Toyota is recalling more than 16,000 RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid SUVs from the 2021 model year because they can lose power while moving. The problem can happen when drivers use them in EV mode during cold weather.
Toyota tells federal safety regulators that the problem relates to software that controls the battery’s charge level. EV mode lets the RAV4 Prime function like an electric vehicle, drawing power only from its battery and not starting its gasoline engine. If drivers do that long enough to deplete the battery to a certain level in cold weather, accelerating hard can cause the software to shut down the battery unexpectedly.
Drivers will see a brief warning message before it happens. But, Toyota says, sudden power loss at higher speeds could lead to a crash.
Dealers will fix the problem with a software update.
Many cars are recalled to fix safety defects, sometimes more than once. While automakers try to reach every owner to ask them to bring the vehicle in for repair, they rarely reach them all. Millions of vehicles on American roads need free recall repairs. To find out if your car is one of them, check the easy VIN tool at our recall center.
