Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru stop sales as they recall 100,000 electric vehicles due to safety issue

The trio of Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru has issued a recall affecting 100,000 electric vehicles and stopping sales of certain models in the US. The companies need to fix an issue that can make driving in cold weather dangerous.

The problem involves the windshield defroster, which may fail to remove frost, ice, or fog from the windshield. The root cause is an ECU (electrical control unit) software issue, but drivers could end up with reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The vehicles concerned come with dual heat sources, but both can be disabled under certain failure scenarios. The issue was detected after Transport Canada sent in an inquiry.

Toyota stated in its press release that the Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ 300e, and RZ 450e are affected, with about 62,000 units needing attention. The 2023-2025 Solterra is also affected, which is not surprising as they all share a common platform.

Owners will need to visit Toyota and Lexus dealers, where the ECU programming will be updated at no additional cost. If necessary, the electric HVAC compressor will be replaced free of charge.

Toyota will notify its customers by early November 2025. However, drivers can check if they are affected by visiting Toyota and Lexus’ dedicated recall websites or at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website.