Laguna Hills, CA – March 21, 2019 – Toyota is recalling certain 2019 Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The fuel filler pipe may have been incorrectly refastened to the fuel tank during a safety inspection after the vehicle was assembled. The improperly connected component may leak fuel, which could catch fire if a spark or ignition source is nearby. As many as 205 vehicles may be affected by this issue.
The Defect
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Recall Report on this issue, the fuel filler pipe may not have been properly reconnected to the fuel tank during an inspection after vehicle assembly. As a result, the improperly connected filler pipe could leak fuel, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
Timeline of Events
Toyota received two reports from dealers in January 2019 describing fuel leaking underneath the vehicle during refueling. The automaker began an investigation into the issue and found that the vehicles in these two reports had been part of a group of vehicles involved in an inspection for potential replacement of the fuel filler pipe prior to dealer delivery. The inspection was described as a quality confirmation activity.
Toyota then began a field survey to inspect additional vehicles that had been part of this quality confirmation activity. As a result of the survey, two additional vehicles with the same disconnected fuel filler pipe issue were identified.
Based on the investigation, quality confirmation activity team interviews and a review of the vehicle design drawings, Toyota determined that the vehicles did not meet certain U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standard requirements, and so decided to conduct a recall beginning in March 2019.
The Solution
The recall will begin March 2019. Toyota will notify all known owners of affected vehicles by April 15, 2019. Owners will be told to return their vehicles to a Toyota dealer for inspection of the fuel filler pipe. If it turns out that the pipe had been improperly connected or unsecured, the dealer will replace the fuel filler pipe with a new one at no cost, as the repair would be covered under Toyota’s new vehicle warranty.
Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota’s number for this recall is K0I. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 19V097000.
