7.4million vehicles world wide in this recall

http://jalopnik.com/5950406/toyota-is-recalling-74-million-cars-over-fiery-window-switches

Irregular application of lubricant. Causes all sorts of problems...

So they are not aware of any crashes, but how many fires are they aware of?

This has to be the ugliest regular cab truck on the market. The huge windows and doors are hideous.

FLAMES
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
FIRE HOSES
FIREMEN
FORD AND NOW TOYOTA

Didn't GM recently (few weeks ago) also recall some suv's for similiar issue with door switches?

Guess you have to ask, do you want a vehicle with maybe a fire risk or a RAM that's been reported to be generally UNSAFE?
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/9133556/the-general-forum/ram-1500-most-dangerous-unsafe-car-in-the-usa/index.html

or
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ram-pickup-tops-list-of-most-dangerous-cars-in-america-45606.html

@Hemi, You forgot Chrysler.

230,000 Ram Pickups Under Investigation For Fire Risk
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/jeep-grand-cherokee-dodge-ram-nhtsa-fire-risk_n_1694981.html

Chrysler recalling 87,000 Jeep Wranglers over fire risk
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2008/12/chrysler-recall.html

Chrysler Recalling Over 100,000 Dodge Ram Diesels for Possible Fire Hazard
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2008/12/chrysler-recall.html

fluorine grease = WTF

I respect Toyota overall but this type of thing is just typical in my experience. They tend to over-design to the point where the smallest thing can become a huge problem.

(I owned a 1985 Celica that had the engine seize up because the timing chain ate a whole thru the water pump and pushed water into the engine. The mechanic told me the reason was because I hadn't been using Toyota brand oil filters, which wouldn't have allowed the timing chain to become slack over time. Frickin Bizarre IMO.)

Why not just make a window switch that even if someone sprays WD-40 into it, it won't catch the vehicle on fire? good grief

TOYOTA BLOWS!!!!
DON'T PARK THOSE TOYOTA'S NEXT TO THOSE FORD'S IT WILL CAUSE A 4 ALARM FIRE!

FLAMES

FIRES

FORD AND TOYOTA RECALLS!!!

Yeah, this is a "massive" recall. Only because of the number of vehicles affected. However, the severity of the problem is extremely minor. And the only risk of fire, as explained by this article, is if vehicle owners use commercial lubricant (i.e. spraying WD-40) on the switch. There is no inherent fire risk due to the switch itself. Go spray some lubricant on switches in other cars and trucks or light switches in your house and see what happens.

From Reuters: "No accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the problem, though there is a possibility the malfunctioning switches could emit smoke....."

Where there is smoke there is fire. The lubricants can also cause a fire, but a malufunctioning switch by itself could emit smoke and cause a fire.

@hemi still in denial. Even after post valid links on Dodge issues. Wait, sorry they dropped the name "Dodge", just a plain old Ram now.

@Dan, Reuters got it wrong...

The smoke is only if the lube is used. If no lube is used there will be no smoke!

This recall does not include the Tacoma!

I hope they leave the window down while pulling the Shutle! I would not want them to miss dirrections!

@Toycrusher84- foreplay helps.

@Rambo Motard Goat Herders Associaion - Not a problem for you Rambo types since you all use water based lubricants as opposed to petrolium based.

Another thread of Toyota bashing. To hear guys talk you'd think President Toyoda is on the Navy SEALS hit list right after Bin Laden.

@Lou, Actually this thread doesn't have much Toyota bashing Just some ribbing about the recall and some spam from Hemi. I am proud to say there is a lack of bashing quite frankly.

@Jason - just being pre-emptive based on the Toyota tows the Endeavour thread.

OH WHAT A FEELING!!!! TOYOTA!!!

Toyota is recalling a breathtaking 7.4 million vehicles worldwide for a power window glitch that is a potential fire risk. It's the single biggest recall in the industry since Ford recalled 8 million cars in 1996 for an ignition issue that also could have caused engine fires.

Flames

Fires

Ford & Toyota!!

@ HEMI nazi.......... Dude your Ram spam is over the top, there has been an abundance of evidence that suggests the Ram is the worst truck made! Here's James' post once again.... wakeup!!!

230,000 Ram Pickups Under Investigation For Fire Risk
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/jeep-grand-cherokee-dodge-ram-nhtsa-fire-risk_n_1694981.html

Chrysler recalling 87,000 Jeep Wranglers over fire risk
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2008/12/chrysler-recall.html

Chrysler Recalling Over 100,000 Dodge Ram Diesels for Possible Fire Hazard
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2008/12/chrysler-recall.html

RAM

SPAM

ITALIANS MOST DANGEROUS

Hey, everyone on this site bitches because of the price of a pickup, so manufacturers try to reduce costs.

