Toyota Australia is recalling 1899 Toyota Prados built between March and April 2019 because of the fuel pipe being improperly tightened and the potential for it to leak.
Toyota Australia has issued a recall for 1899 Toyota Prados built between March and April this year (VIN range: 0K133223 to 0K138544). Also involved is the new Toyota HiAce.
In its recall notice, Toyota said there was no potential for an engine fire.
“This recall is due to a production issue which has the potential to affect the tightening torque of the fuel pipe that supplies the common rail. If this were to occur, fuel may leak from the pipe resulting in an engine stall,” the notice read.
Toyota Australia will contact all affected owners and urge them to visit their local Toyota dealership to have the fuel pipe replaced free of charge. The work is expected to take around 3-4 hours depending on the dealership’s workload at the time.
Toyota Q&A:
Q2. What is the condition? (Description of problem)
A2. In the fuel injection system of the diesel engine, due to improper tightening torque instruction of the fuel pipe, which connects the fuel pump to the common rail, there is a possibility that, depending on the assembly variation of the pipe, this tightening portion could become loose by vibration of the engine. If this were to occur, the fuel may leak, resulting in an engine stall.
Reference
1) Fuel pump: A device that draws the fuel from the fuel tank and pumps it to the fuel injection device.
2) Common rail: A high-pressure vessel that holds fuel pressurized by a fuel pump.
SQ1. What does it mean that the tightening torque indication is inappropriate?
SA1. The instructed tightening torque value is insufficient
SQ2. Is this a design issue or production issue?
SA2. This is a production issue.
SQ3. Are there any symptoms/warnings before the condition appears in a vehicle?
SA3. No.
SQ4. Can it lead to a fire?
SA4. There is no possibility of fire because there are no ignition factors surrounding the fuel leak.
Q3. What does the remedy involve?
A3. For all involved vehicles, Toyota dealers will replace the fuel pipe and associated clamp with new parts FREE OF CHARGE to the vehicle owner
Q4. How long will the replacement take?
A4. We expect the replacement to take approximately 3- 4 hours.
Q5. Regarding this recall, when did you receive the first report on this condition? What have you been doing before the recall?
A5. We would like to refrain from commenting.
SQ1. Why are you refraining from commenting?
SA1. Information comes to us in many different ways. A single initial report cannot identify a trend and rarely prompts a recall. When we identify what might be a trend, we monitor and investigate the issue, and, if we determine there is a safety-related defect, we will begin a recall. Therefore, we would like to refrain from commenting.
Q6. How many reports from the market (field technical reports, dealer contacts, customer complaints, other) have you received?
A6. We would like to refrain from commenting.
SQ1. Why are you refraining from commenting?
SA1. Given that there are many different sources of information with varying degrees of reliability, it is difficult to know the existence, or the exact number of times this condition has occurred. Therefore, we would like to refrain from commenting.
SQ2. Why were all conditions not identified in the plant?
SA2. Because the tightening portion of the fuel pipe may be loosened due to engine vibration during the operation of the vehicle.
Q7. When was an improvement implemented in mass-produced vehicles? What was the improvement?
A7. Often, production changes are phased in for a variety of reasons, and at different times for different models or production facilities. In this case, in April 2019, the tightening torque of the fuel pipe was changed at the engine plant.
SQ1. Despite changing the tightening torque in April 2019, why is the target production period until June 2019?
SA1. Because some of the target engines were not installed in the vehicle until June 2019
Q8. Can you explain the difference in timing between the production changes and the recall?
A8. We are always looking to improve our products, and often make production changes for various reasons before we know whether a particular issue will develop into a safety-related trend and, ultimately, a recall.
Q9. Hilux vehicles are equipped with the same engine, are any vehicles affected by this recall?
A9. Hilux vehicles in Australia are not affected because Australian delivered Hilux vehicles are equipped with an engine made in a different production plant.
