Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Feds investigating Toyota Camry and RAV4 over door fires]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/feds-investigating-toyota-camry-and-rav4-over-door-fires/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/feds-investigating-toyota-camry-and-rav4-over-door-fires/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/feds-investigating-toyota-camry-and-rav4-over-door-fires/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2007 Toyota Camry

According to a report from The Associated Press, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a probe into possible driver-side door fires in 2007 Toyota Camry sedans and RAV4 crossovers. A total of 830,000 vehicles may be affected.

Six fires have been reported to NHTSA, all stemming from the door-mounted power window switch. Five of the fires are said to have been minor, with one resulting in the total loss of a Camry that burnt to a crisp before firefighters were able to respond.

It's important to note that this is not (yet) a recall. NHTSA opened an investigation on Monday, February 6, and a recall could potentially be announced depending on NHTSA's findings. Toyota has said in a statement that it is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Feds investigating Toyota Camry and RAV4 over door fires originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camrycamry firenational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsarav4rav4 firerecalltoyotatoyota fireFri, 10 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169398/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/10/feds-investigating-toyota-camry-and-rav4-over-door-fires/20169398/article-detail.xml 20169398 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2007-toyota-camry_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2007-toyota-camry.jpg <![CDATA[<strike>Toyota RAV4 EV</strike> Scion iQ EV won't be sold to the general public [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/toyota-rav4-ev-wont-be-sold-to-the-general-public/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/toyota-rav4-ev-wont-be-sold-to-the-general-public/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/18/toyota-rav4-ev-wont-be-sold-to-the-general-public/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota RAV4 EV

For the sake of argument, let's posit that a Mitsubishi i is too odd looking for your tastes, a Nissan Leaf is still a bit too compact, and that your idea of a perfect battery-powered vehicle is something crossover-shaped. Well, you're in luck because the Toyota-Tesla Motors partnership is set to release its RAV4 EV in early 2012, right? Well, yes, and, in some critical ways, no.

Why? Well, unless you operate a fleet or a car-sharing program, chances are good that you won't be able to buy a RAV4 EV. According Pike Research, Geri Yoza, Toyota's National Business Planning Manager of Advanced Vehicle Marketing, has gone on record saying that while the electric-only RAV4 will indeed make its comeback (a first-gen version was first sold some 15 years ago), the electrified CUV won't be made available to the general public. Instead, Yoza says, Toyota will focus on "very strategic applications" (read: fleets and car-sharing programs) for the RAV4 EV.

Despite being a electric vehicle that could benefit from quick charging, Yoza says the RAV4 EV will not come equipped with a CHAdeMO charging port, stating that Toyota will not offer a quick-charge setup on any of its electrified vehicles until the SAE finalizes a standard.

Let's hope that Yoza's admission is slightly inaccurate and that Toyota will eventually sell the RAV4 EV to the public. Otherwise, the only electric CUV on the market in 2012 will be one that folks like us can't even buy.

UPDATE: Instead of using the strikeout feature in this entire post, here's an update direct from Pike Research: "Toyota called to clarify that the vehicle that will only be sold to fleets is the Scion iQ EV, not the RAV4 EV as we were previously told." So, um, yeah.

Toyota RAV4 EV Scion iQ EV won't be sold to the general public [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geri yozarav4toyotatoyota rav4toyota rav4 evMon, 18 Jul 2011 07:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19993079/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/18/toyota-rav4-ev-wont-be-sold-to-the-general-public/19993079/article-detail.xml 19993079 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/toyota-rav4-ev_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/toyota-rav4-ev.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota recalls 308,000 RAV4 and Highlander models over airbag sensor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/toyota-recalls-308-000-rav4-and-highlander-models-over-airbag-se/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/toyota-recalls-308-000-rav4-and-highlander-models-over-airbag-se/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/21/toyota-recalls-308-000-rav4-and-highlander-models-over-airbag-se/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Toyota has announced that it's recalling 214,000 RAV4 models and 94,000 Highlander and Highlander HV models for side curtain airbag issues. The voluntary recall covers certain 2007 and 2008 models, all of which will need a new Curtain Shield Airbag Sensor Assembly.

The roll-sensing curtain shield airbag system contains two sensors that detects roll angle. In the event that one of the sensors malfunctions, the airbag warning light illuminates. That means the side-curtain airbags won't work in a roll-over, though the airbags would still be available in the event of a side collision. If both sensors fail "near simultaneously," however, the seat belt pretensioner and, more importantly, the curtain shield airbag could inadvertantly be activated.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail in the next month. Once customers have been notified, they will be able to take their RAV4 or Highlander to the nearest Toyota dealer for a free repair. Follow the jump to read Toyota's official announcement.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota recalls 308,000 RAV4 and Highlander models over airbag sensor

