The gearbox “went rogue”: Japanese reliability hit hard by a serious defect.
Toyota has announced a major recall of the Land Cruiser 300, affecting 11,020 vehicles from the 2025–2026 model years in Australia. It’s not yet clear whether U.S. models are impacted. The issue stems from a faulty linear solenoid in the 10-speed automatic transmission.
Under certain conditions, the ECT-ECU module may fail to report an error to the engine ECU, causing the engine to over-rev in specific gears. This creates a risk of sudden loss of power at high speeds, potential transmission damage, and fluid leaks that could ignite if they contact the exhaust system.
Toyota stresses that there are no visual warnings when the issue occurs. Owners are advised to visit a dealer as soon as possible. The fix involves reprogramming the ECT-ECU, a procedure that takes about 30 minutes and is provided free of charge.
The Land Cruiser has long been considered a benchmark of reliability in the large SUV segment, making a transmission-related recall particularly notable. Unlike common issues seen in competitors — such as hydraulic block failures or overheating during towing — the LC300 problem stems from the interaction logic between two electronic modules. Essentially, it’s a software mismatch rather than a structural defect in the transmission itself.
Interestingly, recent major recalls for rivals like the Nissan Patrol Y62 and Chevrolet Tahoe involved mechanical components such as transmission pumps or cooling lines. Toyota’s recall highlights how modern SUVs are increasingly dependent on the synchronized operation of digital control systems.