Toyota Recall: 6.5 Million Vehicles Pose Window-Switch Fire Hazard

Toyota has issued a worldwide recall to fix 6.5 million vehicles that feature a defective power-window switch that could catch fire.

Because the window switch "may have been manufactured with insufficient lubricant grease," it could short-circuit and overheat, posing a fire hazard, the company said, according to USA Today.

The company stated that it is unaware of any crashes caused by the defect.

The recall, which is similar to a previous one issued for the 2007-2009 models, affects several models from the model years 2007-2011.

They include the 2007 and 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009-11 Corolla, 2008-11 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2009-11 Matrix, 2006-11 RAV4, 2009-11 Sequoia, 2009-11 Tundra, 2006-10 Yaris, 2009-11 Scion xB and 2009-10 Scion xD.

Toyota said it should only take mechanics 45 minutes to fix the hazard by applying heat-resistant grease.

The part supplier, Tokai Rika Co., will book a 14.5 billion yen ($121 million) charge for the recall, Bloomberg News reported. 

Of the 6.5 million vehicles affected, 2.7 million are in North America, 1.2 million in Europe, and 600,000 in Japan.

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