Toyota to Recall 235,000 Vehicles Over Stalling Problem, Toyota will recall about 235,000 vehicles in the United States, including about 133,000 Lexus and Toyota hybrids, for a loss of power or stalling, a condition similar to that which led to a hybrid recall in 2011. In a news release early Wednesday, Toyota said it was recalling almost 77,000 Highlander Hybrids from the 2006-10 model years and 53,000 Lexus RX 400h hybrids from 2006-8.
In a separate action, the automaker said it would also recall nearly 102,000 Lexus IS 350, IS 350C and GS 350 vehicles from the 2006-11 model years in the United States. Toyota said the vehicles could stop while being driven because the bolts holding the variable-valve timing control device might loosen.
Toyota says the new hybrid recall is necessary because transistors in the hybrid system could be damaged by heat “due to variations in characteristics of the transistors’ parallel circuits.” The condition could cause the vehicle to lose power, although a “limp-home mode” could make it possible for motorists to exit the road. But the problem could also cause the vehicle to lose power completely.
Heat affecting the transistors was also the cause of the 2011 recall, according to the automaker’s report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That recall affected 82,000 Toyota Highlander hybrids and Lexus 400h hybrids from 2006-7.
Toyota sees the new recalls as different because the 2011 recall involved a soldering defect, while the new recalls involves heat damage because of the variations in the parallel circuits, Cindy Knight, a Toyota spokeswoman, wrote in an e-mail. Ms. Knight also said that Toyota was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the two new recalls.
In a recall report it sent to N.H.T.S.A. on Wednesday, Toyota said heat could cause “solder to degrade and eventually cause heat damage.”
Since 2010, Toyota has paid four civil fines to the safety agency to settle allegations that the automaker delayed recalling vehicles. The automaker has never admitted any wrongdoing.
Toyota described the two recalls as voluntary, but once a manufacturer is aware of a safety problem it must, within five business days, inform the agency of its plan for a recall or face civil penalties.
