2016-2018 Toyota Block Heater Recall

EDIT 2: Here is the official Toyota Canada recall announcement: https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/about/news/toyota-recalls-certain-accessory-block-heaters

EDIT:

Yesterday this arrived in the mail. While it’s not an official Toyota recall, it looks like Toyota Alaska, at least, is notifying owners of the problem directly. My original post was just handled by the Service department.



Original post is below, unedited.

Last week when I took my Tacoma in for warranty repairs, I was asked to review and sign the following document:



Since I did not get an official recall notice from Toyota, I wanted to both share the information with you guys and ask if anyone else has seen any more information on this.

From what I understand, the block heater isn’t offered with a US part number and dealers have to get them from Toyota Canada with a Canadian part number.

Full disclosure: I lost a 2016 Toyota Prius to a fire caused by the block heater, so I’ve got some special interest here.

Thanks for your time.

 

The block heater cord/plug is detachable on my Tacoma here in Canada. Unlike my wife’s Highlander which has the block heater plug hanging under the front bumper. Thanks for sharing! Might have to check Toyota.Ca for this recall. Thanks again!

 

I’m not sure that I understand what you mean about the cord/plug being detachable. Would you mind explaining or, even better, posting a photo?

And by all means please let me know what you hear from Toyota Canada!

For me, this was a dealer installed accessory, but the dealer installs them on ALL of their vehicles before delivery. They explained that the cord, which goes from the block heater to the front grille area, will be physically cut so that it cannot be reconnected or used. On my old 2008 car, the block heater was an insert about 4-6 inches long that connected to another cord that would then be plugged into an extension cord for it to work. Not sure what it’s like on the 2016+.

 

The same as the attached pic but on the 2016 it is on the bumper not on the fog light surround. Like what you described, you have to attach a cord with a female and male end. One end goes to the house plug (ac) and the other you connect to the pic that I attached. I will let you know once I get in touch with Toyota Canada.

 

Ah, I see what you mean. Yours looks much nicer, but it's a whole lot more expensive; our dealership charges $170 including installation.

Thanks for the reply!

 

OP updated to reflect new recall notice received in the mail.

 

Anyone have the OEM part number for the new block heaters?

 

According to my dealer, replacement parts are not yet available. Once they get something for me, I'll be sure to share here, though.

 

Just had my 20K service yesterday and they installed the new block heater for me after I inquired about it, so they do have them at this point if you had yours cut out!

 

hey did this go anywhere?

I'm finally getting around to sorting this out for myself......I had my block heater installed by a dealer in Minneapolis this past Feb 2018 (part #PU-140-00905-US1).

I asked them about the recall, but they said that since it's a Canadian recall they can't do anything about it. They told me to call Toyota Canada (1-888-869-6828) and have Toyota Canada send the Minneapolis Dealer a new wiring harness for the block........Toyota Canada just asked me to have the dealer call them direct (apparently there's a USA dealer specific hotline). So it's round in circles for me for now.

Does anybody know what the bad part # was and what the new replacement part # is? The rep I talked to didn't have that info.

I really want this to be covered by Toyota (USA or Canada) but worst case I'll buy another wiring harness outright just for the peace of mind. I want to keep my truck warm this winter, but not THAT warm.

 

I’ve posted all of the information that I have, but you may want to try calling the Anchorage Alaska dealer for more information. Since they install block heaters (or used to...) on all of their vehicles they probably had to deal with this more than others.

Your dealer should really be more proactive about this. If they installed the block heater they share liability with Toyota if anything happens to your vehicle. Having seen one of my vehicles burn due to the faulty block heater, maybe I just take it a little more personally than others.

 

Interesting will need to look into this as I have it

 

good call, I might reach out to that Anchorage dealer. I'm headed back in to mine this week to get my front shocks replaced, so I'll bother them first.

Gotta get it done one way or another though, winter is coming.

 

when I put in my vin it says nothing, guess I'll bring it up with the dealer I got it from directly to see. I'm due for an oil change soon so I'll bring it up then.

 

Mine was no where close to that much. THey've changed the pricing for sure when I ordered mine at the end of 2016 it was around $300CND for the block heater.

From what I understand as long as I don't plug in its good to go for now?

 

talked to the dealer they said they can't do anything unless its part of the recalled, called toyota canada asking if they could push it through for peace of mind. they said they can't without confirmation of the part number.


So does anyone know what the part # is for the one being recalled?

 

Do all trucks have a block heater? Where would the outlet be so I can see if I have one?

 

I'll be interested to hear this, too. I put a block heater in my 1GR, part number PU140-00913-1, in January of 2018. This came from my dealer and is what any dealer would have installed I believe and it fits lots of applications.

However if memory serves doesn't the Tacoma 3.5L use an immersion heater again and not the cartridge?

 

I think the detachable cord means pulling the plug from the element itself. On the OEM-type I put in the manufacturer (actually made by Pyroil) had covered the cord with heat resistant sheath and had instructions specific to routing it. The immersion heaters would have the same type of cable, just that they get installed in the block water jacket directly.

 

Sorry but I don’t know the part number. When the insurance company was doing their investigation, they were having a hard time figuring it out, too. Not sure what they ever came up with.