Toyota recalls 308,000 RAV4 and Highlander models over airbag sensor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 highlander recall2007 rav4 recall2008 highlander2008 rav4highlanderhighlander hv recallrav-4rav4side-curtain airbag recalltoyotatoyota airbag recalltoyota recallThu, 21 Apr 2011 16:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19920365/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/21/toyota-recalls-308-000-rav4-and-highlander-models-over-airbag-se/19920365/article-detail.xml 19920365 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/08highlander21-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/08highlander21-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Quick Spin: Toyota RAV4 EV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A Solid Electric CUV, For A Prototype

Toyota RAV4 EV
Toyota RAV4 EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ahh, the joys of driving a prototype vehicle. During the annual Toyota Sustainable Mobility Seminar in San Diego, California this week, Toyota brought in a handful of all-electric RAV4 EVs for us to tool around in, but there were some caveats: The route was decidedly highway-free; when it rained one afternoon, we were told it would be better to wait to drive the cars; and one journalist had a problem with his vehicle that made it sluggish. The biggest asterisk in the whole program, though, was that the RAV4 EVs we were testing are only a pale shadow of what the real RAV4 EVs will be like when Toyota releases them in the first quarter of 2012.

Why's that? Because the current fleet of new RAV4 EVs was an intentional rush job by Toyota's partner Tesla Motors to get vehicles into auto shows and on the road. A completely separate batch is being built to really get this model ready for production, and it will operate differently than the ones we got to drive this week. Still, we learned a lot about what's coming by checking out what's here today.

Continue reading Quick Spin: Toyota RAV4 EV...


Gallery: Toyota RAV4 EV: Quick Spin

Toyota RAV4 EVToyota RAV4 EV rear 3/4 viewToyota RAV4 EVToyota RAV4 EVToyota RAV4 EV

Photos copyright (C)2011 Sebastian Blanco / AOL

Quick Spin: Toyota RAV4 EV originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclefeaturedquick spinquickspinrav4rav4 evreviewreviewstesla toyotatoyotatoyota rav4 evtoyota sustainable mobility seminarMon, 11 Apr 2011 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19909310/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/19909310/article-detail.xml 19909310 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/toyota-rav4-ev_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/toyota-rav4-ev.jpg <![CDATA[Report: More quake-related production delays for Toyota, Honda]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/report-more-quake-related-production-delays-for-toyota-honda/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/report-more-quake-related-production-delays-for-toyota-honda/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/report-more-quake-related-production-delays-for-toyota-honda/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 toyota prius
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Japan's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami continue to impact the nation's auto industry, as Automotive News is reporting that Toyota and Honda have again extended factory shutdown timelines. Toyota will apparently idle its 18 domestic plants through March 26, while Honda will keep factory doors closed at least until March 27. With plants shuttered, Toyota will have to make due without its hot-selling RAV4, Prius and Corolla, and Honda won't be able to import the Fit and CR-V stateside.

When Japan's largest automakers finally do start plants up again, there is a good chance production will only be temporary. Other Japanese automakers, including Mazda and Mitsubishi, are opening up plants on a temporary basis, but parts shortages ensure that the plants will quickly re-close. Many of the suppliers who feed parts to the automakers are still offline as a result of the natural disaster, so OEMs have no choice but to sit back and wait for the situation to improve.

So when will we start to notice shortages of Japanese autos here in the U.S.? Since autos from Toyota and Honda typically don't sit on dealer lots for very long, we're thinking we'll start to see this problem hit home in only a few more weeks.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius

Review: 2010 Toyota Prius

Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: More quake-related production delays for Toyota, Honda originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corollacr-vfithonda productionpriusquakerav4toyota productiontsunamiTue, 22 Mar 2011 09:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19887426/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/22/report-more-quake-related-production-delays-for-toyota-honda/19887426/article-detail.xml 19887426 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/prius2010_rev000_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/prius2010_rev000_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota recalls 2.17 million <i>more</i> vehicles over possible pedal entrapment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/24/toyota-recalls-over-two-million-more-vehicles-over-possible-peda/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/24/toyota-recalls-over-two-million-more-vehicles-over-possible-peda/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/24/toyota-recalls-over-two-million-more-vehicles-over-possible-peda/#commentsFiled under: , ,

stuck floormat toyota

Toyota has announced that it's voluntarily recalling approximately 2.17 million vehicles due to possible pedal entrapment issues. In case you've forgotten about Toyota's massive recall from last year, this new issue affects 2.17 million more vehicles where the driver's side floor mat can become a potential hazard. Uh oh.

In October of 2009, Toyota recalled nearly five million vehicles because of possible issues with the floor mats. In January of 2010, the automaker recalled an additional 2.3 million due to an issue with sticking accelerator pedals.

This latest rash of recalls pertains to: Toyota will be sending out notices to vehicle owners by first-class mail, and dealerships will fix the issue with no cost to the owner. As of this writing, Toyota states that it is unaware of any accidents or injuries related to this new set of recalls. The automaker's official press release is available after the jump.

