Toyota recalls 228,300+ Sienna Hybrids over second-row seatbacks that may not stay secured in a crash

Here’s the short version: if you drive a Toyota Sienna Hybrid built between 2022 and 2026 with the 7-passenger layout, the second-row seatbacks might not stay locked in place during a crash. Toyota is recalling more than 228,000 of them to fix it.

That’s not a cosmetic complaint. A seatback that lets go in a collision is a safety problem for whoever is sitting in it, and for anyone behind it.

What’s actually wrong with the seats

The recall covers certain 2022 through 2026 Sienna Hybrid 7-passenger vans. The issue is with the second-row seatbacks — they may not remain secured.

Here’s why that matters in plain terms. A seatback is a load-bearing part during a crash. It’s supposed to hold its position so your body stays where the restraint system expects it to be, and so the structure behaves predictably when forces hit it. When a seatback doesn’t stay locked, the occupant in that seat isn’t held the way the engineers designed for. Toyota’s filing puts it directly: a second-row seatback that does not stay secured during a crash increases the risk of injury to occupants.

You probably wouldn’t feel this one in everyday driving. There’s no knock, no warning light, no stall to tip you off. That’s part of what makes it worth taking seriously. The failure shows up exactly when you need the seat to do its job — in a collision.

What the filing says Toyota will do

There are two versions of the repair, depending on how your van is built.

For most of these vans, the fix is a software update to the supplemental restraint system electronic control unit. The SRS control unit is the brain that manages your restraint hardware. Updating its software is how Toyota is addressing the problem on the bulk of the fleet.

For vans equipped with a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) package, dealers will go further and install new second-row seatbacks.

Both repairs are free. Toyota is tracking this under two internal recall numbers, 26TB24 and 26TA24.

The timeline: Toyota announced the recall on November 2, 2026. Owners will be notified by mail after December 7, 2026.

What this means if you own one

1. Check whether your van is in the recall. Run your VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. The campaign covers roughly 228,000 Sienna Hybrid 7-passenger vans across the 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid, 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid, 2024 Toyota Sienna Hybrid, 2025 Toyota Sienna Hybrid and 2026 Toyota Sienna Hybrid model years, but only certain builds. Your VIN is the only way to know for sure.

2. Watch the mail after December 7, 2026. That’s when Toyota’s notification letters go out. The letter will tell you which repair applies to your van — the SRS software update or, if you have a MaaS-package vehicle, the new seatbacks.

3. Know which fix you’re getting. If you’ve got a MaaS-package van, you should be getting new second-row seatbacks, not just a software flash. Confirm that with the dealer when you schedule. The two internal numbers, 26TB24 and 26TA24, reflect the different remedies, so make sure the shop is doing the right one for your vehicle.

4. The repair is free. Keep it that way. A safety recall remedy is covered — you do not pay for the software update or the replacement seatbacks. If anyone tries to charge you, that’s not how a recall works. Get the repair done on the manufacturer’s dime.

5. Document everything. Hang on to the notification letter and your repair paperwork once the work is done. If you ever sell the van or deal with a warranty question later, proof that the recall was completed is worth having.

The honest take

This is a straightforward safety recall, and the fix for most owners is a software update, which is about as painless as a recall gets. There’s no symptom to chase and no engine or drivetrain damage at stake here — it’s about making sure the restraint system does what it’s supposed to in a crash you hope never happens.

The thing I’d push back on is treating “just a software update” as a reason to put it off. A seatback that may not stay secured is exactly the kind of defect you don’t want to discover during an accident. When your letter arrives after December 7, call the dealer and get it scheduled. It’s free, and for a van that’s usually hauling kids and passengers, it’s worth doing promptly.

Source: WSB-TV (Cox Media).