Even the most reliable brands sometimes make mistakes
This time, the company Toyota has come under scrutiny. Despite its strong reputation for quality control, the automaker had to face a rather awkward situation related to spare parts for the bZ4X electric vehicle.
A recall has been announced in the US for several vehicles due to confusion with replacement rear lights. So what exactly happened?
The essence of the problem with the lights
Key points of the incident:
Details of the error and investigation
As reported in a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear lights originally intended for replacement in South Korea were accidentally distributed in the USA. Some of them may have been installed on bZ4X models sold in America.
Due to differences in automotive lighting regulations between the two countries, the South Korean specification lights do not comply with American standards. The key problem lies in the side marker: the Korean units have a side reflector, while US regulations require a side marker light.
Toyota first encountered the problem in October when an order for parts came from Canada requesting a left rear light of Korean specification for the bZ4X. This raised concerns and prompted the company to launch an investigation.
It revealed that both American and Korean versions of replacement parts were present in the catalog, but the description of the Korean version also contained the word “USA.” This likely confused those purchasing replacement lights.
Toyota believes that a total of 79 right and left rear lights intended for South Korea may have entered the United States, although the company did not specify how many of them were installed on customer vehicles.
Further actions by the company
Owners of bZ4X vehicles who have already replaced their rear lights will be notified by mail. Toyota dealerships will inspect the installed parts to determine if the correct US specification lights were used. If Korean units are found, Toyota will replace them free of charge.
This case is a reminder of the complexity of global supply chains in modern automotive manufacturing, where one small error in a catalog or labeling can lead to international recalls. For Toyota, which is traditionally associated with high reliability, such an incident is particularly noticeable, even if it concerns a relatively small batch of parts. The swift response and free replacement demonstrate a standard approach to correcting such situations, aimed at complying with safety standards and maintaining customer trust.