Toyota and Lexus recall 2026 SUVs over cracked steering knuckle that can cause loss of steering control

Here’s the short version: Toyota is recalling a small batch of brand-new 2026 SUVs because a steering knuckle can crack, and a cracked steering knuckle can leave you without steering control. That’s the part that turns the wheel. If it fails, you can lose the ability to point the vehicle where you want it to go.

The recall covers 617 vehicles across six models: the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrid, and the 2026 Lexus RX, RX Hybrid, TX, and TX Hybrid. NHTSA is tracking this under campaign number 26V598. It showed up in the batch of recalls the agency published the week of September 28, 2026.

What actually fails, in plain English

The steering knuckle is a structural piece. It’s the joint that connects your front wheel to the steering and suspension. When you turn the wheel, the input travels down through the steering system and the knuckle is what lets that wheel pivot. It also carries load. It’s not a small bracket. It’s one of the parts that has to stay solid every mile you drive.

The filing says certain 2026 examples of these SUVs left the factory with a cracked steering knuckle. A crack is the problem before the break. Metal with a crack in it is weaker than metal without one, and under normal driving loads a crack can grow until the part fails.

Here’s why that matters: if a steering knuckle fails, you can lose steering control. That’s not a warning light or a rough idle. That’s you turning the wheel and the front end not doing what you’re asking. At speed, that’s a crash risk, and Toyota and the federal government are treating it that way.

Now, some perspective before anyone panics. This is 617 vehicles. That’s a tiny number for Toyota, and it points to a limited production issue rather than a design flaw that touches every one of these SUVs on the road. If you own one of these, the odds you’re in the affected group are low. But “low” isn’t “zero,” and steering is not a system you gamble on.

What the filing says

The defect described in the recall is a cracked steering knuckle that could fail. The consequence, stated plainly by the filing, is a loss of steering control that increases the risk of a crash. That’s the whole safety case, and it’s a serious one.

The recall was reported in NHTSA’s recall activity announced the week of September 28, 2026, and covered by Franklin County Free Press and WBIW as part of a broader batch of automaker recalls.

What this means if you own one

1. Run your VIN. This is the only step that actually tells you whether your specific vehicle is included. Go to NHTSA’s recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN, or check with your Toyota or Lexus dealer. Reference campaign 26V598. With only 617 vehicles in the population, the VIN check is what separates “affected” from “not affected.” Don’t assume either way.

2. Take steering symptoms seriously. If you notice anything odd in how the vehicle steers, a clunk, a pull, looseness, a noise from the front end when you turn, don’t drive around wondering about it. A steering-related complaint on a vehicle under an open steering recall is worth a same-week appointment, not a “next oil change” mention.

3. The repair is free. This is a safety recall, which means the fix is done at no cost to you. You do not pay for parts, labor, or diagnosis. Anyone at a dealer who tries to charge you for a recall repair is wrong, and you can push back.

4. Document everything. Keep the recall notice when it arrives in the mail. Write down dates, who you talked to, and what the dealer said. If a part is on backorder or you’re told to wait, get that in writing. Paper protects you if anything goes sideways later.

5. Know your model’s hub. If you want to track this and anything else that comes up on your vehicle, we keep pages for the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander, the 2026 Lexus RX, and the 2026 Lexus TX.

Mark’s take

This is the kind of recall I’d rather see than not. A cracked structural part in the steering caught at 617 units is exactly what the recall system is supposed to do: find a limited problem early and fix it before someone gets hurt. Nobody wants to hear “loss of steering control,” but a small, targeted campaign on brand-new vehicles usually means a specific batch got flagged, not that these SUVs are unsafe across the board.

If you own one of these six models, spend the two minutes to run your VIN under 26V598. If you’re clear, drive on. If you’re on the list, get it scheduled and let the dealer replace the part for free. Steering is the one system where you don’t wait and see.