Toyota has issued a recall affecting more than 73,000 hybrid vehicles after safety regulators warned they are "too quiet" to alert pedestrians, increasing the risk of accidents.
Toyota recalls 73,000 hybrid vehicles
The recall, announced by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), applies to some 2023 to 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid models.
According to regulators, the fault affects the pedestrian warning system, which should produce sound at low speeds - especially when reversing - to signal that the car is in motion.
But in some of the affected cars, the warning sound can be barely audible or not work at all, regulators warned.
The NHTSA added: "The vehicles may fail to make sufficient pedestrian warning sounds when in reverse.
"As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, 'Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles'".
Hybrid and electric cars may help cut noise pollution, but their hushed engines have fuelled ongoing safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists and visually impaired people who depend on sound to detect oncoming traffic.
Toyota has not reported any injuries linked to the issue, and the recall is being carried out as a precautionary safety measure.
Affected owners will be notified directly, with letters expected to be sent out by May 30, 2026.