Recalled, UK-built Toyota that could set itself on fire
TOYOTA is recalling 6.5million cars – some of which were built in Britain – over an electric window fault that could cause fires.
Models including the Auris, which is built in Derbyshire, as well as the Yaris, Corolla, Camry and RAV4 sport could be faulty.
Investigators discovered that the electric window master switch on the driver’s side could short circuit.
This means vehicles built between 2005 and 2010 could overheat, causing parts to melt.
About 1.2million of the cars being recalled were sold in Europe, with 2.7million in North America.
It is not yet known how many Auris cars are included in the recall. Toyota currently builds the Auris and the Avensis – which is not affected by the issue – at its Burnaston plant near Derby.
The company said in an email that ‘a melting switch may produce smoking and, potentially, lead to a fire’. It is thought one customer may have suffered a burn on their hand due to the problem.
The company has also received 11 reports of cases in which the switch or part of the car door burned – seven in North America, two in Japan and two elsewhere.
Toyota said the defect was caused when grease was improperly sprayed on during the manufacturing of some of the car’s electrics. This meant debris or moisture could enter the electrics, which could lead to a short circuit.
To rectify the problem, dealers will replace an internal circuit board if the switches are not working properly. If they are operating normally, a heat-resistant grease will be applied for protection.
Toyota has been trying to regain its reputation for safety after the recall of millions of cars globally for various faults, including defective airbags and sticky gas pedals. The Japanese manufacturer recalled 12million vehicles worldwide in 2009 and 2010 owing to defects that caused them to speed out of control and fail to respond to the brake pedal. The problem cost Toyota around £1.6billion.
The company eventually determined that the problem was likely to have been caused by floor mats that could trap the accelerator. It is also embroiled in a crisis, along with other car manufacturers, over the use of faulty airbags supplied by Takata, a firm based in Tokyo.
Takata faces lawsuits and regulatory probes into accusations that it concealed the dangers.
Its defective airbags have been blamed for eight deaths and many more injuries around the world, leading to a massive car recall.
The defect, thought to be associated with a chemical propellant that helps inflate the airbags, can cause them to deploy with explosive force, sending metal shrapnel hurtling towards drivers.
Yesterday’s recall announcement by Toyota is the latest in a series of scandals which have rocked the car industry this year.
Last month, German manufacturer Volkswagen admitted around 11million diesel cars had been fitted with a ‘defeat device’ designed to cheat official emissions tests.