Toyota Engine Problems Lead To Recall of 5.8M Vehicles With Risk of Sudden Stalling

For the second time, a recall impacting millions of Toyota and Lexus has been expanded, impacting more than 40 models sold since 2013, which contain defective fuel pump systems that may fail unexpectedly, resulting in an engine stall and increase the risk of an accident.

The Toyota and Lexus fuel pump recall expansion was announced on October 28, after the manufacturers determined an additional 1.5 million vehicles containing similar fuel pumps may be at risk of sudden operation failure, causing the vehicles to stall with the possibility of not restarting. The announcement brings the total number of vehicles affected by the problem to about 5.8 million.

The Japanese automaker issued the first fuel pump recall earlier this year in January, impacting approximately 700,000 vehicles manufactured from 2017 through 2019. The recall indicated certain vehicles were equipped with defective fuel pumps supplied by Denso Corporation of Japan, which could be prone to failing, resulting in an engine stall that could cause a loss of vehicle control and pose a crash hazard. The recall warning also indicated the vehicles may fail to restart after a stall event.

Following the initial recall, Toyota and Lexus began investigating the defect and subsequently discovered an additional 1,122,428 vehicles were equipped with a similar style of Denso Corp. fuel pumps, which may also face a higher rate of failure. This resulted in a recall expansion notice issued on March 4.

As the automaker continued to investigate and repair recalled vehicles, additional reports of fuel pump failure were discovered outside the scope of the original recall and expansion.

The second recall expansion was issued on October 28, impacting 1.5 million 2019 and 2020 RAV4, 2013 to 2015 Lexus LS 460 and GS 350, 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser and Lexus IS-F, 2014 and 2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2014 and 2015 Lexus GX 460, IS 350, LX 570, 2015 Lexus NX 200t and RC 350, 2017 Lexus IS 200t, RC 200t and GS 200t, 2017 to 2019 Toyota Highlander and Lexus GS 350, 2017 through 2020 Toyota Sienna and Lexus RX 350, 2018 and 2019 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Lexus GS 300, GX 460, IS 300, IS 350, LS 500h, LX 570, NX 300, RC 300, RC 350, 2018 through 2020 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and Lexus ES 350, LC 500, LC 500h, LS 500, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and Lexus UX 200 models.

To date, approximately 5.8 million vehicles impacted by the defect have been recalled worldwide, with more than 3 million registered in the United States.

Toyota is advising customers to be alert for warning lights and messages on the dashboard instrument panel or signs the engine is running rough or abnormal, as these could be indicators the fuel pump is experiencing the defect.

Toyota indicates customers will be notified of the recall via first class mail, which will include instructions on how to schedule a free repair at a local dealer, where dealers will be instructed to replace the fuel pump, free of charge.

Customers with additional questions are encouraged to contact Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or the Lexus Guest Experience Center at 1-800-255-3987.