Toyota Recalls 2026 Electric Crossovers Over Drive System ShutdownAutoGuide.comAutoGuide.com News StaffThu, September 10, 2026 at 4:50 PM UTCAdd us on GooglePhoto: Kyle PatrickPhoto: Kyle PatrickToyota Motor is issuing a safety recall covering 8,521 model-year 2026 C-HR battery electric vehicles (BEVs) due to a software error that can cause the vehicle's electric drive system to suddenly shut down while driving.Software Glitch Triggers Battery Overcharge ProtectionAccording to recall documentation submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue stems from a software programming error within the vehicle's Battery Electric Vehicle Electronic Control Unit (BEV ECU).AdvertisementAdvertisementUnder certain driving scenarios-particularly when the traction battery is already operating at a high state of charge and regenerative braking continues to feed power back into the pack-the control software can allow the battery to become overcharged.To protect electrical components from thermal or voltage damage, the vehicle's safety guardrails automatically shut down the electric drive system. A sudden loss of drive power while operating on public roads increases the risk of a crash.2026 Toyota C-HR First Drive Review: The Coupe-Over Goes Mainstream2026 Toyota C-HR First Drive Review: The Coupe-Over Goes MainstreamOJAI, CA-You know when you see a friend after a spell and they've completely changed their entire way of life? That's the 2026 Toyota C-HR. The original C-HR had a dramatic look but, at least on our shores, lacked the goods to back them up. No hybrid, no all-wheel drive; it was too small and underpowered for the sub-compact SUV scene and always felt at odds with the Toyota lineup (as it was originally planned to be part of Scion).Now the C-HR is reborn for North America. It has nods to the original design like the hidden rear door handles but looks thoroughly modern with clear Toyota DNA. It's also been working on its health, skipping right over hybrid power and adopting a purely electric powertrain. The result is big gains: C-HR 2.0 has over double the power of the model that waved goodbye back in 2022.Time to catch up, or was this friendship best left in the past? Toyota invited me to spend a day threading the C-HR through the canyons outside of Ojai to find out.Kyle PatrickKyle PatrickPhoto: Kyle PatrickPhoto: Kyle PatrickFree Dealership Software UpdateTo resolve the defect, authorized Toyota dealership service departments will reflash and update the BEV ECU software free of charge. Because the vehicle architecture cannot accept over-the-air (OTA) updates for this specific control module, owners will need to schedule a service visit.AdvertisementAdvertisementToyota expects to begin mailing official owner notification letters on October 18, 2026.Owners seeking additional information can contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, referencing internal recall campaign number 26TA17. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) associated with the safety recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov under campaign number 26V570000.This article was written using AI and was then edited and optimized by our editorial team.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletterhere.