2025 Toyota RAV4 Seat Fastener Recall (26V256)

Recall 26V256 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2025 Toyota RAV4 in recall 26V256?

The front seat brackets for the seat rails may be welded improperly.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025 RAV 4 vehicles. The front seat brackets for the seat rails may be welded improperly.

Is it safe to drive a 2025 RAV4 with recall 26V256?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Improperly welded seat brackets can prevent the seat from adequately restraining an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Improperly welded seat brackets can prevent the seat from adequately restraining an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your RAV4 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V256?

Recall 26V256 covers 4 vehicles: 2025 Toyota RAV4.

NHTSA lists 4 vehicles in this campaign, built November 28, 2025 to December 1, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the RAV4 seat fastener recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect and repair the seat bracket welds as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect and repair the seat bracket welds as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB09 and 26TA09.

Manufacturer recall number: 26TB09 / 26TA09.

When was recall 26V256 announced?

Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 26V256 to NHTSA on April 22, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 19, 2026.

This recall was filed 5 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 3 days. If your RAV4 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my RAV4 is part of recall 26V256?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V256 is open on your RAV4, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2025 RAV4 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should RAV4 owners do about recall 26V256?

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 26V256000 applies to your RAV4.
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. Keep a simple log of any critical fasteners 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 RAV4 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 87 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 26V256 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 87 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the body, doors and seats. 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.

• 2025 Toyota RAV4: 87 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

Can recall 26V256 make my RAV4 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.

Owners often ask whether this critical fasteners recall means their RAV4 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Body and latch defects on the 2025 Toyota RAV4 may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2025 Toyota RAV4 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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 26V256