Like any major organisation they set standards for contractors to meet. Who ever produces the cheapest "quote" will generally recieve the contract.

To improve profits companies continually alter practices and even something as simple as moving and modifying work areas can produce these types of problems.

We have over 300 000 affected vehicles here in Australia so there is one factory worldwide that produces these switches, and judging by the dates in China or Thailand.

And the contractor probably produces these switches for other manufacturers.

Also, a risk assessment is carried out prior to a recall. It is comforting to know that ALL manufacturers are taking this apect of their responsibily seriously. And, it also appears the standards for assessing these problems is consistent across most manufacturers.

wow what about ford court case for fuel injection this is true or not.?????

@Big Al from Oz true. You may of noticed the pattern - if there is a recall of a Detroit truck it invariably is the supplier's fault. If it is a Jap beand then it is their fault.

My 1996 Toyota Corolla that was made in the U.S.A. just flipped over 200,000 miles on the way to work last night!

Still gets about 36-38 mpg back and forth to work and runs great with the 1.8 liter gas engine!

2010 Tacoma will hit 30,000 soon and she runs too perfect, get to spend more $$$ on mods than repairs, in fact my only unscheduled maint./repair was the broken passenger side mirror, 10 minute repair job with a new one! Three small nuts and a wire, very simple!

@oxi-There was an article on AOL earlier this year about a guy with a 2002 Tacoma 4 x 4 crewcab that went 1 million miles without any major repairs with oil changes every 6,000 miles. At a little over a million miles he replaced the engine. How's that for mileage.

@Lou, Big Al from Oz, and oxi--It is unfortunate but recalls are happening more frequently among most brands. As for Toyota I think they are a solid corporation and they will take care of this. My one neighbor has a extended cab 2002 4 x 4 Tacoma who took his truck in to the dealership to check for frame rust after the article on this site about frame rust. Not only did they clean and inspect his frame but they rust proofed it and gave him an extended warranty on rust for an additional 7 years.

I have been doing some more research on crossovers and a preowned Lexus comes out to be the best buy if you want a loaded hybrid crossover. For example a 2010 Preowned Lexus RX 450 which has a hybrid V-6 all wheel drive loaded with 23k miles goes for about 43k and a new Ford Explorer with EcoBoost 4 loaded goes for 50k and the Edge equipped the same goes for 40k but both the Explorer and Edge are front wheel drive only. The mpgs on the Lexus are equal to the Edge but better than the Explorer. I have talked to a few friends and my brother that have owned Lexus who have told me how great the Lexus is and about the great service. Lexus is a Toyota product.

@JeffS - experts predict that recalls the size of Toyota's "unintended acceleration" will become more common place. Shared components are increasingly common as well as the complexity and use of electronics are contributors.

@Lou--The evolution of today's cars and trucks makes them more complex, thus more things to go wrong on them. Sharing components adds to the number of recalls as well. For the most part today's vehicles are much better than they were 30 to 40 years ago, but they are more complex and harder to work on and when something does go wrong they are hard to diagnose and much more expensive to repair. That also seems to be modern life in general, we are more reliant upon technology and when something goes wrong we are almost helpless. Anyway, we are in an everchanging World where technology has transformed our lives and there is no going back. Lou just think how much things have changed since you were your sons ages and how much things will change when your sons reach your age. That in itself would make for a good conversation.

s

According to documents provided by Toyota, there have been 161 "incidents" - which is everything from a switch that smells funny to actual smoke - but no flames. Ever.

Toyota also reports 9 injuries, but I'm told these are all minor burns and such...no one has ever been hurt in any significant way.

Finally, if you do the math, there's a 0.0067% chance that a vehicle in this recall could have a faulty switch.

So, to sum up, calling this a "major" recall is - at best - bad word choice, and at worst inflammatory (no pun intended).

Power windows have an inherent problem no one ever talks about. At least power door locks can be opened manually if power is lost. Not so with PWs.

When the Queen Isabella bridge was collapsed by a barge in S.Padre Island, 13 cars went into the water before police could block it off. The only survivor in those vehicles escaped drowning because he was able to roll down his "crank" window and swim free of the sinking coffin.

I know this is an unusual story, but we have multiple cars driving into low water crossings every year in central TX dispite efforts (turn around, don't drown!) to prevent it. That happens when it rains alot and sane people have their windows up in a rainstorm. If the engine dies, you die.

Most people have power windows these days so do yourself and loved ones a favor, buy a pointy hammer to keep in the glove box and pray you never need it.

This has been a public service announcement.

@Stevadore - the force required to break a side window is tiny. A centre punch will shatter it easily. A broken antenna twapped against the glass will usually break it too.
Myth Busters did a test on car immersions and the only way one can safely get out is by allowing pressure to equilibrate then open the door. That means the car must be almost completely full of water. Even with a window open, you won't be able to get out until water stops flowing into the car.