Driver's side power window master switch is the culprit in almost 7.5 million Toyota’s to be recalled worldwide.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - Oct. 10, 2012
This is not going to be cheap.
Toyota this morning announced that it will conduct a safety recall involving approximately 2.5 million vehicles in the US and 7.43 million vehicles worldwide to inspect and apply special fluorine grease to the driver’s side Power Window Master Switch (PWMS).
This is the largest safety-related recall the maker has announced since it began a series of recalls related to the unintended acceleration services in late 2009.
It's the biggest single recall since Ford pulled back 7.9 million vehicles in 1996 because of the Explorer roll-over risk.
The culprit
The driver’s side PWMS may experience a “notchy” or sticky feel during operation. If commercially available lubricants are applied to the switch in an attempt to address the “notchy” or sticky feel, melting of the switch assembly or smoke could occur and lead to a fire under some circumstances.
The “notchy” or sticky feel may be caused by an uneven application of the grease during the switch assembly process at the supplier. If the grease is not applied evenly, frequent use of the switch and normal operation may cause the grease to become carbonized and may eventually result in the deterioration of its lubricating properties.
The recall remedy will involve an inspection, switch disassembly, and application of special fluorine grease. The switch inspection and repair will be performed at no charge to the vehicle owner.
Owners of vehicles covered by this safety recall will receive an owner notification letter via first class mail starting in late October 2012. The repair will take approximately one hour depending on the dealer’s work schedule.
In the US, the vehicles involved include:
- 2007 to 2008 Yaris (approx. 110,300)
- 2007 to 2009 RAV4 (approx. 336,400)
- 2007 to 2009 Tundra (approx. 337,100)
- 2007 to 2009 Camry (approx. 938,100)
- 2007 to 2009 Camry Hybrid (approx. 116,800)
- 2008 to 2009 Scion xD (approx. 34,400)
- 2008 to 2009 Scion xA (approx. 77,500)
- 2008 to 2009 Sequoia (approx. 38,500)
- 2008 Highlander (approx. 135,400)
- 2008 Highlander Hybrid (approx. 23,200)
- 2009 Corolla (approx. 270,900)
- 2009 Matrix (approx. 53,800)
In Canada, it is nearly the same list with few models being named.
- 2007 to 2008 Yaris (approx. 46,701)
- 2007 to 2009 RAV4 (approx. 36,328)
- 2007 to 2009 Tundra (approx. 21,156)
- 2007 to 2009 Camry (approx. 46,853)
- 2007 to 2009 Camry Hybrid (approx. 12,894)
- 2008 to 2009 Sequoia (approx. 963)
- 2008 Highlander (approx. 8,283)
- 2008 Highlander Hybrid (approx. 1,420)
- 2009 Corolla (approx. 40,646)
- 2009 Matrix (approx. 24,215)
In the UK, a slightly different list but the same theme. A massive number of vehicles.
This morning Toyota Great Britain announced a recall on RAV4, Yaris and Auris models. The recall affects 138,000 vehicles in the UK and will be carried out in accordance with the VOSA Code of Practice.
Certain RAV4, Auris, Yaris and Corolla models built between September 2006 and December 2008 have the same issue.
Regarding an actual fire from the faulty switch, there has been only one reported case in the UK and no reported accidents related to this problem.
Across all of Europe, 1.39 million vehicles are subject to the new recall.
In Australia, approximately 298,000 vehicles built between 2006 and 2010 are involved in the recall including the following:
- Aurion
- Auris
- Camry
- Corolla
- Kluga
- RAV4
- Yaris
The recall is also being announced in China, other parts of Asia and the Mideast.
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