The defect
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
The risk
If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Toyota 4Runner | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Toyota Avalon | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Toyota Camry | 1988, 1989, 1990, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Toyota Camry Solara | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Toyota Corolla | 1989, 2009, 2010 |
| Toyota FJ Cruiser | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Toyota Prius | 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Toyota Sequoia | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Toyota Sienna | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Toyota Tundra | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Toyota Venza | 2009, 2010 |
Components: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota 4Runner | 2005 | 410 | 5 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 2006 | 381 | 5 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 2007 | 154 | 5 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 2008 | 96 | 5 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 2009 | 22 | 6 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 2010 | 147 | 12 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 2011 | 163 | 10 |
| Toyota Avalon | 2005 | 228 | 7 |
| Toyota Avalon | 2006 | 360 | 7 |
| Toyota Avalon | 2007 | 243 | 6 |
| Toyota Avalon | 2008 | 349 | 6 |
| Toyota Avalon | 2009 | 91 | 7 |
| Toyota Avalon | 2010 | 46 | 7 |
| Toyota Camry | 1988 | 64 | 4 |
| Toyota Camry | 1989 | 113 | 3 |
| Toyota Camry | 1990 | 134 | 2 |
| Toyota Camry | 2005 | 721 | 5 |
| Toyota Camry | 2006 | 317 | 5 |
| Toyota Camry | 2007 | 2,888 | 9 |
| Toyota Camry | 2008 | 933 | 7 |
| Toyota Camry | 2009 | 1,293 | 10 |
| Toyota Camry | 2010 | 604 | 9 |
| Toyota Camry Solara | 2006 | 116 | 2 |
| Toyota Camry Solara | 2007 | 126 | 2 |
| Toyota Camry Solara | 2008 | 83 | 2 |
| Toyota Corolla | 1989 | 23 | 1 |
| Toyota Corolla | 2009 | 1,459 | 13 |
| Toyota Corolla | 2010 | 1,244 | 17 |
| Toyota FJ Cruiser | 2007 | 593 | 8 |
| Toyota FJ Cruiser | 2008 | 124 | 9 |
Other seats recalls in 2016
43 of the 919 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2016 concerned the seats; Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC filed 26 campaigns in all.
| 16V933000 27 Dec 2016 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 16V932000 27 Dec 2016 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 16V874000 5 Dec 2016 | Ford Motor Company |
| 16V816000 10 Nov 2016 | Bentley Motors, Inc. |
| 16V794000 1 Nov 2016 | Winnebago Industries, Inc |
| 16V770000 24 Oct 2016 | Kia Motors America |
| 16V718000 7 Oct 2016 | REV Ambulance Group Orlando, INC. |
| 16V703000 30 Sept 2016 | Halcore Group, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2016