[Sources: Toyota, AOL Autos]

Continue reading Toyota recalls 2.17 million more vehicles over possible pedal entrapment

Toyota recalls 2.17 million more vehicles over possible pedal entrapment originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4runnerbreakinggs 300gs 350highlanderhighlander hybridlexuslx 570rav4recallsafetytoyotatoyota recallThu, 24 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19857391/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/24/toyota-recalls-over-two-million-more-vehicles-over-possible-peda/19857391/article-detail.xml 19857391 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/image002optopta_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/image002optopta.jpg <![CDATA[IIHS Obvious Conclusion of the Day: Mismatched bumpers cost thousands in repairs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/02/iihs-bumper-crash-test-study-mismatched/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/02/iihs-bumper-crash-test-study-mismatched/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/02/iihs-bumper-crash-test-study-mismatched/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

IIHS small car bumper test
IIHS small car bumper crash tests - Click above for high-res image gallery

As you're likely aware, all cars must pass strict federal guidelines in order to be sold in America, and those regulations include specific bumper heights. What you may not know, however, is that trucks and SUVs aren't required to meet the same guidelines as passenger cars. Factor in the huge numbers of SUVs and crossovers that are sold each year and you begin to see why can cause major problems.

Perhaps the best way to illustrate this conundrum is by way of a photo gallery, which the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has so thoughtfully provided. As is the Institute's custom, it has gone ahead and crashed a small sedan head-to-head into a typical SUV from the same automaker at low speeds (10mph). The results are conclusive, and they mean big repair bills for the owner (or, naturally, their insurance company) of the smaller car. Despite the modest velocities, repair estimates ranged from $850 to a whopping $6,015.

Of the seven pairs of vehicles damaged-for-a-cause in this round of low-speed testing, the Honda Civic and CR-V performed the best, with bumpers that actually overlapped by more than two inches. By way of contrast, the Toyota Corolla and RAV4 performed the worst. Says Joe Nolan, the Institute's chief administrative officer:
The RAV4's so-called bumper is really just a stamped piece of sheet metal supporting the bumper cover. So instead of engaging a strong bumper, the striking Corolla hit the spare tire mounted on the RAV4's tailgate. The spare isn't designed to absorb crash energy, so it damaged the Corolla's hood, grille, headlights, air conditioner, and radiator support and crushed the RAV4's tailgate and rear body panels.
Ouch. For a complete visual understanding of all the carnage, be sure to check out our high-res image gallery below. And for more explanation on each pair's results - including the Ford Focus and Escape, Kia Forte and Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Sentra and Rogue - click past the break for the official press release.


Gallery: IIHS Small Car Bumper Damage

IIHS Small Car Bumper DamagesIIHS Small Car Bumper DamagesIIHS Small Car Bumper DamagesIIHS Small Car Bumper DamagesIIHS Small Car Bumper Damages

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS Obvious Conclusion of the Day: Mismatched bumpers cost thousands in repairs

IIHS Obvious Conclusion of the Day: Mismatched bumpers cost thousands in repairs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civiccorollacr-vfocusiihsInsurance Institute for Highway Safetyrav4roguesentraThu, 02 Dec 2010 09:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19740268/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/02/iihs-bumper-crash-test-study-mismatched/19740268/article-detail.xml 19740268 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/iihs-small-car-bumper-tests-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/iihs-small-car-bumper-tests-opt.jpg <![CDATA[LA 2010: Toyota RAV4 EV, powered by Tesla, hits the stage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/17/toyota-rav4-ev-powered-by-tesla-la-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/17/toyota-rav4-ev-powered-by-tesla-la-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/17/toyota-rav4-ev-powered-by-tesla-la-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Toyota RAV4 EV
Toyota RAV4 EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Proudly "Powered by Tesla," the brand-new Toyota RAV4 EV made its debut at the LA Auto Show today, and it's pretty much what you'd expect: a current-generation RAV4 with the heart of a Tesla Roadster. Or maybe a Model S. In any case, one of Silicon Valley's electric cars. As we've known, Tesla's role in the partnership is to develop the powertrain - including the battery, power electronics module, electric motor, gearbox and software - for Toyota's popular CUV.

The RAV4 EV has a long history, as long-time plug-in vehicle fans are well aware. The first-gen version arrived in 1997 and was available for six years. Toyota said today that it sold or leased 1,484 units during that time - and that nearly 750 of them are still in operation - but could never make them a mainstream hit like the Prius. Making these alternative-power vehicles isn't that difficult, said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales' president and chief operating officer, the hard part is bringing them to mainstream customers.

This is the goal of the RAV4 EV, which is scheduled to hit the market in 2012. The initial batch of test vehicles, the so-called Phase Zero machines, are already achieving 100 miles of range, but Toyota engineers are working hard to make sure that the Phase One vehicles (i.e., the next batch) will be able to reach that number no matter what the climate or outside condition is - or, in the words of the press release, "in a wide range of climates and conditions." The engineering team is also focused on drivability and making the electric CUV feel, "as close to a conventional RAV4 as possible." We'll have a more complete post about the RAV4 EV later, but for now you can find plenty more information on Toyota's dedicated RAV4 EV website and check it out from every angle in the gallery below.


