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 @ Dec 8th 2006 7:25PM
How can this be!!!!!!!!!!!! The perfect company has ANOTHER RECALL.
Richard Warren @ Dec 8th 2006 7:26PM
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?
JJ @ Dec 8th 2006 7:29PM
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
Louis @ Dec 8th 2006 7:38PM
Another software glitch?! Toyota seems to have a major problem in that area.
$0.02 @ Dec 8th 2006 7:39PM
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.
Talis @ Dec 8th 2006 7:39PM
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.
sp @ Dec 8th 2006 8:24PM
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.
Talis @ Dec 8th 2006 8:33PM
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.
chewy @ Dec 8th 2006 8:37PM
Toyotas don't have recalls, please double check your information.
Gardiner Westbound @ Dec 8th 2006 9:09PM
It was probably a bonanza for dealers while it lasted.
bad blooooood @ Dec 8th 2006 9:32PM
OH MY GOD..................NOOOOOO
But hey, atleast they did not recall 8 million pickups that for some reason burst into flames.
Sam Adams @ Dec 8th 2006 10:10PM
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
Jeremy Breaux @ Dec 8th 2006 10:12PM
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.
bad blooooood @ Dec 9th 2006 12:16AM
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.
curtis @ Dec 9th 2006 1:24AM
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.
Andy @ Dec 9th 2006 1:37AM
So much for Consumer Reports proclaiming Toyota as flawless.
Eric L. @ Dec 9th 2006 3:00AM
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.
whofan @ Dec 9th 2006 4:01AM
"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)"
Yes it is just a "little thing".
Its always a little thing when it concerns Toyota.
If it were GM or Ford then its a big thing.
Gunterson @ Dec 9th 2006 7:29AM
What Toyota is not telling the public is that not all of these are computer card glitches. Some are wiring harness problems,engine problems and etc.. For Toyota to pass this off as simply a problem with a computer program is not being honest with the public, this recall should have happened long ago. Toyota tried to do an inhouse on this but it became too big, they were afraid of the bad press, and so the recall. The bottom line is all of these are not computer problems most are genuine problems, but because of the computer foul-up, it was impossible for the owner to tell the difference.
the friendly grizzly @ Dec 9th 2006 8:12AM
I don't see all the "bashing" as being because someone is an import hater. I think the bashing takes place because Toyota had, and still has, this smug, nose-high attitude about just how blasted PERFECT they are. Combine that with the smug attitude of the owners and you get this sort of thing. It was the same thing 40 years ago, but in those days the brand in question was VW. Rust-prone, ill-handling, underpowered, flimsy, dangerous junk with short-lived engines with what was probably the best advertising campaign ever to come along.
I have never owned a Toyota; they don't make anything I want. I am sure some Toyota dealers are quite good about things. But I have heard from a few too many owners of Toyotae that when there IS an issue, they get met with "Nothing's wrong. It's a Toyota. That is not a problem, it is how it works. It's a Toyota". This told to people with failing transmissions at 40K (Camrys), brakes consistently gone at 18K (Tundra pickups) and the like.
And, I am just cynical enough to think a hell of a lot of dealers milked customers plenty of money to "fix" the "problem" the check-engine lights were falsely announcing.