The bloom is off Toyota’s quality reputation as woes continue on its highest technology car.
Toyota’s Japanese executives have decided to recall 378,000 Prius vehicles in the United States from model years 2004-2007 to fix a defective water pump. The U.S. service action is part of a much larger global recall, which all told encompasses 650,000 Prius hybrid models.
It is the latest quality problem from Toyota, whose sales are no longer growing with the market in the U.S., once its most profitable.
Toyota Motor Corporation has just released a statement that says the pump can cause coolant to overheat, resulting in reduced power output of the hybrid powertrain.
The heating of the components could trigger the check engine light. If the temperature of the hybrid components becomes too high, the vehicle will enter a “fail-safe mode” to prevent hybrid component damage. In English this means a Prius could suddenly suffer a drastic loss of power, which the driver cannot override.
Toyota is claiming that this is a “customer support campaign” and is not a recall.
“Toyota has determined it is not a safety issue and the company has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition,” the beleaguered automaker said.
Call it a “limited service campaign” or a recall, owners of 2004-2007 Prius Hybrid models will be notified by first class mail beginning in early December 2010. Toyota dealers will replace the water pump with a newly designed one at no charge to the vehicle owner as long as the owner arranges for service before Nov. 30, 2013.
Prius owners who have previously paid for repairs to address this specific condition should refer to the owner letter for instructions regarding reimbursement.
Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371.