Gallery: LA 2010: Toyota RAV4 EV, powered by Tesla


Gallery: Toyota RAV4 EV


Live photos copyright (C)2010 Sebastian Blanco / AOL

Continue reading LA 2010: Toyota RAV4 EV, powered by Tesla, hits the stage

LA 2010: Toyota RAV4 EV, powered by Tesla, hits the stage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 la auto showla auto showrav4rav4 evtoyota rav4 evWed, 17 Nov 2010 20:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19723167/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/11/17/toyota-rav4-ev-powered-by-tesla-la-2010/19723167/article-detail.xml 19723167 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/toyota-rav-4-ev-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/toyota-rav-4-ev-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota and Tesla to debut RAV4 EV love child at 2010 LA Auto Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/10/toyota-and-tesla-to-debut-rav4-ev-love-child-at-2010-la-auto-sho/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/10/toyota-and-tesla-to-debut-rav4-ev-love-child-at-2010-la-auto-sho/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/10/toyota-and-tesla-to-debut-rav4-ev-love-child-at-2010-la-auto-sho/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Toyota RAV4 EV
Toyota RAV4 EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota and Tesla producing electric vehiclesIn the spring of 2010, Toyota and Tesla announced that they would be working together on future electric vehicle products. The ink is probably still wet on the $60 million contract, but Toyota and Tesla are ready to show off the fruits of their respective labor. The RAV4 EV is slated to make its debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, but Toyota has released a few teaser shots ahead of the full reveal.

Toyota has supplied the RAV4 bodies and a bundle of cash, while Tesla has developed the battery, power electronics module, electric motor, transmission and software. Thousands of laptop-like battery cells will power the RAV4 EV, but we can't speculate on the performance or efficiency figures. Engineers from Toyota will be on hand at the LA Auto Show and we will get the full scoop on the electric CUV before it goes on sale in 2012.


Gallery: Toyota teases the RAV4 EV ahead of the 2010 LA Auto Show

Toyota teases the RAV4 EV ahead of the 2010 LA Auto ShowToyota teases the RAV4 EV ahead of the 2010 LA Auto Show

[Source: Toyota]

Toyota and Tesla to debut RAV4 EV love child at 2010 LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossoverElectric carevla auto showla auto show 2010laaslos angeles auto showlos angeles auto show 2010rav4rav4 evteslatoyotatoyota rav4toyota rav4 evtoyota tesla evWed, 10 Nov 2010 16:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19711594/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/11/10/toyota-and-tesla-to-debut-rav4-ev-love-child-at-2010-la-auto-sho/19711594/article-detail.xml 19711594 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/teaser2-prv_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/teaser2-prv.jpg <![CDATA[Officially Official: Tesla inks $60M Toyota deal to supply components for RAV4 EV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/14/officially-official-tesla-inks-60m-toyota-deal-to-supply-compo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/14/officially-official-tesla-inks-60m-toyota-deal-to-supply-compo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/14/officially-official-tesla-inks-60m-toyota-deal-to-supply-compo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Toyota RAV4
Toyota RAV4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

In a regulatory filing submitted on Wednesday, Tesla Motors revealed that it has signed a $60 million contract with Toyota to develop electric powertrain components for a battery-powered RAV4. This agreement states that Tesla will develop the battery, power electronics module, electric motor, gearbox and software for the popular crossover. The filing builds upon an earlier announcement when Toyota and Tesla stated their intentions to partner on the development of future electric vehicles.

Tesla's filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reads:
On October 6, 2010, Tesla Motors, Inc. ("Tesla") entered into a Phase 1 Contract Services Agreement (the "Agreement") with Toyota Motor Corporation ("TMC") for the development of a validated powertrain system, including a battery, power electronics module, motor, gearbox and associated software, which will be integrated into an electric vehicle version of the RAV4. Pursuant to the Agreement, based on preliminary specifications, TMC will pay Tesla approximately $60 million for the development services to be provided by Tesla. The parties will mutually agree to the final specifications, deliverables and payment amounts and schedule within 60 days of the execution of the Agreement. This amount will be paid in various installments during the term of the Agreement.
Previous reports suggest that a production version of the electric RAV4 should be ready to whiz down the streets by 2012, but we should get a first glimpse of a the RAV4 EV prototype at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month. Hit the jump the read Tesla's formal filing in its entirety. Hat tip to VFX!


