Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. (TMS),
has announced a voluntary safety recall involving
approximately 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700
Lexus RX 400h vehicles sold in the U.S. No other
Toyota or
Lexus vehicles are involved.
The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) located inside
the Hybrid System Inverter contains a control board
with transistors. Certain transistors on the
control boards in some of the subject vehicles were
inadequately soldered and could be damaged from heat
caused by a large current flow during high-load
driving.
If this were to occur, various warning lamps will
illuminate on the instrument panel. In most cases
the vehicle will enter a fail-safe driving mode,
resulting in reduced power in which the vehicle can
still be driven for short distances.
In limited instances, the power supply
circuit fuse could blow when the transistor is
damaged. If the fuse blows, the hybrid system will
stop and the vehicle will coast to a stop.
Toyota is currently working on
obtaining the necessary replacement parts. Once the
replacement parts are available, we will notify
owners. In the Interim, owners of the involved
vehicles will be notified of the recall by first
class mail in mid-July, 2011.
Once the replacement parts have been produced in
sufficient quantities, Toyota will send a second
owner notification by first class mail advising
owners to make an appointment with an authorized
Toyota dealer to have the IPM inspected and if
necessary replaced at no charge.
Detailed information and answers to questions are
available to customers at www.toyota.com and the Toyota
Customer Experience Center (1 800-331-4331) or www.lexus.com and Lexus Customer
Satisfaction (1 800-255-3987).
