2011 Toyota RAV4 Recall

This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers: C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904 C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905 C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907 C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909 C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911 C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913 C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571 C014100911 PU14000902 PK5A489J14 PK5A408J05 PU14000903

Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire.

Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.

On certain vehicles, the rear wheel suspension link arms could separate. This could result in loss of vehicle control and cause a crash resulting in injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace both suspension link arms and encase them in epoxy to prevent future improper servicing. Note: This recall supersedes recall 2013327. As part of the previous recall, dealers were to inspect the suspension arms for corrosion, replace them depending on their condition, and encase them in epoxy. Only vehicles which did not receive replacement of both suspension arms through the previous recall will need to be repaired under this campaign.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, in the event of a severe frontal collision, there is a possibility that the webbing of the seat belt in both second-row outboard seating positions could contact a portion of the metal seat cushion frame, become cut, and separate. If this occurs, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, which could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will install plastic protectors on the seat cushion frame in both second-row outboard seating positions.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles equipped with a water channel located underneath the cowl louver at the base of the windshield and above the windshield wiper link assembly, due to stresses applied to the water channel during the manufacturing process, a section of the channel in some vehicles may become deformed and prevent water from draining properly. If water were to collect in the channel, it may drip onto the joint that connects the windshield wiper link and wiper motor. Over time, water dripping on this joint could result in corrosion and/or wear to the joint, which could result in the separation of the wiper link from the wiper motor crank arm. If separation were to occur, the windshield wipers could become inoperative, which could limit the driver’s visibility under certain operating conditions which may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the water channel, the wiper link and wiper motor crank arm with ones of an improved design.

A failure of this component (structure) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On some vehicles, if the rear wheel alignment toe adjustment locking nuts are improperly tightened when an alignment is performed in the field, backlash may develop in the threaded portion of the suspension arm (shaft and turnbuckle), followed by the formation of rust. If this occurs, threads may wear, causing the arm to separate which could result in loss of vehicle control. Correction: Dealers will inspect the suspension arm threads for corrosion. If corrosion is found, the arm(s) will be replaced. If no corrosion is found, an epoxy sealer will be applied to the suspension arm to inhibit corrosion. Note: This recall supersedes recall 2012253. Vehicles that were repaired under the previous campaign will also need to be repaired under this campaign.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

This recall was replaced by Transport Canada recall no. 2013-327. On some vehicles, if the rear wheel alignment toe adjustment locking nuts are improperly tightened when an alignment is performed in the field, backlash may develop in the threaded portion of the suspension arm (shaft and turnbuckle), followed by the formation of rust. If this occurs, threads may wear, causing the arm to separate which could result in loss of vehicle control. Correction: Dealers will inspect the arms and verify the tightening torque of the lock nuts, or replace the arms, as necessary.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the side curtain airbag inflators may have been incorrectly manufactured and, as a result, one or both airbags may not deploy as intended. Failure of a side curtain airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted), could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both side curtain airbag assemblies.

A failure of this component (airbag) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).