False alarm: Toyota recalls 220,000 vehicles for lying check engine light
In addition to the recalls announced by Volkswagen today, we should all tell you about a recall Toyota issued on Wednesday for check engine lights in some 60,700 Highlanders built from 2001 through 2003 and 159,100 RAV4s built in 2001 and 2002. The Malfunction Indicator, as it's called by sticklers, can light up when there's no underlying problem with the vehicle due to an issue with the software on the ECM. There have been 80 reported cases of this happening.Of course, recalls don't exist in Toyota-land. Here they're called Special Service Campaigns, a description that must've been invented by a suit in marketing because it sounds like something fun to do, like a Jeep Jamboree or something. Nevertheless, a recall is what Toyota announced on Wednesday, even if it is for something as minor as a wonky check engine light.
Full press release can be found after the jump.
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE:
12/06/2006 Torrance, CA
December 6, 2006 - Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., will launch a voluntary Special Service Campaign involving approximately 60,700 four-cylinder Highlander sport utility vehicles from the 2001 through 2003 model year and 159,100 RAV4 sport utility vehicles from the 2001 and 2002 model year. The Malfunction Indicator Light, also known as the "check engine" light, on certain RAV4 and Highlander may inadvertently illuminate due to an issue with the program logic in the Engine Control Module (ECM). This light does not affect the operation of the vehicle. The affected RAV4 and Highlander were produced from July 24, 2000 to August 22, 2003.
There have been 80 cases of this condition reported in the Highlander and RAV4. Toyota will mail to owners of the involved vehicles a Service Campaign notification via first class mail in mid-December.
Owners are requested to contact their local Toyota dealer for reprogramming of the ECM with improved logic. Reprogramming will be done at no charge to the owners of the vehicle and will take approximately 30 minutes, depending on the dealer's work schedule. No parts replacement is necessary to complete the campaign.
Customers with questions or concerns should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mikeeeeeeeeeeee 7:25PM (12/08/2006)
How can this be!!!!!!!!!!!! The perfect company has ANOTHER RECALL.
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Richard Warren 7:26PM (12/08/2006)
Oh, what a feeling!
Only took 6 years to issues a fix. What about all the "not required repairs" and diagnosis hookups charged for because of this?
Recalls happen, to everyone, but six years for a flash of the computer or new eprom?
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JJ 7:29PM (12/08/2006)
OMG half yrs ago my 2001 rav4 engine services light up then i took it to toyota dealer, they charged my $30 to take that light off -_+ yes off 20 mins work lolz
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Louis 7:38PM (12/08/2006)
Another software glitch?! Toyota seems to have a major problem in that area.
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$0.02 7:39PM (12/08/2006)
How much money did Toyota scam from people on this pre-meditated service issue. Sure, laugh, but I am sure it goes on today so the back-end is making money. And sure it was probably under warranty but not everyone understands their warranty.
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Talis 7:39PM (12/08/2006)
I would have to agree with #1. Toyota is now finding out that being such a large full line manufacture is not all fun and games.
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chewy 8:37PM (12/08/2006)
Toyotas don't have recalls, please double check your information.
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sp 8:24PM (12/08/2006)
this is not an recall, because it has nothing to do with safety... It is Toyota going out of their way to satisfy their customers.
How many companies would fix something like this outside warranty period? Nobody.
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Craig N. Cote 10:08PM (12/10/2006)
Toyota has some recalls? Big deal. I'll still take my Toyotas gratefully any day than go back to dealing with the horrors of owning a GM, Ford, or Chrysler/Dodge vehicle. Plus, when I sell I can't afford the dispicably low resale value this trash brings you. Rest assured, Toyota will successfully address any issues it encounters, just as it will be showing it's tailights to GM in the near future. Finally, if you put Toyota down simply for it being a Japanese company, then ask the "Big Three" why THEY'VE invested all the millions in companies from the same country. Buy American? Why should I-they don't have any problem doing it.
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Talis 8:33PM (12/08/2006)
sp a recall is not limmited to only safty concerns. a recall is just that--when a part or program is called back to the factory for repair.
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Gardiner Westbound 9:09PM (12/08/2006)
It was probably a bonanza for dealers while it lasted.
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bad blooooood 9:32PM (12/08/2006)
OH MY GOD..................NOOOOOO
But hey, atleast they did not recall 8 million pickups that for some reason burst into flames.
