Wednesday following a U.S. recall announcement affecting 1,024,407 vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration flagged a software defect that may cause rear-view cameras to malfunction when vehicles are in reverse—a safety hazard that could lead to collisions.

The recall spans 2022-2026 model years across Toyota and Lexus lineups, including the bZ4X, Camry, and Land Cruiser, along with Subaru's Solterra. At issue is the Panoramic View Monitor System, which synthesizes multiple camera feeds to create a 360-degree parking aid. When frozen or blank displays occur, drivers lose critical visibility during maneuvers.

This technical stumble arrives as automakers increasingly rely on digital systems to augment driver awareness. The recall's scale—representing nearly 3% of Toyota's 2023 U.S. sales—highlights the operational risks inherent in software-dependent vehicle architectures.