Toyota is recalling certain 2026 Lexus RX, Lexus TX and Toyota Grand Highlander vehicles, hybrids included, because front steering knuckles can crack and break. Dealers will inspect the parts and replace them as necessary at no charge to the owner, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 2, according to the federal safety agency’s record of campaign 26V598.
Seven model names on one recall
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration record for campaign 26V598000 lists 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid and TX500 Hybrid vehicles, plus the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrid. The filer is Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, which carries the campaign under its own numbers 26TA19 and 26LA09. NHTSA logged the report on Sept. 17.
The population is small. The trade site autoevolution, put the total at 617 vehicles: 196 RX 350, 127 Grand Highlander Hybrid, 126 Grand Highlander, 83 RX 350h, 61 TX 350, 23 TX 500h and one RX 500h. The federal record itself does not give a unit count, so 617 stands as the trade report’s figure, not NHTSA’s.
What the record says can happen, and the price of the fix
NHTSA describes a manufacturing error that lets the front steering knuckles crack and break. The consequence is spelled out in one sentence: “A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.” The record does not tell owners to stop driving; its park-it and park-outside flags are both false.
The remedy reads: “Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge.” For a household that just bought a late-model luxury or three-row SUV, the practical significance is the invoice: a steering component replaced under a recall appears on no bill. Toyota’s recall lookup page uses the same language, saying the specified inspection or repair “will be performed at no charge to the vehicle owner.”
A June production batch that skipped a furnace step
According to autoevolution’s account, the cause traces to a single batch of forged aluminum steering knuckles made in June 2026 that skipped the aging furnace, a heat-treatment step that gives the metal its strength. A routine tensile-strength test caught the below-spec parts, the report says, and Toyota Motor North America had received no field technical reports or warranty claims tied to the condition at the time of writing. The supplier is identified as Bharat Forge Aluminum USA of Sanford, North Carolina.
Dealers are to use a borescope to read the dimpled alphanumeric codes on the knuckles and identify the affected batch, replacing the affected knuckles with parts numbered 43201-0E010 and 43202-0E010, according to the same report. The inspection step is consistent with the remedy’s “as necessary” wording, since the recall is tied to a June production batch rather than every vehicle built.
Nov. 2 letters, and checking a VIN before they arrive
NHTSA states that owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 2, 2026, and autoevolution reports a notification window of Nov. 2 through Nov. 16. Owners do not have to wait for a letter. The agency’s recalls page tells owners to look on the lower left of the windshield for the 17-character vehicle identification number, which also appears on registration and insurance cards, which is the number recall lookups ask for.
Toyota’s lookup accepts a 17-digit VIN or a license plate and state. Toyota customer service is 1-800-331-4331, and Lexus support is 1-800-255-3987. NHTSA’s hotline is 888-327-4236, with a TTY line at 888-275-9171.
Other recalls on the same 2026 Lexus RX
A lookup by VIN returns every open campaign, and the NHTSA data for the 2026 Lexus RX shows two earlier ones. Campaign 25V744000, reported Oct. 30, 2025, involves a software error that can freeze the rearview camera or leave it blank when the vehicle is in reverse, and dealers will update the parking assist software at no cost. Campaign 26V162000, reported March 18, 2026, covers a rearview camera image that may not display in reverse, with dealers to update the software or replace the camera as necessary. An RX owner checking for one recall may therefore find all three on the same VIN.
The federal rule behind the zero-dollar repair
NHTSA’s recalls page states that manufacturers must “offer a proper remedy to the owner” at no cost and tells owners to “contact your local dealership to fix the recalled part for free.” The Toyota lookup page carries the equivalent promise for these vehicles, and NHTSA’s hotline, 888-327-4236, is the number the agency lists for questions about a recall. Owners who see a steering problem can also file a complaint with NHTSA, which says it will “carefully review” every safety problem submitted, including one about a vehicle, tire, car seat or equipment. The agency’s mailing address is 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. 20590.
Money that sits in settlement and state records
Older households often have money waiting in places they rarely check: settlement funds, uncashed refund checks and state unclaimed-property accounts. Keeping track of where each claim stands is the problem the guide is written for.
The Settlement & Refund Recovery System includes a 5-tab Excel tracker pre-filled with all 51 state unclaimed-property offices and a claim log and payment tracker.
See the state offices list and claim log in The Settlement & Refund Recovery System.
This article was produced with AI assistance and checked against the primary sources linked above.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
