Toyota recall, diesel tech crunch

Toyota is recalling about 655,000 Camry vehicles worldwide over a software fault that can shut off safety indicators at startup, including turn signals, hazard lights, and certain warning buzzers. In the U.S., the bulk is roughly 508,000 2025 to 2026 Camry Hybrids. The problem sits in the software running the 7-inch instrument cluster, and an error in the startup sequence can randomly cause the display to go blank.

Toyota first got reports of the fault back in July 2024, but early attempts to reproduce it on recovered parts failed. It was not until testing on a full vehicle this summer that the company confirmed the issue and its effect on signals, hazards, and buzzers. Dealers will fix it with a free software update.

Why it matters: This may signal how much modern recall work is shifting from mechanical parts to software. When the fix is a dealer flash rather than a replaced component, most of that specific job stays inside the dealer network. For some shops, it is worth considering how many of the cars you see carry open software-based recalls, since owners often do not realize a blank-screen glitch is a safety recall rather than a quirk.

The shortage of qualified diesel technicians is measurable and already lengthening how long fleets wait to get equipment back. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roughly 28,000 diesel tech openings a year through the late 2020s, while training programs turn out far fewer. Industry groups put the current shortfall somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 techs, and the gap is widening as older master-level techs retire and take hard-won diagnostic knowledge with them.

The pain is not spread evenly. General diesel work can be handled by mid-level techs, but fuel injection and turbo work is a different world, requiring years of hands-on experience with high-pressure systems and specialized test equipment. That is why specialist shops feel the squeeze most. When only two or three techs at a shop can do common-rail injector work, appointment slots fill up, and a job that used to take two days can now stretch to a week.

Why it matters: This could reinforce an advantage for shops that build specialist relationships and lean on preventive maintenance before something breaks. As throughput tightens, rushed diagnosis tends to miss root causes, which brings the same truck back weeks later. For some shops, it is worth weighing whether keeping critical parts in stock and nurturing supplier ties is worth it to avoid getting stuck at the back of a long queue.

Driven Brands, the parent of Take 5, Maaco, and several collision brands, described a split economy in its latest quarter, with lower-income households under real pressure and more discretionary brands like Maaco seeing softer demand. Take 5 was the bright spot, posting its 24th straight quarter of same-store sales growth, helped by a fast, simple oil-change model and a growing mix of non-oil-change services. The company plans to keep opening 150 or more Take 5 units a year toward a long-term goal of 2,500 locations.

The company also said its collision segment ran about 200 basis points ahead of a broader industry still under pressure, which it credited to market share gains. On costs, leadership expects to keep passing through modest price increases, arguing its services hold up because customers cannot easily put them off.

Why it matters: This may signal a widening split in who is spending and on what. When a big operator sees value-priced quick service growing while discretionary repair softens, it points to customers protecting essential work and delaying the rest. For some shops, it is worth considering how your own customer mix maps onto that divide, and whether leaning into fast, essential services helps you weather a stretch of cautious spending.

🛢️ Franchise Equity Partners and Velocity Auto Care reached 50 Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations, with plans to keep expanding across Texas.

📞 A CallRevu mid-year report found dealerships are answering more calls and booking more appointments, and points to hold management and callback discipline as the next edge.

🔌 Omega Holdings acquired the aftermarket electronics business of Wells Vehicle Electronics, expanding its reach in sensors and vehicle electronics.

🔧 The Advance Auto Parts Foundation is giving $330,000 to three Florida technical colleges to fund certifications, tools, and hands-on training for future automotive technicians.