Category Archives: Toyota

News about Toyota automobile manufacturer. News about Toyota recalls, technical service bulletins (TSB), and problems regarding Toyota vehicles.

2020 Toyota Corolla Backup Lights Stop Working

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2020 Corolla vehicles because of an electrical problem that could cause the backup lights to fail.

The vehicles affected are equipped with a rear hatch that contains a wire harness for rear end electrical components. During the inspection process, damaged testing equipment may have caused the contact gaps of the wire harness connector to increase. Lower contact pressure inside the connector increases the chances of an oxide layer developing on the surface of certain terminals. Over time the electrical resistance could increase, resulting in loss of backup lamps. If the lamps do not illuminate when the vehicle is backing, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Those receiving notices can return to their dealerships to have the rear hatch wire harness replaced. Toyota’s numbers for this recall are 20TB07 and 20TA07 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-205.

2020 Toyota Highlander Engine Stall

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2020 Highlander vehicles equipped with 3.5 L, V6 (2GR-FKS) gasoline engines that contain the Stop & Start Engine System that monitors your brake pedal operation to stop your engine when the vehicle is stopped.

The vehicles involved contain an engine control unit (ECU) programming error that may not correctly supply fuel to the engine when this feature is activated. The problem could result in an unexpected stall followed by an audible chime and multiple warnings indicating the engine has stalled.

Dealers will correct the problem by reprogramming the ECU. Toyota’s number for this recall is 20TA06 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V162.

Click here to view the complete 2020 Toyota Highlander recall notice.

Toyota-Lexus Engine Noises And Smoke

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles because of a problem affecting engine and engine cooling. The subject vehicles are equipped with 2.5L 4 cylinder engines that may have been produced with engine blocks with high porosity levels.

According to the defect report, these porous engine blocks could crack and leak internally and/or externally causing the engine to overheat and possible internal mechanical damage. There is also an increased risk of an engine fire if oil leaks should come in contact with an ignition source.

Drivers may be alerted of a problem through engine noises, smoke, illuminated engine warning lights and an audible warning chime.

Vehicles Affected
2020 Lexus ES300H
2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
2020 Toyota Camry
2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2019-2020 Toyota RAV4
2019-2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Dealers will inspect the engine and engine block, replacing them as necessary. Toyota’s number for this recall is 20TA04. Lexus’ number for this recall is 20LA02. The NHTSA campaign number is 20V-064.

Toyota Avalon, Corolla and Matrix Airbag May Not Deploy As Intended

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain Avalon, Corolla and Matrix cars because of a problem that could result in the air bags and seat belt pretensioners not deploying.

According to the defect report, the affected vehicles may have been manufactured with an airbag control module that does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients generated in certain severe crashes where there is a large engine compartment intrusion before deceleration. In these cases, the crash sensor and wiring may be damaged and shorted before the deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This would result in incomplete or non deployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners and an increased chance of injury to occupants.

Vehicles Affected
2012-2018 Toyota Avalon
2013-2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
2011-2019 Toyota Corolla
2011-2013 Toyota Matrix

Owners will be notified to return to their Toyota dealer to have a noise filter installed between the airbag control module and its wire harness. In some cases, an inspection may be carried out to determine if a noise filter is necessary before installing it.

Toyota/Lexus Deactivation Of Vehicle Stability Control And Loss of Braking

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2019-2010 Toyota and Lexus vehicles regarding a problem affecting the braking and stability control systems. The vehicles involved include:

  • 2019 Lexus ES300H
  • 2019 Lexus LC500
  • 2019 Lexus LS500
  • 2019 Lexus LS500 H
  • 2019 Lexus U250 Hybrid
  • 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
  • 2019 Toyota Prius
  • 2019-2020 Toyota Prius Prime
  • 2019 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

The affected vehicles have a brake booster pump with an accumulator and a pump motor which contains a plastic brush holder to hold the motor brushes. It is possible that the plastic brush holder may have been manufactured improperly, causing one of the brushes to become stuck in the brush holder. If this happens, the brush would be unable to maintain an electrical connection inside the motor and may cause the pump motor to stop operating.

If the pump motor stops operating, multiple warning lights and messages will illuminate, and/or audible chimes will sound. Depending on brake fluid pressure in the accumulator and brake pedal stroke amount, braking assist could be lost completely and the Vehicle Stability Control system will become deactivated. A sudden and complete loss of braking assist while driving could increase the vehicle stopping distance and may increase the risk of a crash. Further, deactivating the Vehicle Stability Control system may cause the subject vehicles to not meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 126, paragraph S5.1.2.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the brake booster pump inspected and replaced as necessary. Toyota’s numbers for this recall are K1L/K0L. Lexus’ numbers for this recall are K2F/KLF. The NHTSA Campaign Number is 19V544000.

2018 Toyota Camry Engine Runs Rough

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2018 Toyota Camry cars regarding a problem affecting the engine and its cooling. The subject vehicles are equipped with 2.5L, 4 cylinder A25A-FKS engines.

According to the defect report, a manufacturing error has resulted in pistons being produced with a diameter larger than specified. Engines assembled with these pistons may cause the vehicle to run rough, create an abnormal sound, emit smoke from the exhaust, and/or illuminate an engine warning light. Drivers may notice a reduction in power and a stalling engine.

Toyota will ask owners to return to their dealers to have the production date codes of the pistons checked and replaced as necessary. Owners wanting more information can contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota’s number for this recall is J1M/J0M and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-200.

2018 Toyota C-HR EPB Malfunction Warning

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2018 Toyota C-HR subcompact crossover SUVs regarding a problem affecting the electric parking brake (EPB). According to the defect report, an oxide film on the EPB motor could increase the circuit resistance and be incorrectly identified as an open circuit. The problem could result in the illumination of the EPB malfunction light and the inability to release the parking brake. In certain cases it may prevent the parking brake from being applied.

Those receiving notices will be asked to return to their Toyota dealers to have the skid control ECU software updated. Owners wanting more information about the problem are asked to contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is H0W and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-717.

2016 Toyota Prius Engine Shutdown

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A small number of 2016 Toyota Prius owners will be contacted by the manufacturer regarding a problem affecting the hybrid propulsion system. Some vehicles were manufactured with an inverter assembly which contains a capacitor that may not have been properly attached to the inverter housing. Over time the terminal of the capacitor may become damaged by normal vehicle vibrations which could eventually result in a hybrid system shut down.

All known owners of the subject vehicles that have not received the repair will be notified directly via telephone to return to their dealerships to have the inverter replaced. Owners wanting more information about the defect may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is H0U and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-658.