Toyota Recalls 2.5 Million U.S. Vehicles, Citing Fire Risk

Over 2.5 million Toyota vehicles in the United States have been recalled due to a risk of fires starting in the driver’s side door, according to a recent USA Today article. The U.S. recall is part of a worldwide recall of Toyota vehicles that affects over 7.5 million vehicles, all of which pose a similar risk.

The recall is aimed at fixing a sticky switch in the driver’s side door that controls the automatic windows the in vehicle. When the switches were installed, Toyota says, they were not lubricated properly, which can cause them to stick or move roughly, creating friction that might cause the door to smoke, catch on fire, or both. When some drivers took their vehicles to mechanics to have the sticky switches fixed, some mechanics used lubricants that can catch fire if exposed to enough heat, aggravating the problem.

Drivers whose Toyota vehicles are affected by the recall can take their vehicles to a Toyota dealer or authorized mechanic for a repair. During the repair, the automatic window switches will be coated with a non-flammable, approved lubricant to reduce friction and fire risk. The recalled vehicles include Toyota’s Camry, Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, Tundra, Sequoia, and Yaris, as well as the Scion xB and xD. The affected vehicles were built from 2007 to 2010.

When you get behind the wheel each day, your responsibility is to drive your vehicle safely – not to scrutinize it for hidden defects. If you’ve been injured by a defective vehicle or part, resolute Louisville product liability attorney Tad Thomas can help.