The Toyota Kluger recall for faulty second-row seats has just grown by more than 12,000 vehicles. Toyota Australia has expanded the campaign so it now covers approximately 46,467 Klugers built between 31 March 2021 and 10 June 2025.
If you own a current-generation Toyota Kluger, or you are about to buy a used one, this is the recall to check before you do anything else.
Your Kluger may now be on the list even if it missed the first recall
When this recall first landed in March 2026, it covered 34,377 Klugers built up to 10 November 2023. Owners of later builds were told nothing, because their cars were outside the range.
That has changed. Toyota has pushed the production window out to 10 June 2025, which pulls in roughly two more years of the family favourite.
Toyota says the newer builds were left out originally because its investigations had not yet confirmed the condition in Klugers made from October 2023 to June 2025. In plain terms, if you checked your VIN in March and were cleared, check again now.
What actually goes wrong with the second-row seat
The middle row of the Kluger uses recliner assemblies so passengers can adjust the seatback angle and then lock it in place. According to Toyota, a supplier design change did not properly account for the balance between the locking spring and the return spring.
The result is that the recliner teeth may not fully engage after the seatback is adjusted. The seatback can then sit in what looks like a normal position without actually being locked.
That matters most in a crash. Toyota says a seatback that has not locked may fail to properly restrain the occupant, which raises the risk of injury in a collision at higher speeds.
There is no warning light, so do not wait for a symptom
Toyota has confirmed there are no symptoms or warnings before the problem can occur. Nothing on the dash will tell you the seat is unlocked, and it may feel perfectly normal from the driver's seat.
For a family that uses the second row every day for kids, grandparents or carpool runs, that is the part worth taking seriously. The fix is quick, so there is little reason to put it off.
What Toyota will do and how long it takes
Toyota dealers will replace the seatback return springs in the recliner assembly free of charge. The job is expected to take about one hour.
Depending on how busy the workshop is, the dealer may ask you to leave the car for longer than that. Ask for a firm drop-off and pick-up time when you book so you are not left without the family car for a full day by default.
If you have child seats fitted in the second row, Toyota says they need to be removed before you take the car to the dealer. Plan for that before the morning of the booking.
Can you keep driving your Kluger?
Yes. Toyota says owners can continue to drive their vehicle while they wait for the repair.
Toyota Australia will contact affected owners directly, so make sure your contact details are current with Toyota. You can also call your preferred Toyota dealer or the Toyota Recall Campaign Helpline on 1800 987 366 and quote your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to confirm whether your car is included.
Buying a used Kluger? Check two seat recalls, not one
The 2021 to 2025 Kluger is a popular used family SUV, and these cars are now changing hands through dealers and private sales. Every one built inside the recall window should be checked before money changes hands.
There is a second, separate seat recall to know about too. In October 2024, Toyota recalled approximately 36,789 Kluger and Kluger Hybrid vehicles built between 4 March 2021 and 19 January 2024 over a second-row seat frame mid-bar, with dealers fitting a plug to the bar free of charge.
That means a Kluger from this era could be caught by both campaigns. Ask the seller for written proof that each recall has been completed, or ask a Toyota dealer to run the VIN before you sign.
How recalls change your negotiating position
A recall is not a reason to walk away from a good Kluger. The repair is free and fast, and a car with completed recall work is arguably a better buy than one with open campaigns.
What it does give you is leverage. A seller who cannot show recall completion is handing you a legitimate reason to push on price, or to make the sale conditional on the work being done first.
Dealers selling used stock should have already checked open recalls. If a yard tells you it is "the new owner's problem", treat that as a red flag about how the rest of the car has been prepared.
Family SUV recalls are becoming a pattern
The Kluger is not alone. Rivals have had their own seat-related headaches, including the Hyundai Palisade recall over its electric seat folding defect, which shows how much scrutiny seven-seat family cars are now under.
If you are cross-shopping a Kluger against a Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento or Mazda CX-90, run the recall check on whichever car you end up choosing. It takes minutes and it is the cheapest due diligence you will ever do.
How can Carseekers help?
If this recall has you rethinking your next family SUV, Carseekers can help you buy a new or used Kluger, or one of its rivals, without overpaying. Tell us the car you want and dealers compete for your business, so you see real prices instead of opening offers.
Before you sign, make sure the recall paperwork is part of the deal. A good price on a car with open campaigns is only half a good deal.
If you are weighing up how to pay for a family SUV, Loanseekers compares 70+ lenders so you can avoid overpaying on dealer finance in the same way you avoid overpaying on the car.
The finer details
Your questions answered.
Which Toyota Klugers are included in the expanded seat recall?
The expanded recall covers approximately 46,467 Klugers built between 31 March 2021 and 10 June 2025 in Australia. Not every car inside the VIN ranges was sold here, so confirm your own car with a Toyota dealer or the recall helpline using your 17-digit VIN.
My Kluger was cleared in the March 2026 recall. Do I need to check again?
Yes. The original March 2026 recall only covered Klugers built up to 10 November 2023. The expansion adds cars built up to 10 June 2025, so a Kluger that was outside the first range may now be included.
What is wrong with the Kluger's second-row seats?
The recliner teeth in the second-row seat may not fully engage after the seatback is adjusted, so the seatback may not stay locked. Toyota says an unlocked seatback may fail to properly restrain occupants and increases the risk of injury in a higher-speed collision. There are no warning signs before it happens.
How long does the Toyota Kluger seat recall repair take and does it cost anything?
Toyota dealers replace the seatback return springs in the recliner assembly free of charge, and the job takes about one hour. Your dealer may need the car for longer depending on its workshop schedule, so ask for a firm pick-up time when you book.
Should I still buy a used Toyota Kluger with an open recall?
A Kluger with an open recall can still be a good buy because the fix is free and quick. Ask for written proof the work is done, or make the sale conditional on it. Kluger and Kluger Hybrid models built between March 2021 and January 2024 were also part of a separate October 2024 seat frame recall, so check both.
Do I need to remove child seats before the Kluger recall repair?
Yes. Toyota says child seats fitted to the second row must be removed before you take the car to the dealer for the repair. Do it the night before so the booking is not delayed.
