Toyota Australia has issued a recall for 13,390 HiLux utes after discovering an electric power steering wire harness can be incorrectly assembled during factory accessory fitment, with the potential to cause a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving.

Which HiLux utes are affected

The recall covers GUN226R, GUN227R and GUN236R model codes across the 2025 and 2026 model years. That is the 2.8 litre four cylinder turbo diesel range in 4x2 and 4x4 form. Vehicles built between 28 August 2025 and 24 February 2026 sit inside the window. If your HiLux rolled off the production line in that period, it qualifies for a free inspection.

The issue is not the truck itself. It is the accessory fitment. Trucks specced with a Toyota Genuine bull bar or nudge bar paired with a light bar at the factory or at dealer delivery are the ones flagged. During that installation, the electric power steering wire harness ground connection may have been reattached incorrectly. Over time, poor electrical contact can fail outright, and the result is a sudden loss of power steering assist. The vehicle remains steerable, but with much higher effort, which is a real problem at low speed or when manoeuvring with a load on the back.

How big a deal is this

For context, the HiLux is one of Australia's three best selling vehicles. April VFACTS data put it third on 2,835 sales for the month behind the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Ranger. The recall pool represents roughly five months of HiLux production. So if you have a recent ute with a factory bull bar or nudge bar setup, the odds you are inside the recall are not trivial.

Product Safety Australia has the notice listed under reference REC-006578. Toyota will write to affected owners and ask them to book an inspection at a dealer. The fix is free, and dealers will simply correct the harness routing where required.

Cartell Assessment

A bull bar wiring issue does not sound dramatic. Suddenly losing steering assist while reversing a 2.2 tonne ute with a trailer attached is a different conversation. We rate Toyota's response: clear notice, broad recall window, free fix, no quibbling. Where Toyota gets less credit is that this is an accessory fitment process error. If a brand sells factory bull bars and badges them as Toyota Genuine, the wiring should not need this kind of bandaid in the first year. The Ford Ranger had a similar accessory-loom flag in 2024 and it took six months to fully resolve. Don't put this one off.

AU Outlook

If you bought your HiLux new between September 2025 and March 2026, check your VIN against the recall page at vehiclerecalls.gov.au today. The longer term question is whether Toyota tightens its accessory fitment process before MY27 trucks ship. Watch for a quiet technical service bulletin in the next quarter.