A DANGEROUS defect has been found on select vehicles from some of Toyota’s most popular pickup models.
The issue has to do with an integral part of the affected vehicles’ drivetrains, and could cause significant damage if left unattended.
Toyota is recalling 5,960 2025 Tacoma pickup trucks with 4-wheel-drive equipped for an issue relating to the vehicles’ front driveshaft joints.
Toyota claims that parts used in the front driveshaft joints may have been manufactured with an incorrect material that can deform or break while driving.
Were this to happen, drivers would be unable to complete turns as they intend to. Full-time four-wheel-drive models, i.e. all-wheel-drive models, may also move while parked if the electronic parking brake isn’t engaged.
Both hybrid and pure gasoline versions of the 2025 Tacoma models are affected by this issue.
Toyota has already confirmed it will have dealers inspect the front driveshaft assembly serial numbers, and replace one of or both the left and right assemblies if needed at no charge to owners.
Owners of affected vehicles will be notified of the remedy’s availability starting on November 16, per the official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall documents.
Likewise, Toyota’s press release confirms that potentially affected vehicles are now indexed in the NHTSA’s VIN search system.
Toyota has also confirmed that it received five field reports and 69 warranty claims related to this issue.
The manufacturer doesn’t appear to be aware of any accidents or injuries related to this defect based on their lack of mention in the NHTSA documents as of this writing.
Toyota also did not issue a do not drive warning for potentially affected vehicles involved in the recall.
Of the roughly 6,000 vehicles that could be affected, Toyota estimates 16% to contain the faulty driveshaft joint parts.
Toyota began receiving dealer reports of the issue in February 2025, and had identified the root of the problem by May 2025.
The manufacturer then spent several months investigating and experimenting with the defective parts before initiating a voluntary recall on the affected vehicles.
Toyota did not immediately return The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
How can I check if my car is part of a recall?
If you own a car that's been recently recalled, you can easily check your VIN.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes it incredibly quick and easy for drivers to check and see if their vehicle is part of a recent (or past) recall.
The VIN checking tool also allows drivers to see whether or not the repair was completed within the last 15 years, making it an incredible tool for buyers of used cars.
All recalls initiated by the NHTSA mean free repairs for drivers, even if it’s an engine or a transmission replacement. If your VIN shows an active recall that has not been repaired, it’s important to make an appointment at your nearest dealership.
Here’s how to make an appointment for a recall:
- Look up your VIN using the NHTSA tool.
- Find out the recall number/ID from the manufacturer.
- Call your nearest dealership’s service center with the ID number handy, and mention you’d like to schedule an appointment to repair the recall. The repair can only be done at a dealership, as they’re authorized by the manufacturer to conduct the repair free of cost using genuine parts.
- Try to make the appointment as soon as possible.
- Once the repair is completed, the dealership will update the information associated with the VIN to reflect it’s been completed.
Source: NHTSA
A driveshaft is integral for a car to properly operate, as its primary purpose is to transfer power between components of a drivetrain that cannot be directly connected due to distance or other reasons.
For example, a defective driveshaft in a front-engine rear-wheel drive vehicle could result in a total lack of power transfer from the engine to the car’s wheels.
RECALL RECAP
Toyota’s latest recall comes weeks after the manufacturer recalled roughly 600,000 vehicles under its own name and the Lexus brand for digital instrument clusters that wouldn’t display critical info.
The manufacturer also recalled 50,000 Corolla Cross Hybrids for an issue where the brakes would suddenly firm up without warning during use, effectively increasing stopping distance unexpectedly.
Jeep recalled over 120,000 Wagoneer variants in September for an issue which could cause a piece of exterior trim to fly off the car while driving.
No manufacturer has had more recalls this year, or in history, than Ford with 113. Some have been relatively inconsequential, while others have impeded safe operation of the manufacturer’s cars.
