Toyota is recalling a number of models built in factories in the US to correct a potential problem affecting the air conditioning evaporator unit housing.
The recall affects approximately 885,000 vehicles worldwide: the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon and Avalon Hybrid saloons and Venza crossovers built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky and Camry saloons built under contract by the Subaru plant in Indiana between August 2011 and June 2013.
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Only around 1,600 vehicles sold by Toyota in Europe are involved in the recall – none were sold in the UK.
The company said it had identified a risk of condensed water collecting at the bottom of the air conditioning evaporator unit, should the drain hose become clogged. Due to the location of the evaporator housing seam, accumulated water may leak through on to an adjacent airbag control module.
If the circuit inside the module becomes wet, a short circuit may occur, resulting in the airbag warning light being illuminated on the dashboard. In some cases, airbags could become disabled, or even be deployed.
Owners could be alerted to a problem by wet carpet in the front footwells or the airbag warning light showing. Toyota has received reports of two minor injury incidents connected to this issue although there have been no reports of any vehicle accidents.
Toyota dealers will apply sealant and a plate in the evaporator unit to prevent any potential water leak.
