Toyota confirms recall of 223 NZ-new Prius hybrids

Toyota New Zealand confirms 223 New Zealand new Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles are included in a global recall due to a potential fire risk.

The vehicles were produced between June 2015 and May 2018.

The recall relates to the wire harness assembly which will be checked by a Toyota technician and the harness replaced if required.

“We have not yet been notified of how many used imported vehicles have been affected,” a Toyota New Zealand spokesman says.

“Customer safety is our upmost priority and we will be contacting all vehicle owners that are affected advising them of this recall.

“Any remedial work undertaken as the result of this recall will be at no cost to the customer.”

Toyota’s parent company says about 1.03 million hybrid models are being recalled world-wide due to a wiring issue that could pose a fire risk.

These include plug-in Prius hybrids and the plug-in C-HR compact crossover SUV sold in Japan, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Half a million of the affected models are in Japan.

Some 219,000 cars believed to be affected across Europe, the Daily Mail reports. Another 192,000 models will also need to be called back in the US, though it is only Prius versions in North America that are affected.

The issue is linked to the wire harness that connects to the hybrid power control unit.

It was found that this can come into contact with the covering at the connection point.

If dust accumulates on the wire harness or the cover, the insulation on the wires could wear down over time due to vehicle vibrations.

This could cause an electrical short circuit, which could generate heat and lead to a risk of fire, Toyota says.

Toyota spokesman Jean-Yves Jault says the issue led to one incident of a short circuiting in Japan which produced smoke from the vehicle.

Affected models will have a protective sleeved added to the engine wire harness if the wire core is exposed.

The Daily Mail

says the global recall will be the biggest for Toyota since it had to contact owners of about 2.9 million cars with faulty Takata airbags from 2016 onwards.