3rd Gen Block Heater Recall

Is Transport Canada also involved?

 

Yikes... Makes me think twice about plugging in! Just ran both VINs of our vehicles with block heaters (2020 Tacoma and 2021 Rav4), thankfully not coming up as part of this campaign. I have had both plugged in nightly for probably the last 2 months straight due to cold temps...

A quick google didn't get me any results on where to find the block heater under the truck. Anyone checked theirs?

 

The block heater slides into a port or cavity in the block on the driver's side, near towards the firewall.

 

Man that inferno red really pops!

 

My 2018 VIN is not showing up as recalled for the block heater, nor have I received a letter yet. Somehow, I don’t have a warm fuzzy about not getting recalled.

Is there anyone on this thread who has received the recall who also purchased from Crown Toyota in Winnipeg? Who knows, maybe Crown did the install correctly?

 

I looked at my neighbour's block heater cable, he has an 017.
The cable is very thin, he hasn't replaced his under recall.
On my 2021 TRD Sport there's a different cable, at least 1/2" thick.

 

Can you please post a pic of your cable. Thanks

 

Mine was plugged in overnight when we had a cold snap for almost a week last month. I dont have a recall on mine and no letter too. Hopefully all is good.

 

Yes

 

Not today.
Cold as tits, I'm not sticking my nose out again.
Cable I have is the exact one that is sold by DEFA here:

https://www.defa.com/ca/product/miniplug-cord-set/

I hope it helps, can't take any better pictures than those.

 

Ty kindly! I'm going to get under this weekend and just check it's seated properly, etc., for at least some peace of mind....

I have that same cable as well.

 

Thank you! My cable is different than yours. Yours looks beefier. My friend’s 2017 is on the recall list and we have the same cable. My 2016 is not on the list. So it must be the heating element that is being recalled. And we bought it at the same dealership that installed the block heaters.

 

@mrbeggins Have you made any progress with your case. Did your car insurance help you out? I checked my VIN on Toyota.ca and it is appaerently not affected. However they now have a big disclaimer notice at the VIN check.

 

Hey man,

So I got mine oy

 

This recall is affecting thousands of toyota's across multiple years like all the way back to 2011 and models. Pretty sure its not how the block heater was installed. No known fixes that I've heard.

 

The fix is to remove the OEM block heater and install an aftermarket KATS heater that doesn't use the thru the bumper extension cord and doesn't catch on fire.
https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Heaters/Toyota/Tacoma/2019/KH11813.html

 

That is potentially a good alternative. I for one would like to see what Toyota's solution is. Has anyone whose truck has been recalled gotten more information from Toyota on why the Toyota heater catches fire?

 

When my Prius caught fire in 2017 my insurance company took Toyota to court and lost. This was after I bought my Tacoma with another block heater and the dealership cut it off. I don’t think Toyota cares about finding a solution.

 

Damn. The hell with that. You’d think for how good these trucks are that Toyota would do the block heater right.

 

The designers and builders of the Tacoma live in a region that does not need or likely even know what a block heater is used for. Even in Canada, the majority of people live in areas that do not need block heaters.

My mechanic charged me $50CAD to install an aftermarket KATS block heater that sells for around $70USD...pretty much a no-brainer.