Who can help with a Toyota recall lemon law claim in California? The Barry Law Firm, a Los Angeles firm that handles only California lemon law cases, reviews Toyota seat recall claims and other Toyota repeat-repair claims for free. The manufacturer pays our fees in a successful claim, so you never pay us.
Is my van affected? If you own or lease a 2022–2026 Toyota Sienna Hybrid 7-passenger van, it may be one of the 228,367 vehicles in NHTSA recall 26V690, filed October 20, 2026, because its second-row seat backs may not stay locked in a crash. Toyota plans to mail owner letters starting December 7, 2026. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov or call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
What are my rights? Toyota must fix the recall defect for free. A recall by itself doesn’t make your van a lemon, but under California’s lemon law, a warranty defect the dealer can’t fix after a reasonable number of attempts may entitle you to a buyback, a replacement, or a cash settlement.
What the Toyota seat recall 2026 covers
The second row is often where the kids sit, and Toyota now says those seat backs might not hold in a serious frontal crash. Toyota’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report to NHTSA lists the recall as NHTSA campaign 26V690 (Toyota campaigns 26TB24 and 26TA24), covering 228,367 vans. No other Toyota or Lexus models are included.
Affected models and years
| Model | Model years | Vans | Free remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Sienna Hybrid, 7-passenger | 2022–2026 | Most of the 228,367 | SRS (airbag) control unit software update |
| Toyota Sienna Hybrid, 7-passenger, Mobility as a Service package | 2022–2025 | About 200 | Replacement of both second-row seat backs with a different recliner |
Affected vans were built from September 16, 2021, through July 20, 2026. The part involved is the right and left second-row seat-back frame (79103-08041 and 79104-08041), made by Toyota Boshoku Indiana.
Why the second-row seat backs can unlock in a crash
The risk: in certain frontal crashes, a second-row seat back may unlock and fail to restrain the passenger, increasing the risk of injury. NHTSA hasn’t issued a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory for this recall.
Each second-row captain’s chair has its seat belt built into the seat, with a pretensioner that pulls the belt tight in certain high-speed frontal crashes. The seat back is held upright by an outboard recliner with interlocking teeth.
When the pretensioner fires, the load can make the cam and pawls inside that recliner oscillate. Under a specific mix of crash pulse, seat-back position, and pretensioner timing, the oscillation can rotate the cam and unlock the recliner. In NHTSA’s words, an unlocked seat back “may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.”
There’s no warning light or message before this happens. As of October 12, 2026, Toyota had found no field reports and no U.S. warranty claims tied to the condition. It found the problem in its own sled and full-vehicle crash tests.
Toyota’s remedy and timeline
The fix depends on your van. Most vans will get updated software for the SRS (airbag) control unit, which controls the pretensioner. About 200 2022–2025 vans with the Mobility as a Service package will get two new second-row seat backs with a different recliner. Both repairs are free at Toyota dealers.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 14, 2026 | Toyota decides to recall the vans. |
| October 20, 2026 | Toyota files the recall with NHTSA and notifies dealers. |
| December 7–21, 2026 | Toyota mails owner notification letters. |
| After your letter arrives | Your dealer installs the software update or replaces the seat backs, free of charge. |
Note one word in the filing: Toyota is “developing” the software. If you call your dealer before the December letters, you may be told to wait, and that wait can matter later. Recall details can change, so check the NHTSA recall lookup before you rely on any count or date.
Does a recall make my Sienna a lemon?
Not on its own. A recall is Toyota’s promise to fix a known defect for free. California’s lemon law, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, applies when a warranty defect can’t be fixed after a reasonable number of tries. Our guide to car recalls and recall repair costs explains more. The short version: a recall can strengthen a case, because it shows the manufacturer knew about the defect and that you didn’t cause it.
