Sudden stalling caused by a software defect.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling more than 266,000 2013-2015 Prius and 2014-2017 Prius V hybrid vehicles originally not included in recall 18V-684. Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the Denso inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to suddenly stall while being driven.
With this safety defect, power steering and braking will not be affected. However, a hybrid system that shuts down without entering a fail-safe mode could result in the vehicle losing motive power while driving at higher speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update for the hybrid system. If the vehicle has experienced an inverter failure with hybrid system faults, the inverter assembly will be repaired or replaced, prior to software update.
These vehicles were not involved in Safety Recall 18V-684 because they were originally equipped with a version of the software that contains improved thermal management. Repeated driving under high-load driving patterns (e.g., from a stop, applying nearly full throttle and then gradually further accelerating to full throttle) could cause higher thermal stress in specific transistors in the IPM. This causes damage to those transistors over time. It can lead to illumination of various warning lights and the display of a warning message on the instrument panel.
In cases where a specific transistor fails in a certain way during a high-load driving condition, such as during hard acceleration, there is a possibility for an abnormally high voltage to be generated that could exceed a certain limit in the software and IPM circuit design causing the hybrid system to shut down instead of entering a fail-safe driving mode that would provide reduced motive power and allow the vehicle to be driven for certain distances.
All repairs will be performed free of charge as is required by U.S. law. This recall is expected to begin 10 August 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota’s number for this recall is 20TB10 / 20TA10. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Toyota Recalls 266k More Prius Models for Stalling
Sudden stalling caused by a software defect.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling more than 266,000 2013-2015 Prius and 2014-2017 Prius V hybrid vehicles originally not included in recall 18V-684. Excessive voltage in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) within the Denso inverter may cause the hybrid system to shut down, causing the vehicle to suddenly stall while being driven.
With this safety defect, power steering and braking will not be affected. However, a hybrid system that shuts down without entering a fail-safe mode could result in the vehicle losing motive power while driving at higher speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software update for the hybrid system. If the vehicle has experienced an inverter failure with hybrid system faults, the inverter assembly will be repaired or replaced, prior to software update.
These vehicles were not involved in Safety Recall 18V-684 because they were originally equipped with a version of the software that contains improved thermal management. Repeated driving under high-load driving patterns (e.g., from a stop, applying nearly full throttle and then gradually further accelerating to full throttle) could cause higher thermal stress in specific transistors in the IPM. This causes damage to those transistors over time. It can lead to illumination of various warning lights and the display of a warning message on the instrument panel.
In cases where a specific transistor fails in a certain way during a high-load driving condition, such as during hard acceleration, there is a possibility for an abnormally high voltage to be generated that could exceed a certain limit in the software and IPM circuit design causing the hybrid system to shut down instead of entering a fail-safe driving mode that would provide reduced motive power and allow the vehicle to be driven for certain distances.
All repairs will be performed free of charge as is required by U.S. law. This recall is expected to begin 10 August 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota’s number for this recall is 20TB10 / 20TA10. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.