Issue:
This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships.
On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt.
Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers:
C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904
C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905
C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907
C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909
C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911
C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913
C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571
C014100911 PU14000902
PK5A408J05 PU14000903
Safety Risk:
Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire.
Corrective Actions:
Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.
On certain vehicles, the steering intermediate shaft splines may have been improperly hardened. If the steering wheel is held firmly on the steering lock while turning sharply at low speeds, the splines could deform and wear, causing a backlash in the steering system. The splines could also become fully stripped, resulting in a potential loss of control causing a crash resulting in injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace affected steering shafts.
On certain vehicles, the electrical water pump assembly, used to circulate coolant through the hybrid components, may fail. If this were to occur, coolant would stop circulating, illuminating various warning lights in the instrument panel of the vehicle. In certain cases, the water pump motor could short-circuit, causing the hybrid system to stop functioning and the engine to stall. A loss of propulsion, in conjunction with traffic and road conditions, and the driver's reactions, could increase the risk of a crash causing personal injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will replace the electrical water pump.
On certain vehicles, the accelerator pedal may become stuck in the wide open position due to an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death. Correction: Dealers will reconfigure the shape of the accelerator pedal. Certain models will also have the shape of the floor underneath the accelerator pedal modified and/or a brake override system installed.
On certain vehicles, the connection at the intermediate shaft or the intermediate extension shaft may become loose or the intermediate shaft sleeve may develop a crack under certain operating conditions. The connection may separate or the shaft sleeve may fracture, which could result in the loss of steering control and an increased risk of a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the steering intermediate shaft. In addition, the dealer will inspect the sliding yoke and the intermediate extension shaft and replace them if necessary.
On certain vehicles equipped with a light emitting diode (LED) stop lamp, there is a possibility that silicon oxide may be generated on the surface of the contact point inside the stop lamp switch. Consequently, current may not flow at the contact, causing the stop lamp to become inoperative. The loss of stop lamps would result in failure to warn following drivers that the vehicle is braking and/or is stopped, which could lead to a vehicle crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch.
Subscribe for the latest car reviews, listings, products and more right in your inbox.
By clicking 'Subscribe', I agree to receive communications from AutoTrader. I can unsubscribe at anytime. I also agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.