Toyota to recall 6.5 mn vehicles worldwide over faulty power window switch

Japanese car maker Toyota yesterday said that it is recalling 6.5 million vehicles worldwide over an error that occurred during the manufacturing of a power window switch which could lead to a fire.

The recall of a dozen different Toyota models, include the 2007 and 2009 Camry Hybrid, 2008-2011 Highlander Hybrid SUVs, Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, Tundra and other models.

The recall affects around 2.7 million vehicles in North America, 1.2 million in Europe, 6 lakh in Japan and another 2 million in other regions.
 
Toyota has identified the problem which is due to insufficient lubrication of the power window master switch, mounted on the driver's side of the car.

The switch and its sliding electrical contacts are lubricated with a spray-on grease, however, this grease ''may have been applied inconsistently during the manufacturing process, not providing sufficient coverage,'' Toyota said in a statement.
 
''During normal operation, debris caused by wear from the electrical contact points can accumulate between the terminals where the grease was insufficiently applied, and a short circuit could form between the contact points by the debris and conductive moisture that may enter the module,'' the statement added.

''If a short circuit occurs, the switch assembly may overheat and melt. A melting switch may produce smoking and, potentially, lead to a fire.''

Along with this current recall, the total recall by Toyota worldwide on faulty window switches is now 14 million.