Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, based in Texas, has identified a potential defect affecting 4,212 units of the Camry. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these vehicles may have been produced with inadequately welded restraint brackets for the second-row center and right seats.
Among the affected vehicles, approximately 3,500 are 2023 to 2024 Toyota Camrys, with an additional 700 being 2023 to 2024 Toyota Camry Hybrids. Production dates range from July 2023 through November 2023, with 48 internal combustion-exclusive vehicles and 10 hybrid-assisted sedans currently in dealership inventory.
The issue was first identified by rear-seat back frame sub-assembly supplier Adient Georgetown at the beginning of November 2023. Upon discovery, Adient promptly notified Toyota, leading to the determination that the affected vehicles may not meet the safety standards outlined in section S4.2.7 of safety standard 202a.
The root cause, an improper welding condition, was swiftly rectified in production in the same month. Recalled vehicles will undergo rear-seat back frame sub-assembly replacement by dealers nationwide at no expense to the owners. Notification letters are expected to be dispatched no later than April 21, 2024.
Approximately 8.6 percent of the involved vehicles may contain at least one improperly welded spot, potentially compromising head restraint performance and increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Concerned owners can easily verify if their vehicles are subject to recall by checking the VIN on the NHTSA’s recall website.
The 2018 to 2024 Toyota Camry, codenamed XV70, was succeeded by the XV80 in November 2023 for the 2025 model year. Retaining the same platform as its predecessor, the new model defaults to a hybrid configuration but offers a choice between front- and all-wheel drive.
Powered by a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine paired with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, it delivers 225 horsepower in front-wheel-drive guise and 232 horsepower with electronic on-demand all-wheel drive.
The 2025 Toyota Camry comes with a 36-month basic new vehicle warranty, 60 months for the powertrain, eight years for hybrid-related components, and 10 years for the high-voltage battery. It also includes ToyotaCare, a factory-scheduled maintenance plan covering the first 25,000 miles or two years.
Manufactured in the United States, the 2025 model is expected to arrive at dealerships this spring, with pricing details yet to be disclosed. For reference, the 2024 model starts at $26,420 for the internal combustion version and $28,855 for the hybrid, excluding destination charges.