NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 26 – The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a consumer alert warning motorists across Eastern and Southern Africa over safety risks linked to certain batches of the Toyota Land Cruiser LC300, following a recall initiated in South Africa.
The recall, first announced by the National Consumer Commission, affects 1,846 units supplied by Toyota South Africa Motors between January 2025 and January 2026.
According to the regulator, the recall stems from a programming fault in the Transmission Electronic Control Unit (T-ECU), which may prevent the system from detecting transmission-related failures.
This defect could result in over-revving, potential transmission damage and loss of power, particularly at high speeds.
“If certain damage occurs to the transmission housing, there is also the possibility for transmission fluid to leak from the housing,” noted the NCC.
“This could increase the risk of a crash or fire if an ignition source is present.”
The COMESA watchdog said the affected models may already be circulating within its member states through imports, raising concerns over consumer safety in the regional automotive market.
Under Regulation 66 of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations 2025, the Commission cautioned buyers against purchasing the affected units and urged current owners to verify whether their vehicles fall under the recall.
Motorists have been advised to present affected vehicles to authorized Toyota dealerships for reprogramming of the transmission control system at no cost.
The Commission added that it is working closely with Toyota and member states to ensure consumers are notified and receive appropriate redress, highlighting the growing importance of coordinated cross-border consumer protection frameworks as regional trade deepens.
The development underscores the risks associated with increased vehicle imports within the bloc, even as policymakers push for deeper market integration and consumer protection harmonization.
