Toyota is recalling 8,521 electric C-HR vehicles because a software glitch can cause the vehicle to suddenly lose power while driving.
What to know about the Toyota C-HR EV recall
The all-electric C-HR is one of three electric SUVs Toyota now sells in North America, alongside the updated bZ and bZ Woodland.
It went on sale earlier this year, starting at about $37,000, as a smaller, sportier alternative to the bZ, Toyota’s first electric SUV.
While the new C-HR EV is off to a promising start, the electric crossover is already facing its first recall.
On September 2, Toyota issued a safety recall involving certain model-year 2026 C-HR vehicles in North America. The company initially said about 10,000 C-HR models are involved.
In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Wednesday, Toyota confirmed it is recalling 8,521 C-HR vehicles.
The issue stems from a software programming error with the electric vehicle control unit (ECU). While it’s supposed to limit the battery’s charge level, the software glitch can cause it to overcharge under certain conditions. For example, if the battery is fully or nearly fully charged and the driver continues using the regenerative braking system.
When this happens, warning lights and a buzzer will go off, and the electric drive system can shut down, causing the vehicle to lose power while driving.
After an internal investigation, Toyota found the issue was caused by incorrect software that disrupted the charging limitation function, allowing the battery to overcharge while driving.
The C-HR vehicles impacted in the recall were produced between February 6, 2026, and July 10, 2026. While it didn’t provide further details, Toyota said not all C-HR vehicles were sold in the US.
While it’s still unclear, reports suggest the recall could extend to overseas models. The electric Toyota C-HR+ sold in Europe, the UK, and other markets is essentially the same as the C-HR EV sold in North America without the “+” sign.
Toyota did state in the NHTSA report that “although the involved vehicles are within the above production period range, not all vehicles in this range were sold in the US.”
Owners of affected vehicles can take them to a Toyota dealership, where technicians will update the battery ECU (electronic control unit) software, free of charge.
Toyota plans to send owner notification letters on October 18, 2026. In the meantime, owners of affected vehicles can contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s recall number is 26TA17.
Owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or visit NHTSA.gov for more information.
Check back for updates. Only the 2026 C-HR model year is affected. The 2027 Toyota C-HR is also on sale now.
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