Gallery: 2009 Toyota RAV4


[Source: Securities and Exchange Commission]

Continue reading Officially Official: Tesla inks $60M Toyota deal to supply components for RAV4 EV

Officially Official: Tesla inks $60M Toyota deal to supply components for RAV4 EV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>rav4rav4 evteslatesla motorstesla toyotatesla toyota dealtesla toyota electric dealtesla toyota evtesla toyota partnershiptoyotaThu, 14 Oct 2010 10:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19673948/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/14/officially-official-tesla-inks-60m-toyota-deal-to-supply-compo/19673948/article-detail.xml 19673948 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2010-toyota-rav4-base-concrete-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2010-toyota-rav4-base-concrete-630.jpg <![CDATA[Tesla and Toyota to develop RAV4 EV, hope to launch in 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/tesla-and-toyota-to-develop-rav4-ev-hope-to-launch-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/tesla-and-toyota-to-develop-rav4-ev-hope-to-launch-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/tesla-and-toyota-to-develop-rav4-ev-hope-to-launch-in-2012/#comments
Toyota RAV4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota and Tesla have officially announced that the electric prototypes being developed by the California startup are based on the RAV4 crossover, and the two companies hope to have a production version ready by 2012. When we sat down with Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda last week, he revealed that an initial prototype was being built with a Tesla electric powertrain. Since then, Tesla CTO JB Straubel revealed that his engineering team was preparing two vehicles based on an existing Toyota platform for delivery by the end of July.

If the project comes to fruition, it will be great news for fans of the original RAV4 EV which debuted in the late 1990s. Several hundred of those vehicles are still on the road today and regularly turn up for sale on eBay Motors at premium prices.

The new RAV4s will use Tesla's liquid cooled lithium ion battery configuration that contains thousands of commodity laptop cells. The first prototype is already running and a larger fleet will be prepared this year for durability testing by Toyota.


Gallery: 2009 Toyota RAV4


[Source: Tesla]

Continue reading Tesla and Toyota to develop RAV4 EV, hope to launch in 2012

Tesla and Toyota to develop RAV4 EV, hope to launch in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>RAV-4RAV4Rav4 EVRav4Evteslatesla motorstesla rav4tesla toyotatesla toyota evtesla toyota partnershipTeslaMotorsTeslaRav4TeslaToyotaTeslaToyotaEvTeslaToyotaPartnershiptoyotaToyota CUVtoyota rav4toyota rav4 evToyotaCuvToyotaRav4ToyotaRav4EvFri, 16 Jul 2010 10:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19557273/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/16/tesla-and-toyota-to-develop-rav4-ev-hope-to-launch-in-2012/19557273/article-detail.xml 19557273 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2010-toyota-rav4-base-concrete-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2010-toyota-rav4-base-concrete-630.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Toyota to fix over 700,000 RAV4 and Matrix models outside of recall]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/15/report-toyota-to-fix-over-700-000-rav4-and-matrix-models-outsid/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/15/report-toyota-to-fix-over-700-000-rav4-and-matrix-models-outsid/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/15/report-toyota-to-fix-over-700-000-rav4-and-matrix-models-outsid/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2009 Toyota Corolla XRS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota has announced that it will voluntarily repair a number of issues that have arisen with 2001-2003 RAV4 crossovers as well as certain 2009-2010 Matrix and Corolla vehicles. According to Reuters, around 235,500 RAV4 models will be repaired outside of a recall for a "hard shift" problem. Owners have complained that under certain circumstances, the vehicle's transmission would either abruptly shift or otherwise fail to change gears properly. The culprit is typically a faulty engine control module, though in some cases, damage to the transmission may lead to outright replacement. Owners who have previously had to pay for this work out of pocket can apply for reimbursement.

Meanwhile, around 500,000 Matrix and Corolla models will be serviced for "steering drift." The company hasn't exactly elaborated on what that means, but as we first reported yesterday,Toyota hasn't issued a recall because the automaker says that the issue doesn't pose a danger to the vehicle's occupants - this, despite reports of 18 crashes and 11 injuries. Instead, the Japanese manufacturer has labeled the steering problem a customer satisfaction issue. Like the RAV4, owners can have a fix performed free of charge.


Gallery: Review: 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS


Photos by Dan Roth / Copyright (C)2008 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Reuters]

Report: Toyota to fix over 700,000 RAV4 and Matrix models outside of recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CorollaCorolla Recallcorolla safetyCorollaRecallCorollaSafetyMatrixMatrix Recallmatrix safetyMatrixRecallMatrixSafetyrav-4Rav4RAV4 Recallrav4 safetyRav4RecallRav4SafetyToyotatoyota corollaToyota Corolla RecallToyota Matrixtoyota rav4toyota recalltoyota recallstoyota safetyToyotaCorollaToyotaCorollaRecallToyotaMatrixToyotaRav4ToyotaRecallToyotaRecallsToyotaSafetyThu, 15 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19555636/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/15/report-toyota-to-fix-over-700-000-rav4-and-matrix-models-outsid/19555636/article-detail.xml 19555636 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/01-corolla_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/01-corolla.jpg <![CDATA[Those two mystery Tesla prototypes for Toyota? <i>Bloomberg</i> says RAV4 and Lexus RX]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/those-two-mystery-tesla-prototypes-for-toyota-bloomberg/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/those-two-mystery-tesla-prototypes-for-toyota-bloomberg/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/12/those-two-mystery-tesla-prototypes-for-toyota-bloomberg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Toyota has several fingers in a few electric pies. There's the electric car it's working on in-house, in conjunction with Panasonic, using proprietary technology. Then there are two mash-up prototypes that Tesla is building for Toyota, which according to Bloomberg include an electric RAV4 and Lexus RX. According to the report, the crossovers were chosen because they're the best fit for the weight of Tesla's battery pack, which uses 6,831 lithium-ion batteries.

