Toyota Recalls 192,000 Prius Cars In The US Over Fire Risk

Toyota is recalling approximately 1 million hybrid cars around the world due to fire risk, 192,000 of which are located in the United States. The Prius vehicles recalled in the US include the 2016, 2017, and 2018 model years; impacted owners will be able to visit their local dealership for a free inspection and, if necessary, repair.

According to Toyota, its Prius vehicles feature a Power Control Unit with an engine wire harness connected to it. In the recalled cars, this wire harness can potentially make contact with the cover at the connection point, this resulting in possible wear over time. Assuming that wear happens, an electrical short circuit could result.

That possible electrical short circuit could then generate heat; if it gets hot enough, the car itself may catch on fire, posing a serious safety issue for occupants and others on the road. For this reason, Toyota has chosen to recall the impacted models and inspect the wire harness assembly at dealerships.

If any given recalled vehicle is found to have an exposed wire core, the dealership will replace the component with one that includes a sleeve to protect the wire. Assuming no damage is present, the dealership will alternatively use tape to protect the cable from possible future issues.

Recall notices detailing the issue will be mailed to impacted vehicle owners starting later this month.

SOURCE: Toyota