2023 Toyota Corolla Driver Clockspring Recall (23V480)

Recall 23V480 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2023 Toyota Corolla in recall 23V480?

An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Is it safe to drive a 2023 Corolla with recall 23V480?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the driver clockspring and spiral cassette.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V480?

Recall 23V480 covers 152,927 vehicles: 2023-2024 Lexus NX Hybrid; 2023-2024 Lexus NX250; 2023-2024 Lexus NX350; 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid; 2023 Lexus RX350; 2023 Lexus RX500H; 2023 Toyota Corolla; 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross; 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid; 2023 Toyota Highlander; 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; 2023 Toyota Tacoma.

NHTSA lists 152,927 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Corolla driver clockspring recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23LA02.

Manufacturer recall number: 23TA08/ 23LA02.

When was recall 23V480 announced?

Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 23V480 to NHTSA on July 12, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 8, 2023.

This recall was filed 39 months ago. If your Corolla was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Corolla is part of recall 23V480?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V480 is open on your Corolla, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 23V480000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should Corolla owners do about recall 23V480?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V480000 applies to your Corolla.
2. Call a Toyota dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the driver clockspring and spiral cassette happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Corolla owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 501 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 38 of them about the air bags.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 501 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 38 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2023 Toyota Highlander: 181 complaints in total, 12 about the air bags
• 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross: 174 complaints in total, 10 about the air bags
• 2023 Toyota Corolla: 73 complaints in total, 6 about the air bags
• 2023 Toyota Tacoma: 54 complaints in total, 8 about the air bags
• 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 9 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
• 2023 Lexus RX350: 4 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
• 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2024 Lexus NX Hybrid: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

My wife & I were involved in a 4 vehicle accident on Tuesday September 12, 2023 at approximately 4:30pm. We were traveling north on Highway 17 ( Ogeechee road ) toward Savannah Georgia. We had stopped at the 2nd red light at Highway 204 & 17.

2023 Toyota Corolla owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11544560, filed September 14, 2023

My car has a recall from the driver airbag maynot deployed. I scheduled an appointment with the dealership for fixing my car, I dropped off my car. 20 minutes later they call me and said it’s not available to get fix. I asked them what should I do, they said they don’t know.

2023 Toyota Corolla owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11550307, filed October 16, 2023

Coming home from work at 9:40pm a deer hit my car. I got no notification from my car about an object near my vehicle. I stopped my car lights were flashing and the operator on my car assist came on about detecting an accident. My cab filled with smoke and a funny smell.

2023 Toyota Corolla owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11550591, filed October 18, 2023

Can recall 23V480 make my Corolla a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Toyota Corolla has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V480