Even though the Elon Musk says he expects, "range and acceleration exceeding that of other announced electric vehicles of this class," we wonder if he's including a crossover like the BYD e6. The electric SUV from China is currently testing in the Shenzhen taxi fleet and claimed to have a range of 186 miles. If that's his target, then the numbers would exceed the figures Toyota has for the joint project, with an ideal cost of "about $40,000 with 150 miles (240 kilometers) of driving range per charge."

Tesla's electrified RAV4 and Lexus RX are predicted to be delivered to Toyota this month, so expect a barrage of news to be forthcoming.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Those two mystery Tesla prototypes for Toyota? Bloomberg says RAV4 and Lexus RX originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessweekelon muskElonMusklexus rxLexusRxrav4rxtesla toyotatesla toyota partnershipTeslaToyotaTeslaToyotaPartnershiptoyota rav4toyota tesla electric prototypetoyota tesla evToyotaRav4ToyotaTeslaElectricPrototypeToyotaTeslaEvMon, 12 Jul 2010 18:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19551208/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/12/those-two-mystery-tesla-prototypes-for-toyota-bloomberg/19551208/article-detail.xml 19551208 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/teslatoyotaelectrics_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/teslatoyotaelectrics.jpg <![CDATA[Lentz: Toyota sales expected to be up 30% in March, incentives working]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/lentz-toyota-sales-expected-to-be-up-30-in-march-incentives-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/lentz-toyota-sales-expected-to-be-up-30-in-march-incentives-w/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/lentz-toyota-sales-expected-to-be-up-30-in-march-incentives-w/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Despite pulling in the reins on production facilities in the U.S. and Europe, Toyota says it's on track to topple its sales figures for this time last year. According to Jim Lentz, President of Toyota Motor Sales, by the time all the numbers come in for March, sales should be up 30-35 percent over 2009, even with the negative impact from the company's recall bombardment.

Curiously enough, the biggest motivator behind the upswing is the Rav4. Toyota moved a total of 22,000 of the small SUVs during March, thanks largely to aggressive incentives and an overall market recovery. No matter the cause, the numbers are clearly good news for a company that's seen its reputation plummet in recent months.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Lentz: Toyota sales expected to be up 30% in March, incentives working originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102010 Sales2010 Toyota2010 Toyota Rav42010 Toyota Sales2010Sales2010Toyota2010ToyotaRav42010ToyotaSalesRav4SalesToyotatoyota salestoyota sales marchtoyota sales march 2010ToyotaSalesToyotaSalesMarchToyotaSalesMarch2010Toyotat Rav4ToyotatRav4Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19420253/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/30/lentz-toyota-sales-expected-to-be-up-30-in-march-incentives-w/19420253/article-detail.xml 19420253 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/toyotarav4opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/toyotarav4opt.jpg <![CDATA[Geneva 2010: Euro-spec 2011 Toyota RAV4 previews new U.S. look]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/geneva-2010-euro-spec-2011-toyota-rav4-previews-new-u-s-look/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/geneva-2010-euro-spec-2011-toyota-rav4-previews-new-u-s-look/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/geneva-2010-euro-spec-2011-toyota-rav4-previews-new-u-s-look/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Toyota RAV4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We showed you a few leaked media pics of the facelifted 2011 Toyota RAV4 a couple of weeks ago, and now we have some live shots to go with them. Besides the FT-86 Concept, redesigned Auris and Prius plug-in hybrid we're expecting at this week's Geneva Motor Show, the Euro-spec RAV4 is a pretty big deal. Looking much like the extended-wheelbase JDM Toyota Vanguard, this is likely the new nose we'll see on the 2011 Toyota RAV4 here in the States as well.

The redesigned front fascia benefits from a new grille, more angular headlamps, foglight surrounds and a sporty front lip. We still haven't received the press release or full details, but early reports indicate that the 2.0-liter gasoline-powered four-cylinder will be tweaked to increase fuel efficiency and decrease CO2 emissions. This particular show car features Toyota's D-CAT clean diesel that we doubt will make it to these shores. There is even talk of a hybrid in the mix. We'll have more details as they become available but for now, check out the image gallery below.


