World’s largest car manufacturer recalls 1 million vehicles over one major flaw

The world's largest car producer has recalled more than one million vehicles in the US.

Manufacturers fear a major flaw could see an increase in crashes.

Sure, it's not uncommon for cars to be recalled - something Tesla knows all too well, with its infamous Cybertruck being recalled 10 times since its 2023 launch - but now it's Toyota's turn to be issuing the recalls.

The largest car producer in the world has summoned certain models in the US over an issue with the vehicles' Panoramic View Monitor system.

A fault with the cars' software may cause the camera output to freeze up when the vehicle is reversing.

The camera technology is mandatory and help drivers spot people or objects as they're backing up.

SUV Subaru Solterras are among those being recalled (Tramino/Getty Images)

It goes without saying that the camera fault, then, is extremely dangerous and could cause potentially fatal crashes.

It also means the vehicles are failing to comply with federal rear visibility requirements, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says.

The recall concerns 22 Toyota and Lexus models.

These include popular Toyota models such as the Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Prius, Grand Highlander, and Land Cruiser, along with several Lexus SUVs and sedans like the RX, NX, TX, GX, LX, and ES, and the Subaru Solterra.

Many of these models are impacted across their hybrid, plug-in, and electric variants from model years 2022 through 2026.

The Toyota recall impacts more than one million vehicles (Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images)

Owners of recalled cars have been told to take them to their closest Toyota dealer, who will update the faulty parking assist software for free.

It's the second rear-view camera related recall from Toyota in recent months.

It recently recalled almost 394,000 vehicles, again in the US, due to another issue that could've restricted drivers' visibility and increased the risk of a crash.

The recall concerned 2022 to 2025 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid models, as well as 2023 to 2025 Sequoia Hybrids.

Toyota is the largest car manufacturer by volume, having produced 300 million vehicles by November 2023.

Volkswagen is the second largest, while Hyundai is third place in the global rankings.

According to data from the NHTSA, there have been a total of 357 recalls across the top 12 US manufacturers this year.

Ford has seen the most amount of recalls, with 134 separate summons issued.

Chrysler is the second-highest, at 44 recalls, while Forest River is in third place with 36.

Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Originally a division of his father’s loom manufacturing business, Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, the company was set up to develop and produce automobiles.

Today, Toyota operates on a global scale, with major production plants and research centres in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia.