Toyota window switch recall: Clarification on media reports of ‘fire risk’ issue

Toyota has today announced a recall of 138,000 Yaris, Auris and RAV4 cars in the UK.

This involves the electrical contact in the driver’s side Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), which may over time come to feel ‘notchy’ or sticky during operation.

If commercially available cleaning lubricants are applied to the switch to address the notchy or sticky feel, the switch assembly may overheat and / or melt.

In the USA, issues of melting or erosion are categorised under ‘fire’ by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If a car’s power window switch feels notchy, owners should not attempt to address the issue themselves with commercially available lubricants.

Toyota engineers have conducted various simulation tests, including using commercially available lubricants.  In no instance did a fire result.

There has been only one case related to this issue in the UK, and no reported accidents.