Toyota said it is recalling nearly 1.9 million RAV4 small SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with batteries that can move during forceful turns and potentially cause a fire.
The recall covers certain RAV4s from the 2013 through 2018 model years. Toyota said in a statement that some replacement 12-volt batteries used in the SUVs have smaller top dimensions than others. If the hold-down clamp is not tightened properly, the battery could move, allowing the positive terminal to contact the clamp and short circuit and spark a fire, the company said.
Toyota said it is still preparing a fix. When the remedy is ready, dealers will replace the hold-down clamp, battery tray and positive terminal cover with improved ones. The company said it will notify owners by late December.
Toyota declined to say if the problem had caused any fires, crashes or injuries.
Although manufacturers can make every effort to notify affected customers about recalls, it’s not always possible. So, if you want to check if your car has an active recall, sometimes you need to do it yourself. Checking for a new or old recalls on your vehicle is easier than you think. Enter your vehicles VIN number at NHTSA Recall Site or checktoprotect.org to see if your vehicle has a open recall.
There are more ways to follow the Pain In The Pass. Join the Traffic Group on Facebook with over 133,000 members. Join the group on MeWe. Like us on the NEW page on Facebook. Follow us on NewsBreak, and also follow us on Instagram, Threads, and X aka Twitter.