3rd Gen Block Heater Recall

that's the one I have. Drop up to the dealer in Thunder Bay ON to have it installed.

 

Is there actually a recall or tsb on these things? Nothing found for mine on a vin check. Never had to have it plugged in for three winters and this one no different (indoor parking).

 

Same thing happened to my parent’s 2005 gen 3 4Runner. It was only 3 months old, factory order, woke up in the middle of the night to the car alarm going off. Took the WFD what felt like an eternity. Truck was toast, literally and figuratively. My parents mistake at the time with MPI is that they didn’t have replacement coverage and didn’t have excess value coverage. So they were out about 10k + taxes after the whole ordeal. you may have a fight in front of you with MPI in terms of valuation because their payout should be for what the new ones are going for. Don’t settle for their first “offer.” Even though it’s public insurance, you still have rights to an independent evaluator which just needs to be a used car manager saying I’d give X for this truck.

sucks to see that Toyota’s block heater tech hasn’t improved since my parents car went up in flames 16 years ago.

 

That sucks man.
Glad everyone is okay.
Sorry you're dealing with that.

 

Years ago there was a recall from Toyota Canada but it wasn't applicable to those of us in the states (even though some of us got the Canadian part in Canada).

I haven't kept up with the latest but there's some more info in this thread (although the links look broken). Might have to dig into this again sooner than later.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-2018-toyota-block-heater-recall.539971/

 

I just checked my vin against the Toyota Canada website and no recalls or TSB

I have had it plugged in maybe 5 times this winter so far when it's been -25c, obviously nothing has happened yet but I would like to look into this further.

Truck is 2021 sport with OEM block heater

 

Since these aren’t factory, would individual trucks show up on the site?

 

Well…mine just burnt last night in front of my house. 2018 TRD off road. Was plugged in. Can easily tell fire came directly from the block heater/cord.

Fire investigators say this is going to be a good one to look at as the whole truck didn’t go up in flames.

I hope toyota Canada comes through. Not the 2:30am wake up call I needed

 

Woah glad you’re ok. That’s 2 too many and way to close together. Something’s up.

 

Firefighters said another minute…minute and a half and I wouldn’t have been able to get out of my place (small condo/bachelors pad with 1 window and 1 door).

I don’t even know where to begin this process of figuring all this out. Obviously insurance. But I really REALLY want Toyota Canada to know about this. Fuck

 

I'm glad you made it out safely. Is your place still livable, or do you have to move because of fire damage?

 

I just entered my VIN into the Toyota recall website - https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/owners/recalls and the info in the screenshots below came up. My truck is a 2018 Offroad with the factory block heater installed - the dealership included 2 lengths of external cables that plug into an outlet installed in the front bumper.

Looks like this is a real issue. They are saying there is a risk of a "Thermal Event"

I check for recalls on the website about 2 times a year, and this is the first time I've seen this.


Below is the information in the Additional Information link in the screenshot above:

 

Be careful man. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. Toyota Canada needs to own the fuck up on this. They’ve known since 2016. Should have been fixed by now….

 

Yeah, thermal event is a fire. Seems they'll just cause more liability by not saying "fire".

 

Wow

 

I have an aftermarket KAT'S block heater (no fancy thru the bumper electric cord) that I have questioned if it is even working. Maybe I am better off if it is not working although it sounds like the fire problem is the extension cord, not the heater. Anyways, plugged in at -20C, working or not the truck starts right up.

 

Yah, how I'm reading my recall notice is that it's the external extension cord. Considering the parts supply chain issues, I expect to get a new cord in 2 years....

 

One extra level of protection to consider is plugging the truck into a GFCI outlet, at least it might trip when there is current leakage or shorting due to a damaged cord. I use a portable inline that one between the blockheater cord and the extension cord.

 

Half the people that see thermal event aren't going to know that means fire!

I know its liability, but Jesus Toyota put a little bit more urgency into this.

Why aren't they telling people to stop using the block heater until its fixed?

 

I left my truck plugged in last night as it was -31c, after seeing another post of a Tacoma burning I think that’ll be the last time.

Going to drive by the dealership today and see what they have to say, if they know anything at all.