Gallery: Geneva 2010: Toyota RAV4


Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Geneva 2010: Euro-spec 2011 Toyota RAV4 previews new U.S. look originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 RAV42011 Toyota RAV42011Rav42011ToyotaRav4genevageneva 2010Geneva Motor ShowGeneva2010GenevaMotorShowrav4toyotatoyota rav4ToyotaRav4Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19380966/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/03/geneva-2010-euro-spec-2011-toyota-rav4-previews-new-u-s-look/19380966/article-detail.xml 19380966 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/01toyotarav4genevaliveopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/01toyotarav4genevaliveopt.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota looks to boost March sales with "biggest offers ever"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/toyota-looks-to-boost-march-sales-with-biggest-offers-ever/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/toyota-looks-to-boost-march-sales-with-biggest-offers-ever/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/toyota-looks-to-boost-march-sales-with-biggest-offers-ever/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota has been getting hammered on Capitol Hill and on the showroom floor, but the Japanese automaker isn't going to take the punishment sitting down. To spur sales during this time of crisis, Toyota is betting big on incentives that included 0 percent financing and leases under $200 on its most popular products.

Effective immediately, Toyota is offering 0 percent financing for up to 60 months for the Camry, Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, Avalon, Highlander, Tundra and Yaris. If you're not looking to buy, the embattled automaker is offering lease specials of $179 on the Corolla and $199 for the perennially top-selling midsize Camry. To sweeten the pot, Toyota is also offering two years of free maintenance for all customers who purchase a new Toyota and have proof of current ownership of a Scion, Lexus or Toyota in the household.

With sales down nine percent in February versus the same month in 2009, Toyota needed to do something to get foot traffic into its dealerships. Since these are some of the best incentives we've ever seen Toyota dole out, we're thinking it just may work. But if these generous incentives don't spur a rush to local Toyota dealers, we're not sure what more Toyota will be able to do to regain lost momentum. The new rebates are good through April 5, 2010. Hit the jump to read over the Toyota press release.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota looks to boost March sales with "biggest offers ever"

Toyota looks to boost March sales with "biggest offers ever" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avaloncamryhighlanderrav4toyotatoyota incentivestoyota rebatestoyota recallToyotaIncentivesToyotaRebatesToyotaRecalltundraunintended accelerationUnintendedAccelerationyarisWed, 03 Mar 2010 16:08:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19380625/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/03/toyota-looks-to-boost-march-sales-with-biggest-offers-ever/19380625/article-detail.xml 19380625 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/screen-shot-2010-03-03-at-3.22.25-pmopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/screen-shot-2010-03-03-at-3.22.25-pmopt.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota offering to fix oil lines on nearly 1M six-cylinder models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/02/toyota-offering-to-fix-oil-lines-on-nearly-1m-six-cylinder-model/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/02/toyota-offering-to-fix-oil-lines-on-nearly-1m-six-cylinder-model/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/02/toyota-offering-to-fix-oil-lines-on-nearly-1m-six-cylinder-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



"This is not a safety recall."

Toyota is making it perfectly clear that this latest limited service campaign involving V6-powered vehicles sold over the past few years is not, in fact, a safety recall, as it does not have the potential to harm drivers. What's happening, however, is the rubber portion of the oil supply hose for the VVT-i actuator has the potential to degrade, which can cause oil to leak, in turn causing the engine to produce odd noises and the oil pressure light in the dash to illuminate.

The most recent phase of this service campaign involves 2007-2009 model year V6-equipped RAV4 and Avalon models. Last year, however, Toyota announced the first two phases of this campaign, which included 2005-2006 Avalons, 2007-early 2010 Camrys, 2006 RAV4s, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350s, and 2007-2009 Lexus RX350s. For all of these models, Toyota dealers will replace the oil hose at no extra charge, and the service campaign will be available to owners until March 31, 2013. Click through the jump to read the full details in Toyota's press release.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota offering to fix oil lines on nearly 1M six-cylinder models

Toyota offering to fix oil lines on nearly 1M six-cylinder models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AvaloncamryEs350lexuslexus es350Lexus RX350LexusEs350LexusRx350limited service campaignLimitedServiceCampaignrav4RX350toyotatoyota avalontoyota camrytoyota rav4toyota recallToyotaAvalonToyotaCamryToyotaRav4ToyotaRecallvvt-iTue, 02 Mar 2010 10:47:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19379443/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/02/toyota-offering-to-fix-oil-lines-on-nearly-1m-six-cylinder-model/19379443/article-detail.xml 19379443 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/toyotarav4opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/toyotarav4opt.jpg <![CDATA[<em>Consumer Reports</em> may restore Toyota "Recommended" ratings next week]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/01/consumer-reports-may-restore-toyota-recommended-ratin/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/01/consumer-reports-may-restore-toyota-recommended-ratin/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/01/consumer-reports-may-restore-toyota-recommended-ratin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Toyota

Consumer Reports may be ready to offer a vote of confidence in Toyota, depending on the outcome of the Japanese automaker's current Congressional Hearings on Toyota Safety here in the United States, says CR Senior Director David Champion.

At the end of January as news was starting to pile up regarding reported cases of unintended acceleration and the subsequent recalls of nine Toyota models (totaling 2.3 million vehicles), CR decided to pull its Recommended rating from the Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix (and its twin, the Pontiac Vibe), RAV4, Sequoia and Tundra.

Says Champion, "We're looking at a daily basis at the recalls. We want to be sure that the recalls are being performed." Assuming that Toyota's efforts to repair faulty gas pedals remain on track, it would seem CR has enough faith in the automaker to give back its coveted Recommended ratings.

