Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 1.5 million vehicles in the U.S. due to an ongoing issue with a fuel pump that causes the part to fail.
The Japanese automaker’s latest move grows the action to 5.8 million vehicles globally to deal with the defective part. The affected vehicles fuel pump may stop operating, potentially causing the vehicle to stall and make it unable to restart.
If this happens while driving, especially at high speeds, the risks of a crash rise. The plans call for dealers to replace the fuel pump with an improved pump at no cost to owners. Toyota hasn’t revealed if there have been any injuries or fatalities stemming from the problem.
(Toyota expands fuel pump recall by 1.2 million vehicles.)
It affects a variety of Toyota and Lexus models built between July 2017 through September. The company began issuing recalls for the problem in January with 700,000 vehicles. It followed that up with another 1.2 million in March.
The additions announced cover the 2019 and 2020 RAV4, the top-selling vehicle in the U.S. that isn’t a pickup truck. Also included are the 2013 to 2015 Lexus LS 460 and GS 350; the 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser and Lexus IS-F; the 2014 and 2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser; the 2014 and 2015 Lexus GX 460, IS 350, LX 570; the 2015 Lexus NX 200t and RC 350; and the 2017 Lexus IS 200t, RC 200t and GS 200t.
Additional vehicles in the action include the 2017 to 2019 Toyota Highlander and Lexus GS 350; the 2017 through 2020 Toyota Sienna and Lexus RX 350; the 2018 and 2019 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Lexus GS 300, GX 460, IS 300, IS 350, LS 500h, LX 570, NX 300, RC 300, RC 350; the 2018 through 2020 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and Lexus ES 350, LC 500, LC 500h, LS 500, RX 350L; and the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and Lexus UX 200.
(A bad year gone good, says Toyota’s U.S. sales chief Bob Carter.)
The recall is the second large one for Toyota this year. In January, Toyota agreed to fix 3.4 million vehicles around the world with ZF airbags that may not inflate due to the problem. The problem is part of a larger issue that could result in a recall of 12.3 million vehicles from six automakers in the U.S. The problems may be responsible for eight deaths in the U.S.
That recall centered on a faulty computer that may not have adequate protection against electrical noise that can happen in crashes. The problem could cause incomplete opening of the air bags, or they may not open at all. Devices that prepare seat belts for a collision also may not work.
In most cases Toyota dealers will install a noise filter between the air bag control computer and a wiring harness. But in some vehicles, dealers will inspect the computer to determine if it needs the filter. Owners will be notified by mid-March.
(Toyota betting all-wheel drive can save its passenger car line-up.)
The recall covers certain 2011-2019 Corollas, the 2011 to 2013 Matrix, the 2012 through 2018 Avalon and the 2013 to 2018 Avalon Hybrid in the U.S.