Toyota is recalling a significant number of RAV4s for an odd problem with replacement 12-volt battery sizes. The automaker recently announced a recall of around 1.85 million units in the U.S. and an additional 306,000 vehicles in Canada and Mexico. Vehicles from between 2013 and 2018 are involved in the action.
The automaker’s recall announcement stated that “some replacement 12-volt batteries of the size specified for the subject vehicles have smaller top dimensions than others. If a small-top battery is used for replacement and the hold-down clamp is not tightened correctly, the battery could move when the vehicle is driven with forceful turns. The movement could cause the positive battery terminal to contact the hold-down clamp and short-circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.”
A spokesperson declined to answer whether Toyota was aware of fires or accidents related to the issue. The automaker will notify owners of affected vehicles by late December, and the fix includes replacing the battery tray, positive terminal cover, and hold-down clamp with revised components.
Before this action, the RAV4 from those model years only had a couple of minor recalls related to incorrectly numbered vehicle weight rating labels. Toyota and Lexus are also among the least recalled automakers, with several models earning top spots in reliability rankings. The action also more than doubled the number of vehicles Toyota has recalled in 2023, as its previous total was around 1.4 million.
[Image: Toyota]
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