Toyota on Wednesday announced a recall of more than 1.8 million RAV4 SUVs in the United States, spanning several model years, because a replacement battery could pose a fire risk.
The voluntary recall covers 1.85 million vehicles from model years 2013 through 2018, the company said in a statement. Some of the vehicles may be equipped with replacement 12-volt batteries that are too small in size, it said.
“If a small-top battery is used for replacement and the hold-down clamp is not tightened correctly, the battery could move when the vehicle is driven with forceful turns,” it said.
Movement from a hard turn could cause a short circuit that could potentially ignite a fire, the company said.
It was unclear whether there had been any fires or accidents related to the recalled batteries. A request for comment to Toyota was not immediately returned.
The company's recall filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which typically include information about such incidents, were not yet available on the agency's recall listings Wednesday night.
Toyota said it expected to notify affected owners by the end of December, adding that dealers would replace the hold-down clamp, battery tray and positive terminal cover free of charge. The company urged owners to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website or Toyota's recall website to check if their cars are under recall by providing their vehicle identification numbers.
The RAV 4 recall announced Wednesday was the second recall announced by Toyota in less than a week. On Oct. 26, the company recalled 814,000 Highlander sport utility vehicles because the front bumper could fall off.
Source: The New York Times