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Sam Adams 10:10PM (12/08/2006)
a "recall" is a technical term, used for SAFETY HAZARDS the NHTSA has forced the manufacturer to act on.
Autoblog needs to stop the spread of improper vocabulary use.
We're all getting stupider with Autoblog proliferating uneducated language.
http://www.safercar.gov/pages/ODIFAQsRev2.htm#od5
5. What are examples of safety defects?
Generally, a safety-related defect is a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that:
poses a risk to motor vehicle safety, and
may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture.
Examples include:
Steering components that break suddenly causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control.
Problems with fuel system components, particularly in their susceptibility to crash damage, that result in leakage of fuel and possibly cause vehicle fires.
Accelerator controls that break or stick.
Wheels that crack or break, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Engine cooling fan blades that break unexpectedly causing injury to persons working on a vehicle.
Windshield wiper assemblies that fail to operate or malfunction.
Seats and/or seat backs that fail unexpectedly during normal use.
Critical vehicle components that break, fall apart, or separate from the vehicle causing loss of vehicle control or injury to persons inside or outside the vehicle.
Wiring system problems that result in a fire or loss of lighting.
Car ramps or jacks that collapse causing injury to someone working on a vehicle.
Air bags that deploy under conditions for which they are not designed to deploy.
Child safety seats that contain defective safety belts, buckles, or components that create a risk of injury not only in a vehicle crash but also in non-operational safety of a motor vehicle.
[Back to Top ]
6. What are some examples of problems that would not be considered safety-related defects?
Examples include:
Air conditioners and radios that do not operate properly.
Ordinary wear of equipment that has to be inspected, maintained and replaced periodically, such as shock absorbers, batteries, brake pads and shoes and exhaust systems.
Nonstructural or body panel rust.
Quality of paint or cosmetic blemishes.
Excessive oil consumption
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Jeremy Breaux 10:12PM (12/08/2006)
I had that problem about a year ago. The dealer fixed it for free. Toyota has been quietly fixing this for over a year now. More reading and less complaining will get you free repairs.
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bad blooooood 12:16AM (12/09/2006)
Yeah, Autoblog honchos ate their hats again. I always knew that but autoblog is nothing more than a GM/Fraud brownnoser. These humps will trash anything that is not made in Mexico.
Autoblog swears by Pick Ups made by FRAUD and GM, but never asks how come most small business owners nevr buy one. Autoblog trashes new CR-V for not offering manual transmition, but says nothing about that in gets better MPG than Edge and has more room than Edge---you know the EDGE the saviour of FRAUD MOTOR COMPANY.
Autoblog never asks why is it that Lincoln and Jaguar are JOKES of so called Luxury segment. Ohhh that segment exists, it's just that Lincoln and Jag are not in it...i am sorry, i mean Lincoln/Mercury and Jaguar/Ford Taurus are not in it.
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Andy 1:37AM (12/09/2006)
So much for Consumer Reports proclaiming Toyota as flawless.
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curtis 1:24AM (12/09/2006)
Hey, this keeps happening to my 91 Toyota Tercel. Maybe I could slip it into that recall... It only happens when it gets really cold, all I have to do is unplug the battery and then the light goes out and stays gone for a few weeks. As soon as the weather warms up it stays off.
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Barney 12:04PM (12/09/2006)
My 1990 GMC use to do the same thing. Quick fix was to disconnect the battery. The dealer told me this because the ABS had a wiring/comp glitch. No recall on that item but I believe I was to gat a mult- lingual (Canada)sticker to tell me to use the seat belts.
Most recalls today are trivial and frequent. The difficulty is determing which ones you should be concerned about. GM never did recall their rattling V8s and Ford never recalled their V6s with the leaking manifold gasket. Not safety issues, just quality issues.
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mojojojo 7:25PM (12/09/2006)
Its funny how an little thing like this brings out all the import-haters and the import-lovers (and now bad blooooood the autoblog-hater)
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Eric L. 3:00AM (12/09/2006)
I like how the GM fans will go bashing Toyota now because of a check engine light that comes on when there isn't a problem. Its annoying, but certainly not safety related.
Just a few stories below VW is recalling 2006-7 Passats because the windshield wiper motor can short out during heavy rain. Hello? Thats about as dangerous as saying "oh the brakes will fail at high speed" - way more relevant than a false CEL.
Great real, folks.
/Doesn't drive a Toyota
/Pointing out the single minded thinking of some posts here.
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