(CNN Business)Toyota has loose nuts and bolts on one of the first mainstream electric cars and full-sized pickup trucks. The wheels and axles may come off.
Toyota warned owners of the BZ4X Electric SUV to stop driving because the wheels could fall. The SUV has just been launched in the United States, and the warnings and recalls announced by Toyota Motor Sales USA on Thursday apply to all approximately 260 BZ4X SUVs delivered to customers so far.
According to Toyota's announcement, BZ4X owners should immediately stop driving the vehicle. The bolts that secure the wheels can loosen even after traveling a relatively few miles on the road, and the wheels can come off. Toyota is still investigating why this can happen and under what conditions.
Toyota still doesn't know how to solve the problem, the automaker said. Toyota said Toyota dealers would take the customer's BZ4X and take it to the dealer until a remedy was found, while offering a free rental car.
The Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra electric crossover was jointly developed by two Japanese automakers. They share most of the engineering and are very similar. Subaru's spokesperson, Jessica Talman, said in an email that Subaru hasn't announced a similar recall for Soltera, as it hasn't yet been delivered to US customers.
The BZ4X is Toyota's first fully battery-powered electric vehicle, not a modified version of the gasoline-powered model. Toyota previously offered an electric version of the Rav4 SUV in some markets.
Toyota has announced a separate recall of approximately 46,000 2022 Toyota Tundra full size pickups that can loosen the nuts on the rear axle assembly. In some cases, this can disconnect the axle subassembly and affect track stability and braking, Toyota said. The company added that Tundra's issues have nothing to do with the issues affecting the BZ4X.
According to Toyota, to solve this problem, Toyota dealers will inspect and retighten the nuts for free if necessary. Toyota said in its announcement that some parts could be replaced free of charge if needed. However, Toyota has not warned Tundra owners to stop driving trucks immediately.
BZ4X and Tundra owners with questions about recalls can call Toyota Customer Service at 800-331-4331.
