The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has warned drivers across eastern and southern Africa about a safety recall on certain Toyota Land Cruiser LC 300 models.

The commission published the alert on March 25, 2026.

The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission (the “Commission”) became aware through a Press Statement posted on the Facebook page of the National Consumer Commission (NCC) of South Africa regarding a recall of certain batches of Toyota Land Cruiser L300.

The NCC’s recall applies to 1,846 models sold by Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) between 8 January 2025 and 16 January 2026.

Toyota reported an error in the programming of the Transmission Electronic Control Unit, known as the T-ECU. This unit controls the 10-speed automatic transmission that uses linear solenoids to change gears.

In some cases the T-ECU and the engine ECU fail to detect or report a faulty solenoid.

“According to Toyota, if a solenoid fails under certain driving conditions, the T-ECU and engine ECU may not detect or report the failure, resulting in the transmission over-revving in certain gears,” the Commission stated.

“This, in turn, could damage the transmission and result in the loss of power while driving at higher speeds.”

The notice adds that further damage to the transmission housing may cause fluid to leak.

“If certain damage occurs to the transmission housing, there is also the possibility for transmission fluid to leak from the housing,” the National Consumer Commission noted.

“This could increase the risk of a crash or fire if an ignition source is present.”

Free vehicle software update

Owners of affected vehicles must take them to the nearest authorised Toyota dealership for reprogramming of the transmission ECU. The fix is free and takes little time. The Commission points out that Toyota Land Cruiser 300 series vehicles reach several COMESA member states through imports.

It therefore urges people in the region to check whether their vehicle falls within the recall range. Drivers should contact a Toyota dealer without delay if they own one of the affected models.

“Consumers who are driving the affected series [should] cross-check and confirm whether their vehicles are among the recalled and follow the guidelines to get to the nearest dealership for redress,” the Commission advised.

The warning covers the entire Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. It lists all 21 member countries, from Burundi and Kenya to South Africa and Zimbabwe. The Commission acts under Regulation 66 of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations 2025.

It continues to work with Toyota and national authorities to make sure owners receive proper information and free repairs.

This recall highlights the importance of quick action on safety issues in vehicles that cross borders in the region. Owners who ignore the notice risk transmission failure at speed, which can lead to serious accidents.