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Toyota recalls over 1.8 million RAV4 SUVs due to fire risk
Unsecured Battery May Cause Short Circuit and increases the risk of a fire.
NOVEMBER 2023 — autoblog.com — Toyota is preparing to issue a safety recall that applies to over 1.8 million units of the RAV4 crossover built between the 2013 and 2018 model years. The vehicles included in the campaign are equipped with an undersized battery that can cause a short circuit and start a fire.
Toyota issued a statement clarifying that the campaign includes approximately 1,854,000 units of the RAV4. We don’t have the exact build dates of the recalled models yet, but the 2013 to 2018 range provided by the manufacturer corresponds to the fourth-generation model.
The vehicles covered by the recall may have been fitted with a replacement 12-volt battery that’s physically smaller than it should be.
“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. The movement could cause the positive battery terminal to contact the hold-down clamp and short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire,” Toyota explained. There’s no word yet on whether any injuries, deaths, or accidents are linked to the problem.
The fix sounds fairly simple, though Toyota hasn’t finalized it yet. The brand plans to ask owners to take their RAV4 to an authorized dealer so that a technician can replace the hold-down clamp, the battery tray, and the positive terminal cover. Toyota will begin reaching out to owners of affected crossovers by the end of December 2023, and we’ll update this story with more details when they’re available.
Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000
Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; BATTERY FIRE RISK
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1,853,568
Report Receipt Date: November 1, 2023
NOVEMBER 2023 — Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit. Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 17, 2023. Toyota’s numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
RECALLED VEHICLES
- 2013-2018 — Toyota RAV4
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