The windscreen demister in electric Toyota, Lexus and Subaru models could fail, leading to poor driver visibility, according to the recall notices.
Electric Cars
Toyota, Lexus and Subaru have recalled nearly 3000 electric vehicles in Australia, citing a potential fault with the electrical compressor of their air-conditioning systems.
A recall notice, lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, says: "Due to a software programming issue, the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) electrical compressor may fail."
"If this occurs, the windscreen defrost function may not operate correctly and could lead to poor visibility for the driver.
"Poor visibility will potentially increase the risk of an accident, causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users."
| Date of recall notices | 10 September 2025 |
| Makes | Toyota, Lexus and Subaru |
| Models | Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ, Lexus UX300e and Subaru Solterra |
| Years | 2023-25 (bZ4X), 2023 (RZ), 2021-23 (UX300e), 2024-25 (Solterra) |
| Vehicles affected | 1583 (bZ4X), 523 (RZ), 303 (UX300e), 460 (Solterra) |
| VIN lists | Click here to download the list of affected VINs – bZ4X, RZ, UX300e |
| Contact links | Click here to contact the manufacturer – Toyota, Lexus, Subaru |
Toyota Motor Corporation Australia and Subaru Australia advise they will contact affected owners in writing to request they make an appointment at their preferred dealer to rectify their vehicle, free of charge.
The recalled vehicles will receive updated air-conditioning control unit software, and an inspection or replacement of the electric compressor where needed, Toyota, Lexus and Subaru have confirmed.
Toyota Australia has also announced it will initiate a 'customer service exercise' for the 2021 to 2023 Toyota Mirai hydrogen car for "insufficient heater durability", but unlike the bZ4X fault, it is not a recall as "no unreasonable risk to safety is presented".
"Due to insufficient heater durability, there is a possibility that the electric heater could fail when exposed to stress over time, causing heater operation to become inoperative," Toyota Australia said.
"When the vehicles are operated in certain low temperatures, the heater performance may reduce, but the defrosting performance remains operational, and no unreasonable risk to safety is presented."
The customer service exercise, which applies to 41 Mirai vehicles, will include the replacement of the electric heater at no cost to the customer.
Toyota advises the repairs will take approximately one to four hours to complete, though customers "may be required to make the vehicle available for a longer period of time", while Subaru also anticipates between one and four hours for the rectification work.
Subaru Australia can be contacted by calling 1800 226 643 or emailing [email protected].
While fewer than 3000 cars are affected in Australia, approximately 94,000 bZ4X, RZ and Solterra vehicles have been recalled in the United States due to the potential fault, three years after a separate recall for the Toyota and Subaru due to the risk of the wheels falling off.
Electric Cars Guide
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
