Toyota Recalls 6.5 Million Vehicles Globally Over Power Window Switch Malfunction

Toyota Motor Corp. announced Wednesday that it will recall about 6.5 million vehicles globally due to a power window malfunction that could potentially cause a fire. The models under recall include the Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Scion xB, Sequoia and Tundra.

About 2.7 million of the recalled vehicles were in North America, 1.2 million in Europe and 600,000 in Japan, the company said, according to Bloomberg. The vehicles were manufactured between January 2005 and August 2006, and August 2008 and June 2010 in Japan, Toyota reportedly said. Some of the recalled cars were also produced outside Japan between August 2005 and August 2006, and January 2009 and December 2010, the company added.

The power window glitch was a result of inconsistent lubrication on electrical contact points in the power window switch during the manufacturing process. The flaw can cause debris to accumulate, leading to short circuit, which can result in the switch assembly’s overheating and melting, possibly causing a fire, Toyota explained, according to Reuters.

An American customer complained to Toyota about a burn he sustained on the hand and the automaker also received 11 reports of the switch and door trim being burnt, Bloomberg reported. The company said its dealers will examine the switch and apply heat-resistant grease, a 45-minute process. The internal circuit board will then reportedly be replaced if the switch does not operate properly, the carmaker said.

Toyota officials in India could not be reached for comment when contacted by International Business Times.