Recall 26V256 affects 4 2025 Toyota RAV4 vehicles for improperly welded front seat brackets. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
Toyota is recalling 4 2025 RAV4 vehicles because the front seat brackets for the seat rails were welded improperly. Improperly welded brackets can prevent the seat from adequately restraining an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury; Toyota dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front seat rail bracket on the 2025 Toyota RAV4 is the metal attachment point that anchors the seat rail assembly to the vehicle. The seat rail lets the front seat move and lock in position. During a crash, the bracket helps keep the seat and occupant restraint geometry where Toyota designed it to be.
On affected RAV4 vehicles, some brackets were built with missing welds or cold welds, which are welds that did not form a full-strength bond. Toyota traced the condition to supplier welding equipment damage during a specific production period. Each affected bracket has six welds, and some weld locations were not bonded as designed. If the bracket is weak, the front seat is at higher risk of not performing as designed during a crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is inside the welded bracket joints, so an owner should not expect a noise, warning light, or seat movement before the defect matters in a crash.
Who's affected?
VINs became searchable on April 22, 2026.
| 2025 Toyota RAV4 | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 4 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
Improperly welded seat brackets can keep the seat from restraining an occupant as designed during a crash, increasing injury risk. Treat this as a repair priority, even if the seat feels normal, and schedule the dealer inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025 Toyota RAV4 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the free front-seat-bracket weld inspection and repair for the improperly welded seat brackets.
- Bring the recall notice if Toyota has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 26V256 and Toyota recall 26TB09 or 26TA09 when you call.
- Keep the repair appointment even if the seat feels normal. The recall concerns welds inside the front seat bracket area.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Toyota technician inspects the front seat bracket welds for the seat rails and repairs the welds as needed. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered by Toyota. Toyota uses its general reimbursement plan on file for this recall. If you already paid out of pocket for a related seat bracket repair, bring your receipts and repair paperwork to the service desk so Toyota can review the expense under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 22, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 22, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| April 22, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 22, 2026 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| April 22, 2026 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 7, 2026 | Final remedy owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V256?
Recall 26V256 covers 4 2025 Toyota RAV4 vehicles with front seat brackets that have improperly welded seat rail brackets. In a crash, the seat bracket problem can keep the seat from properly restraining an occupant, increasing injury risk. Toyota dealers will inspect and repair the welds for free.
What should I do if my 2025 Toyota RAV4 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific RAV4 is included in recall 26V256. If it is, contact a franchised Toyota dealer and ask for the seat bracket weld inspection and repair. Reference recall 26V256 or Toyota recall numbers 26TB09 and 26TA09 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost to owners, and Toyota's remedy says dealers will inspect and repair the seat bracket welds as necessary free of charge at a franchised Toyota dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is occupant restraint in a crash. If the front seat brackets were welded improperly, the seat can fail to restrain an occupant adequately during a crash, increasing injury risk. Toyota's remedy is a dealer inspection and seat bracket weld repair as needed.
When will Toyota notify owners about recall 26V256?
Toyota expects to mail owner notification letters on June 7, 2026. You do not need to wait for a letter to check your VIN. If your RAV4 is included, contact a franchised Toyota dealer for the free inspection and repair process.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V256000 |
|---|---|
| Toyota customer service | 1-800-331-4331 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V256 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V256000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →