Toyota, Subaru, and Lexus Suspend EV Sales Right as Customers Hurry to Meet Tax Deadline | Carscoops
A recall has triggered a stop sale order for the Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, and Lexus RZ.
Approximately 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) from Toyota, Subaru, and Lexus are affected due to a climate control issue that may interfere with defroster performance. Dealers will perform HVAC software updates and examine the electrical compressor.
The recall involves 94,320 electric vehicles in the United States, halting sales for models available at dealerships. The issue arises from a flawed climate control system that can hinder the functioning of the defroster and defogger.
Affected models include the 2023-2025 Toyota bZ4X, 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra, and 2023-2025 Lexus RZ, all of which share a common platform, with the bZ4X accounting for the majority of the recall at 41,499 units.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, poor programming in the HVAC system can lead to a "failsafe mode" that disables heater operation and affects defroster capabilities. This scenario reportedly only occurs under certain conditions, such as a specific failure mode of the electrical compressor.
In cold weather, this situation may prevent the system from clearing frost, ice, or fog from the windshield, thereby diminishing visibility and heightening the risk of accidents.
Toyota learned about the issue from an inquiry by Transport Canada. Initially, they did not foresee a significant problem, believing the EVs were equipped with two heating sources, meaning if one failed, the other would still work.
However, testing under "extreme cold conditions" did not confirm windshield fogging but did show poorer heater performance than anticipated. This led to a more thorough investigation, which ultimately found that a failure in the electric compressor could cause the HVAC ECU to enter a "failsafe mode" that also shuts down the secondary heat source, which was previously thought to remain functional.
Fortunately, addressing the issue is relatively simple; dealers will update the climate control software and, if necessary, inspect and replace the electrical compressor.
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Toyota, Subaru, and Lexus Suspend EV Sales Right as Customers Hurry to Meet Tax Deadline | Carscoops
A recall has triggered a stop sale order for the Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, and Lexus RZ.