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Two Months After Launch, Toyota Recalls Its First All-electric Car Due To Risk Of Wheels Coming Off
Two months after launch, Toyota recalls its first fully-electric vehicle due to risk of wheels coming off on motion.
The recalls affects nearly 3,000 Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs over the potentially deadly wheel defect.
Toyota implores owners not to drive their vehicles “until a remedy is performed”.
Subaru also issued a similar recall for about 2,600 of its first all-electric vehicle, the Solterra.
The bZ4X and Solterra are functionally identical and are jointly produced on the same lines at Toyota’s facility.
Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corporation on Thursday announced a broad recall of its first fully-electric vehicle, the Toyota bZ4X EV, due to risk of wheel coming off while driving at speed.
The recall is coming barely two months after its debut and it affects 2,700 of the electric Crossovers. Of the affected vehicles, 2,200 were destined for Europe, 260 for the United States, 20 for Canada and 110 for Japan.
Toyota said sharp turns and sudden braking could cause all the hub bolts to loosen, increasing the risk of a crash. It implores owners not to drive their vehicles “until a remedy is performed,”
“No one should drive these vehicles until the remedy is performed,” Toyota said in the Thursday notice.
“After low-mileage use, all of the hub bolts on the wheel can loosen to the point where the wheel can detach from the vehicle.
“If a wheel detaches from the vehicle while driving, it could result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
“The cause of the issue and the driving patterns under which this issue could occur are still under investigation.”
Subaru also issued a similar recall for about 2,600 of its first all-electric vehicle, the Solterra. The bZ4X and Solterra are functionally identical and are jointly produced on the same lines at Toyota’s Motomachi facility.
The bZX4’s 355-Volt lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 71.4 kWh allows a range of 500 km (311 miles) for the FWD variant and 460 km (286 miles) for the heavier AWD variant. The battery supports up to 6.6 kW AC charging and up to 150 kW DC charging that is capable of an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.