And what of suggestions that there may be more to Toyota's unintended acceleration woes than faulty floor mats and gas pedals? "We want to see if anything bubbles up from the Senate hearings... A lot of people pointed to the electronics, but I don't see anything at the moment that points to an electronic issue."


Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Scott Olson/Getty]

Consumer Reports may restore Toyota "Recommended" ratings next week originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avaloncamryconsumer reportsconsumer reports recommendedConsumerReportsConsumerReportsRecommendedcorollacrhighlandermatrixpontiacpontiac vibePontiacViberav4Sequoiatoyotatoyota avalontoyota camrytoyota corollatoyota highlandertoyota matrixtoyota rav4toyota recallToyota Sequoiatoyota tundraToyotaAvalonToyotaCamryToyotaCorollaToyotaHighlanderToyotaMatrixToyotaRav4ToyotaRecallToyotaSequoiaToyotaTundratundraunintended accelerationunintended-accelerationUnintendedAccelerationvibeMon, 01 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19378252/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/01/consumer-reports-may-restore-toyota-recommended-ratin/19378252/article-detail.xml 19378252 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/gyi0059432016opt-1264832860_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/gyi0059432016opt-1264832860.jpg <![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Redesigned Toyota RAV4 leaks out]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/geneva-preview-redesigned-toyota-rav4-leaks-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/geneva-preview-redesigned-toyota-rav4-leaks-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/geneva-preview-redesigned-toyota-rav4-leaks-out/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 Toyota RAV4 (Euro-spec) - Click above for high-res image gallery

Joining the FT-86 Concept, redesigned Auris and Prius plug-in hybrid at this year's Geneva Motor Show will be a facelifted version of the Euro-spec RAV4, and if it looks oddly familiar, that's because it's a subtle variation of the JDM Vanguard, a long-wheelbase version of the cute 'ute.

Early reports indicate that the interior will be restyled to up the luxury ante and the 2.0-liter gasoline-powered four-cylinder will be tweaked to increase fuel efficiency and decrease C02 emissions. The redesigned front fascia benefits from a new grille, more angular, drawn headlamps, foglight surrounds and a sporty front lip. We'll have more details on the 2010 RAV4 in two week's time and don't be surprised to see the new nose making an appearance on North American models later this year.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota RAV4 (Euro-spec)


[Source: Autoweek.nl, Carscoop]

Geneva Preview: Redesigned Toyota RAV4 leaks out originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102010 rav42010 toyota rav42010Rav42010ToyotaRav4genevageneva 2010geneva motor showGeneva2010GenevaMotorShowrav4toyotatoyota rav4ToyotaRav4Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19358829/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/15/geneva-preview-redesigned-toyota-rav4-leaks-out/19358829/article-detail.xml 19358829 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/2010-toyota-rav-4-1-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/2010-toyota-rav-4-1-630op.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Toyota continuing to sell recalled vehicles without a fix]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/25/report-toyota-continuing-to-sell-recalled-vehicles-without-a-fi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/25/report-toyota-continuing-to-sell-recalled-vehicles-without-a-fi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/25/report-toyota-continuing-to-sell-recalled-vehicles-without-a-fi/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Toyota is in the beginning stages of a new voluntary recall that affects 2.3 million vehicles. The recall involves accelerator pedal mechanisms that could stick due to wear and cause unintended acceleration, though it is technically not related to an earlier, larger recall to fix floor mats on certain Toyota and Lexus models that could also cause accelerator pedals to stick.

The folks over at Kicking Tires spoke with National Manager of Environmental Safety and Quality for Toyota, John Hanson, who revealed that vehicles affected by the recall are still sitting on dealer lots for customers to purchase in spite of their potentially defective accelerator pedal mechanisms. Hanson said the reason that Toyota is letting dealers still sell the vehicles even though they may have to come back in for repair is because the problem tends to appear after extended wear. However, since Toyota doesn't yet have a fix figured out, dealers can reportedly only replace the defective pedal mechanisms with new mechanisms of the same type for now. Hanson is also reportedly unsure about whether or not the vehicles affected by the recall are still being manufactured, but said he thought the lines involved were down.

While it is within the law for Toyota to keep affected vehicles on the lot given the fact that the recall is voluntary, we hope its dealers have enough scruples to inform potential customers about the issue before these vehicles are purchased.

[Source: Kicking Tires | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Report: Toyota continuing to sell recalled vehicles without a fix originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AvalonCamryCorollafloor matfloor matsFloorMatFloorMatsHighlanderMatrixNHTSARav4Sequoiasticking pedalStickingPedaltoyotatoyota recallToyotaRecallTundraunintended accelerationUnintendedAccelerationMon, 25 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19329256/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/01/25/report-toyota-continuing-to-sell-recalled-vehicles-without-a-fi/19329256/article-detail.xml 19329256 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/gyi0059354449opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/gyi0059354449opt.jpg -1 2