Toyota recalls 112,500 models for steering, transmission issues

Toyota has announced a voluntary recall of a variety of vehicles built between model years 2012 and 2015. Roughly 110,000 of the 112,500 vehicles being recalled consist of the gas and hybrid variants of the 2015 Camry and Highlander, as well as the 2014 and 2015 RAV4.

The problem, this time around, is down to a circuit board that may have been damaged during manufacturing of the electric power steering system. According to Toyota, the bad circuit board can lead to a loss of power steering. Owners would still have manual steering control, although they'll have a warning lamp glaring at them from the instrument cluster the entire time.

As for the remaining 2,500 vehicles, they're limited to the RAV4 EV, built between 2012 and 2014. A software issue in the electric vehicle traction motor assembly could cause the EV to shift into neutral. As with the issue affecting the Camry, Highlander and gas-powered RAV4, vehicles with this problem will produce a warning lamp in the instrument cluster, as well as a "Check EV" message.

Toyota will be notifying owners of the affected vehicles via snail mail, and asking them to report in for free repairs at their local dealership. Check out the whole press release on the issue, available below. Show full PR text TORRANCE, Calif., March 11, 2015 - Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will conduct safety recalls of approximately 2,500 Model Year 2012 - 2014 RAV4 EV vehicles; and approximately 110,000 Model Year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Model Year RAV4 vehicles.

In the involved RAV4 EV, components in the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, which is part of the propulsion system, may cause the vehicle to shift to "neutral" due to a software issue. This condition will also trigger a "Check EV System" warning message on the instrument panel and turn on a malfunction indicator lamp. If the vehicle shifts to "neutral", this will result in a complete loss of drive power, which can increase the risk of a crash.

Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a notification by first class mail. Toyota dealers will repair the electric vehicle traction motor assembly.

In the involved Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid and RAV 4 vehicles, a circuit board for the electric power steering (EPS) may have been damaged during its manufacturing process. This can result in the loss of power steering assist; an instrument panel warning lamp will also come on. Manual steering is maintained, but the loss of power steering assist results in increased steering effort at low vehicle speeds and increases the risk of a crash.

Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a notification by first class mail. Toyota dealers will inspect the steering column assembly and replace the power steering electronic control unit, if it falls within the affected range.

Toyota is not aware of any crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by either condition.

Detailed information is available at www.toyota.com/recall and by calling Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331.
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