Toyota Recalls 10,000 C-HR EVs Over Power-Loss Bug — SkimNews
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- Toyota issued a safety recall for approximately 10,000 model-year 2026 C-HR electric vehicles in North America, marking the first recall for the all-electric crossover since it went on sale earlier this year starting at roughly $37,000.
- The defect traces to a software glitch in the regenerative braking system that can overcharge the battery when it is at a full or high state of charge, which in turn can shut down the electric drive system and cause loss of power while driving.
- Toyota dealerships will correct the issue by updating the battery ECU (electronic control unit) software on affected vehicles.
- Toyota said it will begin notifying owners in early November 2026, and noted the recall has not yet been posted to nhtsa.gov.
- Only the 2026 model-year C-HR is affected; the 2027 C-HR is also now on sale and is not included in the recall.
- Owners can check whether their vehicle is involved at Toyota.com/recall or, once available, nhtsa.gov/recalls by entering their VIN, or call Toyota's Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331.
Why it matters: Roughly 10,000 early buyers of a brand-new EV now face a defect that can kill power mid-drive, requiring a dealership visit for a software fix. As Toyota's first electric recall on a model that only launched this year, it lands just as the automaker tries to scale its North American EV lineup beyond the bZ — making any reliability stumble on the C-HR more costly to its EV credibility than the absolute recall size suggests.
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