Lexus Recalls Thousands of Vehicles Due to Potential Fuel Pump Failure

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is initiating a safety recall affecting approximately 9,139 Lexus vehicles due to a potential issue with the fuel pump assembly. The defect could lead to engine stalls, increasing the risk of a crash, according to a report submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The recall specifically impacts certain model years of the Lexus IS, RC, and GS. The affected vehicles are equipped with a fuel pump assembly that contains an impeller made from a specific resin material. Under certain conditions, such as exposure to high fuel temperatures and a high concentration of aromatic fuel components, this impeller material may swell. This swelling can cause the impeller to interfere with surrounding components, potentially leading to the fuel pump becoming inoperative.

An inoperative fuel pump can result in various warning lights illuminating, prevent the vehicle from starting, or cause the engine to stall. The most significant risk arises if a stall occurs while the vehicle is in operation at higher speeds, as this could lead to a crash. The manufacturer has stated that the exact percentage of vehicles that will experience this defect is unknown, but has provided an estimate of 1% for reporting purposes.

The vehicles involved in this recall include: 2022 Lexus IS models manufactured between May 17, 2021, and February 15, 2022. Approximately 856 of these vehicles are potentially affected. 2015-2022 Lexus RC models manufactured between June 10, 2014, and February 11, 2022. This represents approximately 5,879 potentially affected vehicles. 2016-2020 Lexus GS models manufactured between July 14, 2015, and July 29, 2020. An estimated 2,404 of these vehicles are involved.

It is important to note that not all vehicles produced within these date ranges were necessarily sold in the U.S. Furthermore, the issue is specific to fuel pump assemblies supplied by TI Automotive, which use the particular impeller material in question. Other Toyota and Lexus vehicles are not equipped with this specific fuel pump assembly.

To address this safety concern, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing will notify owners of the affected vehicles. Owners will be instructed to bring their Lexus vehicles to a dealership where the fuel pump assembly will be replaced with an improved part, free of charge.

Notifications to distributors and dealers were scheduled to be sent out on April 8, 2026. Owners of the affected vehicles can expect to receive notification letters between May 25, 2026, and June 8, 2026. The manufacturer has a general reimbursement plan on file for any owner expenses related to this recall. Owners will be able to check if their vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is included in the recall.

In the interim, the manufacturer advises that if a vehicle stall occurs, there is an increased risk of a crash. While specific instructions regarding parking outside are not detailed in the report, owners should be aware of the potential for a vehicle stall.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

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