2023 Toyota Corolla Steering Column Recall (25V040)

Recall 25V040 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2023 Toyota Corolla in recall 25V040?

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 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. 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 25V040?

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

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

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Corolla shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the column, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 25V040?

Recall 25V040 covers 1,716 vehicles: 2023-2024 Lexus NX; 2023 Lexus RX; 2023 Toyota Corolla; 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross; 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid; 2023 Toyota Highlander; 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; 2023 Toyota Tacoma.

NHTSA lists 1,716 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 steering column recall?

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

Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25LA02.

Manufacturer recall number: 25TA02/25LA02.

When was recall 25V040 announced?

Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 25V040 to NHTSA on January 29, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 17, 2025.

This recall was filed 20 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 25V040?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V040 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 25V040000. 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 25V040?

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 25V040000 applies to your Corolla.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Toyota dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
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. Keep a simple log of any column symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Corolla owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 615 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 73 of them about the steering.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 615 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 73 of them involve the steering. 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, 2 about the steering
• 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross: 174 complaints in total, 44 about the steering
• 2023 Toyota Corolla: 73 complaints in total, 16 about the steering
• 2023 Lexus RX: 62 complaints in total, 1 about the steering
• 2023 Toyota Tacoma: 54 complaints in total, 9 about the steering
• 2024 Lexus NX: 45 complaints in total, 0 about the steering
• 2023 Lexus NX: 15 complaints in total, 0 about the steering
• 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 9 complaints in total, 1 about the steering

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

I was at a red light with my windshield wipers on. I then heard several warning beeps with messages stating "steering power low", battery low, and then the steering locked. I tried to turn the wheel after the last message came up but the steering wheel was locked. I couldn’t accelerate.

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11641201, filed February 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. The contact stated while stopped at a red light, the contact heard a loud, consistent tone emanating from the vehicle, followed by the message "Low power steering" before the vehicle entered LIMP mode and shut off; however, the contact was able to restart the vehicle.

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross owner, AR, NHTSA complaint 11659779, filed May 8, 2025

I was driving on a cold day. When I stopped at a stoplight seeking to make a left turn, the car would not accelerate when I pressed the gas pedal. I looked down and saw the following warning sign "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low" appear on the dashboard.

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11731777, filed April 17, 2026

Can recall 25V040 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)).

Steering defects go straight to safety. Under California's lemon law, a defect likely to cause death or serious injury can create a presumption after just two repair attempts, if the manufacturer was also notified directly.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same column again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2023 Toyota Corolla has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 23V480000.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Corolla went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

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 25V040