3rd Gen Block Heater Recall

Is Toyota looking at this year specific for the recall? My VIN doesn’t show anything for recalls or anything about the block heater, that said I’m going to avoid plugging it in regardless of nothing shown for my 2021.

 

I encased my entire block heater cord from plug to plug with fire sleeve and sealed the ends with ultra high-temp RTV so if there is a "thermal event" hopefully it will be contained... the clip that holds the block heater in the hole is absolute crap, probably the weakest point. If he block heater slides backwards and partially out of the hole it would throw a lot heat, they get incredibly hot. But a GFCI plug and 2 hour timer should reduce the risk considerably. GLTA

 

Ha! Same continent as Kalifornistan. LOL

 

fuck be careful man….

as far as I know the recall is 2016 to present block heaters for the 3.5L engine. Doesn’t matter if you’ve siliconed, fire tapped, fire proofed anything. Basically if the block heater is not installed 100% centred and correctly there’s no amount of fire proofing you can do to stop it. Sooner or later (might be 2-3 years down the road) it’ll cause a fire. Toyota Canada is fully aware of this.

makes we wish I had my ol’ stumpy back hahaha. Those little 3.4’s were so simple

 

From what I understand it’s all 3rd gens. So obviously 2016 till present. Now this is strictly dependent on weather or not you factory ordered a block heater in your truck. They do not come with them. Toyota installs it upon request and for an additional fee haha. It’s getting into a pretty grey area. I’d imagine once this recall comes out, there is going to be a certain model/make/part number block heater they were using, but is now defective and causing this.

that’s at least how I understood it from the service manager at cochrane Toyota

 

The grey area is bad news. What about those of us that had Toyota install the Toyota part but not “from the factory”? I hope they fix this across the board.

 

this is the same boat I’m in….

original owner of my truck ordered the truck from Toyota. January 2018. It arrived at cochrane Toyota. PDI’d…whole shootin shebang. Said id like a block heater please. So cochrane Toyota was the installer.

kinda stupid if you ask me. Like why not come up with a design that’s not gonna fuck people over.

literally as I’m typing this I just got off the phone with transport Canada. Not gonna name any names. But the fella that took pictures and whatnot at my place yesterday, said he was on his way out to look at another 3rd Gen that burnt to the ground locally. Much much worse than mine.

this is messed up

 

Thanks for the replies and all the updates!

Will keep an eye on your situation if you don't mind keeping us all in the loop. I'm looking at other options for keeping this thing warm when it's gets cold as Hoth!

Any dealt much with battery blankets? Looking for local options for silicone heat pads for the pan too.

 

Glad you are safe... gnarly.

 

man, wonder why this year is worse than others? Or is it just coincidence....

 

I looked up my VIN and it came back with nothing. This was a dealer installed Toyota option that I had asked for on my 2020. I guess I just have to watch how this plays out. Thankfully I don't require the block heater at the moment.

Does anyone know what the 3rd gen block heater looks like? Either photo below? Any speculation on what is the weak point is?

 

I'm not surprised the VIN doesn't show a recall. Given that it is an add-on and not part of a package, I'd imagine the VIN would not be connected to that.

 

Wonder if it's dealer installed, if they link the installation to your VIN? I'd imagine they would so corporate probability does know who all has a dealer installed blockheater.

 

For those people who have 2020's, 2021's etc. my gut feeling is you are not on the recall list because there hasn't been any "thermal events" showing up yet in those trucks as opposed to the older trucks. I wouldn't be surprised in a year or two that the newer trucks get their own recall.

 

Yes they do. That’s how they were able to determine when and were mine was installed

 

Interesting. I wonder where it ends? Factory mods? Like Predator steps but not 5.29's?

 

I don’t know jack about block heaters but if you can put a thermal switch on a coffee maker why in the world don’t these things have them?

 

Update…

truck is being towed tmw from my place to an impound lot. Talked to Toyota Canada this morning. Sounds like their (Toyota Canada) going to fly someone out from down east or have a local engineer go through it in the impound.

this is honestly what I was trying to avoid. For the soul reason as the factory electrical cord is still plugged in and you can trace the cord to the truck AND to the block heater. Was really hoping for someone to look at it as it stands in the driveway/parking stall

 

Thanks for the update! Hope all goes well and they aren’t trying to look for a reason to blame it on something else.

 

Take a bunch of pictures before they tow it