When a recall problem that keeps coming back can become a lemon law claim
This defect only shows up in a crash, so most owners won’t notice a symptom. A lemon law claim can still come out of this recall in four ways.
| What happens | When it may support a claim |
|---|---|
| The recall fix doesn’t hold or creates new problems | An SRS warning light, seat belt fault, or seat back that won’t lock keeps coming back after two or more repair attempts for a defect that could cause serious injury, or four or more for another defect. |
| Your van sits at the dealer | Your van is out of service for warranty repairs for more than 30 cumulative days. Time at the dealer for recall-related repairs may count, so keep repair orders showing drop-off and pickup dates. |
| The seat already had problems | Repair orders from before the recall show a second-row seat back that wouldn’t lock, shifted, or rattled. |
| Other defects add up | The van has a longer repair history. California law looks at the whole history, not just the recall defect. |
The repair-attempt and days-out-of-service numbers come from the presumption in California’s lemon law requirements and apply within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles. For the repair-attempt presumptions, you may also need to notify Toyota directly if your warranty or owner’s manual clearly requires it. These numbers are a guideline, not a wall, and cases outside them can still qualify.
What you could recover
If your Sienna qualifies, the Song-Beverly Act gives you options. Our guide to lemon law settlement types in California covers each one.
- Buyback: Toyota repurchases the van, refunds your down payment, monthly payments, taxes, and fees, and pays off your remaining loan or lease balance, minus a mileage offset based on the miles you drove before the first repair attempt.
- Replacement: a substantially identical new vehicle in place of the lemon.
- Cash and keep: a negotiated payment for lost value and expenses while you keep the van.
You can also recover incidental costs like towing, rental cars, and repair bills, and a civil penalty of up to two times your actual damages if the manufacturer willfully fails to comply. Every result depends on the facts, and we don’t promise numbers.
For example, The Barry Law Firm recovered $75,168.90 for the owner of a 2024 Kia Carnival with repeated engine and seat assembly problems. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, and every case is different.
What to do right now if you own a 2022–2026 Sienna Hybrid
- Confirm your van is included. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov or call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 and mention recall 26TB24 or 26TA24.
- Get the fix as soon as it’s available. Don’t skip a safety recall. Book the repair when your letter arrives.
- Keep every piece of paper. Save the recall letter, repair orders, and rental receipts. Our lemon law process guide lists what to keep.
- Go back if anything recurs. Any SRS light, seat belt warning, or seat back problem after the fix needs a documented visit, with your complaint written on the repair order.
- Talk to us before you trade in or sell the van, so you don’t give up rights you didn’t know you had.
How we handle Toyota recall cases
We’ve focused only on California lemon law since 2010. Each case is matched to a Toyota lemon law attorney who has handled Toyota claims before and knows what the repair history needs to show.
- Dedicated representation. No mass settlements. If we say yes to your case, it means we believe in it.
- Clarity. Case managers update you at every stage, in plain language, by text, email, or phone.
- Care. David Barry speaks with every client. Clients rate us 4.9 stars across 459 Google reviews.
You never pay us: the manufacturer pays attorney fees in a successful claim, and we never bill clients, whatever the outcome. We’ve recovered approximately $150 million for clients over the past ten years, though every case is different. We aren’t affiliated with Toyota or NHTSA.
Frequently asked questions
Who can help with a Toyota recall lemon law claim in California?
The Barry Law Firm handles Toyota recall and repeat-repair lemon law claims across California at no cost to the client. We match your case to an attorney who knows Toyota and keep you informed at every stage. Call 424-688-9088 for a free case review.
Is my 2022–2026 Toyota Sienna Hybrid included in recall 26V690?
The recall covers 228,367 2022–2026 Sienna Hybrid 7-passenger vans built between September 16, 2021, and July 20, 2026. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov or call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 to confirm. The Barry Law Firm can also help you read your recall notice and repair history.
Does the Toyota seat recall mean my Sienna is a lemon?
No. A recall alone doesn’t make a vehicle a lemon under California law. The Barry Law Firm looks at whether a warranty defect has gone unfixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts or kept your van in the shop more than 30 days in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, though cases outside those limits can still qualify.
Not sure if you have a case? Let’s find out
If your Sienna Hybrid keeps going back to the dealer, or the recall fix leaves you with new problems, call The Barry Law Firm at 424-688-9088 or request a free case review online. We’ll give you honest answers about your options, and we handle the process, the pressure, and the paperwork so you don’t have to.
