Toyota and Subaru recall EVs for potential wheel fault

Toyota is recalling about 2700 bZ4X electrics globally and Subaru about 2600 related Solterra EVs for bolts which may come loose and risk wheels detaching.

Neither has been released yet in New Zealand for sale, the bZ4X due here in 2023 and the Solterra also expected soon.

While the cause is being investigated, no-one should drive the bZ4X, according to Toyota.

Many of the EVs recalled had yet to be delivered, most of the bZ4Xs destined for Europe.

Japan’s safety regulator says sharp turns and sudden braking could cause a hub bolt to loosen, raising the risk of a wheel coming off, although it’s unaware of any accidents caused by the defect, Reuters reports.

The bZ4X is the first in Toyota’s all-electric bZ (Beyond Zero) series.

Toyota is planning to have 30 EV models by 2030, selling 3.5 million EVs globally that year.

Subaru of New Zealand doesn’t have a Solterra and says it has not yet sold any Solterra vehicles to Kiwi customers, so is unaffected by the recall.

It’s working towards bringing Solterra here and doesn’t expect any global Solterra delays which may result from the recall to impact the Solterra on-sale date in New Zealand.

Subaru of New Zealand adds the Solterra is “a collaboration with Toyota using many of Subaru’s technologies” which will be clarified closer to the EV’s launch in this country.