The Toyota C-HR Recall is the first for the 2026 model-year electric crossover in North America, affecting around 10,000 vehicles. Toyota says a software issue involving the regenerative braking system can overcharge the battery and potentially cause a loss of motive power.
Toyota C-HR Recall Details
Toyota identified a software problem linked to the C-HR’s regenerative braking system, which helps recharge the vehicle’s battery, as the cause of the issue in some 2026 models.
“Under certain conditions when the battery has a high level of charge, regenerative braking can cause the battery to become overcharged due to a software issue,” Toyota said.
The automaker said that if the battery becomes overcharged, the electric drive system can shut down, resulting in a loss of motive power. Toyota warned that losing motive power while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.
Software Update Will Fix the Problem
Toyota said the remedy will involve a software update for the Battery Electric Vehicle Electronic Control Unit. Dealers will perform the update for affected C-HR models.
Owners are expected to receive recall notifications by early November 2026. Until then, Toyota said owners can contact customer support at 1-800-331-4331 for additional information.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet published information about the recall. Once information becomes available, owners should be able to use their vehicle identification numbers to determine whether their particular C-HR is affected.
Toyota Initial Quality Faces Software Challenges
The C-HR recall comes as Toyota’s initial quality ranking remains below average. In the most recent JD Power Initial Quality Study, which surveyed problems experienced by owners of 2026 model-year vehicles after 90 days of ownership, Toyota ranked 15th among 27 brands.
The GR86, Corolla, Crown Signia, Sequoia and Tundra were among the highest-ranked models in their respective segments. However, no 2026 Toyota EV was listed as a top-ranked model or runner-up in the study.
Toyota recorded 181 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with an industry average of 175 problems per 100 vehicles.
Software Issues Affect Toyota Vehicles
The article notes that Toyota has recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles this year because of software issues. More than 500,000 Camry sedans were recalled over blank driver displays, while the bZ EV was also recalled for a software error that could result in a loss of drive power.
It is possible, although not confirmed by the study, that the C-HR’s drive battery issues affected Toyota’s overall score.
The immediate upside for C-HR owners is that Toyota says the recall issue can be addressed through a software update, providing a straightforward remedy for the affected vehicles.
