Toyota, Subaru recall EVs because tires might literally fall off
- Reference: 1656345606
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/06/27/toyota_subaru_recall_evs_because/
- Source link:
Toyota issued the recall last week for 2023 bZ4X all-electric SUVs, 2,700 of which are affected, the automaker said. Subaru is recalling all-electric Solterras, which were developed jointly with Toyota and have the same issue, Reuters [1]reported .
Japan's auto safety regulating body said "sharp turns and sudden braking could cause a hub bolt to loosen," Reuters said, though it's unknown if any actual accidents have been caused by the defect. In its [2]recall notice , Toyota said "all of the hub bolts" can loosen "after low-mileage use," but said it was still investigating the cause of, and driving conditions that can lead to, the issue.
[3]
Of the approximately 2,700 vehicles affected by the recall, 2,200 went to Europe, 260 to the US, 10 to Canada and 110 stayed in Japan. Subaru is recalling approximately 2,600 Solterras. Toyota said all owners should park affected vehicles until the issue is remedied. "Until remedy is available, any authorized Toyota dealer will pick up the vehicle and provide a loaner free of charge," Toyota said.
[4]Toyota wants 'closed loop' EV batteries in its future cars
[5]Tesla Autopilot accounts for 70% of driver assist crashes, says US traffic safety body
[6]Semi-autonomous cars sales move up a gear with 3.5 million units leaving forecourts
[7]What does my neighbour's Tesla have in common with a stairlift?
The [8]bZ4X was supposed to be Toyota's grand reentry into the EV market, which it left in 2014 when it discontinued the RAV4 EV. Toyota president Akio Toyoda said the company planned to have 30 BEV models (the bZ4X is the first of the line) [9]available by 2030 . As it's only been out for two months, a bZ4X recall this early could be bad news for the auto maker.
David Legget, automotive editor at GlobalData, told CNBC the recall will be a disappointment for Toyota, which has been under pressure to move further into the EV market. Legget said there could be a bright side, though: The recall was mechanical in nature and has "nothing to do with the car's electric powertrain," which he said could benefit Toyota if fixed quickly.
[10]
Toyota's latest projects appear to embrace an electric future that goes beyond vehicles. Its recently announced [11]home batteries made from recycled EV batteries recently rolled out in Japan and aim to compete with Tesla, Ford and Hyundai, each of which has developed a similar product.
In addition, Toyota has also been working with Redwood materials, founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, to develop closed-loop battery manufacturing that would recycle as much material from end-of-life batteries into new Toyota power supplies as possible.
[12]
The [13]chip shortage has [14]slowed Toyota's assembly lines as of late, with shutdowns happening at plants across Japan. The bZ4X production line was scheduled to suspend activity in May along with 15 other production lines. The bZ4X's line is [15]one of only four scheduled for reduced output this coming July.
At the time of writing, Toyota estimated it will produce 50,000 fewer vehicles than initially planned in 2022. We are awaiting further comment from both auto manufacturers. ®
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/toyota-recalls-2700-electric-vehicles-2022-06-23/
[2] https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-is-conducting-a-safety-recall-involving-2023-model-year-bz4x-vehicles/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YroogULTmKGSxUsPDO5MRwAAAEU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/21/toyota_redwood_materials_battery/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/15/tesla_autopilot_accounts_for_70/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/26/semiautonomous_cars_19_per_cent/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2020/12/11/something_for_the_weekend/
[8] https://www.caranddriver.com/toyota/bz4x
[9] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/24/toyota-issues-recall-for-electric-suv-following-concerns-about-wheels.html
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YroogULTmKGSxUsPDO5MRwAAAEU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/13/toyota_home_battery/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YroogULTmKGSxUsPDO5MRwAAAEU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2022/05/24/chip_shortages_hit_toyota/
[14] https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/37370481.html
[15] https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/37487297.html
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Tough to say without knowing what your needs and driving style are
I have been in a Kia Niro PHEV for the last few years. It's a type of car that Subaru has been refusing to sell in the US, a small light(ish) hatchback with good gas mileage and short range battery. 500 miles on a tank of gas, 25 on battery. It's a good road trip car, but if it's more than two people you will all need to pack like if you are used to a larger ride legacy wagon or someting Foz sized or larger. Bummer for the earlier Niros is that they use once "standard" 240v level 2 charge plugs that aren't supported on any of the thousands of fast DC charge points they are building. Mines a hybrid, so I can just put gas in it on longer trips, but that extra 25 miles on battery can make a bigger dent on the overall MPG then you might think.
I'd rather have the Subaru version of the same car if they made one with AWD and slightly better ground clearance, and trade off in spending a few more bucks and maybe eat a small MPG hit for the AWD. Also the Subies have traditionally been built tougher, the build quality of the Niro is fine but it can't take the same kind of beating.
Subaru's boxer engines have never been particularly reliable, particularly in turbo form. It's not a question of if but when their headgaskets fail. Also, simple maintenance jobs like changing the spark plugs are a pain.
Toyota plus Lexus, on the other hand, continue to be the paragon of reliability, mainly due to the tried and tested Toyota Production System that's been successfully replicated worldwide in countless industries.
Obligatory pedantry
It’s the *wheels* that are in danger of falling off, not the tires. (Or strictly speaking, not just the tires – the wheels+tires as a unit. Heading off any pedantry of my pedantry….)
Re: Obligatory pedantry
Heading off any pedantry of my pedantry
That's what you think...
Whatever is the root cause of this problem it couldn't affect UK models because they (we!) have tyres, not tires.
Re: Obligatory pedantry
And either way - since the recall is for hub bolts and not wheel nuts, it looks as if the whole hub is coming off. The wheel and tyre are mere courtesy details.
Re: Obligatory pedantry
Must be a rough ride... must hubs I see are square....
I assume that if this is after short mileage, it'll be after 100, not 1000
Reminds me of a guy I worked with
Many years ago, as he got a recall on his VW Polo because the front wheel may fall off, not through loose nuts but rotted out subframe - trouble is he got this a week after it fell off at a junction. Not the brightest spark as he only got it moved after the police prosecuted him for failing to move it for several days
Too literal
I tend to by a vehicle and drive it till the wheels come off. I was expecting that to work out differently,
"As it's only been out for two months, a bZ4X recall this early could be bad news for the auto maker."
No, no, they've simply adopted the "fail early" paradigm. Recalling n K units is lots better than recalling nnn K . Agile manufacturing at its best!
Quality control is for LOSERS!
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Toyota have ruined Subaru. Toyota, given a choice between a 1p and 2p part will take the 1p version every time regardless of QC implications.
To say nothing of the lack of engine development they really have called behind on all fronts.
I've owned a scoob of various models for the last 15 years but I think this is the last one for me. Minor problem of working out what I want next.