The NHTSA just announced a Toyota recall due to faulty seat rails. Find out if yours is affected and how to keep yourself safe.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Oct. 7 that nearly 55,000 Toyota vehicles are subject to recall due to faulty seat rails. If yours is one of them, you’ll need to take steps to keep yourself and your passengers safe until the problem is repaired.
Why Is There a Toyota Recall?
The NHTSA brief states that the Toyota recall is due to an issue with the seats. More specifically, “the second-row seat rails may be welded improperly.” The seat rails are an important component of car seat security. The NHTSA warns that “improperly welded seat rails can prevent the seat from adequately restraining an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.” Without the correct restraint system in place, a car accident can get quite messy. Seatbelt laws exist for a reason; they keep drivers and passengers safe. If the seat can’t do its job, then neither can the belt.
Which Toyota Vehicles Have Faulty Seat Rails?
According to the NHTSA brief, nearly 55,000 2025 Sienna Hybrid vehicles are on the list. If you own one, keep an eye on your mailbox. Toyota will send out the initial round of owner letters in late November 2025. Once the remedy has been solidified, they’re planning on sending out a second round of letters in early December 2025.
If your vehicle does have this issue, refrain from driving with back-seat passengers whenever possible until your car is repaired. No one plans to get into an accident, and you don’t want to count on luck to keep your loved ones safe if you do get hit by another car.
How Will Toyota Fix the Recalled Vehicles?
The NHTSA brief says that “dealers will replace the second-row seat rails, free of charge.” If you are impacted by this recall, make your repair appointment as soon as you can once it’s available. Unsecured seats are a driving hazard that you don’t want to deal with. They’ll pose a danger to your passengers and may leave you feeling more anxious as a driver; both of which can make driving feel more unsafe.
If you have any further questions, you can reach Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. If you call them, explain that you’re asking about recall numbers 25TB12 and 25TA12. The NHTSA number for this recall is 25V668000.
Source
Improperly Welded Second-Row Seat Rails, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2025.
