by Recall of Electric Vehicles Due to Climate Control Issues
Toyota, Subaru, and Lexus have announced a recall of approximately 100,000 electric vehicles due to a malfunction in the climate control system that may affect the operation of the heating and the clearing of ice and fog from the windshield. Sales of the affected models have been temporarily suspended.
Recall Details
The measures concern the Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, and Lexus RZ models manufactured in 2023–2025. They all share a common technical platform, and the largest number of vehicles affected by the recall is the Toyota bZ4X.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the HVAC system software may switch to a fail-safe mode, leading to the cessation of heating and affecting the windshield defogging function.
The Problem and Its Consequences
If a malfunction occurs in cold weather, the system may fail to remove ice, snow, or windshield fogging, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of an accident.
Problem Identification and Investigation
Information about the malfunction was received from Transport Canada. It was initially believed that the presence of two heat sources in these electric vehicles would prevent serious consequences; however, further testing in extreme conditions revealed worse heating performance than expected.
A detailed investigation showed that a failure of the electric compressor could cause the climate control system to switch to a fail-safe mode, which also turns off the backup heat source.
Problem Resolution
Dealerships will perform an update of the climate control system software, as well as inspect and, if necessary, replace the electric compressor.
This recall underscores the importance of software reliability in modern vehicles, especially in conditions where driver safety depends on the correct operation of electronic systems. The manufacturers emphasize that they are taking all measures to quickly resolve the issue and guarantee the safety of their customers.
