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| 2014 Toyota Camry sales frozen by Toyota pending fire risk danger. |
The 2013 and 2014 Camry sedan, Camry hybrid, Avalon sedan, Avalon hybrid, Corolla subcompact, Sienna minivan and Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks equipped with seat heaters that were sold since August 2012, are the vehicles involved in the warning. Apparently 13,850 Avalon sedan models from 2013 and 2014, and 10,100 Sienna minivans from 2013 and 2014, in dealer inventory are subject to the stop sale order.
A parts supplier for the heated seats was changed and South Korean safety officials discovered that the new material did not meet mandatory fire retardant standards that existed before United States.
No word has been given on whether or not this will trigger a vehicle recall and the current "stop sales" order apparently leaves dealers stuck with about 36,000 vehicles that they cannot sell.
Surprisingly, the automotive news article quotes Toyota officials as saying that they did not believe that this is a "safety related" problem. We wonder if that depends on whether or not you are the one sitting in the car seat when it catches on fire?
While most Toyota vehicles do not come with heated seats, all Toyota Avalon vehicles that are sold in the United States are equipped with heated seats, according to Toyota.
Toyota has not announced any warnings or recalls on this issue which deal with vehicles that have already been sold. We will all have to wait to see what develops.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known nationwide as a leading Lemon Law attorney, Ronald L. Burdge has represented literally thousands of consumers in "lemon" lawsuits and actively co-counsels and coaches other Consumer Law attorneys. From 2005 through 2018, attorney Ronald L. Burdge has been named as the only Lemon Law Ohio Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine and Thomson Reuters Corp., Professional Division. Burdge restricts his practice to Lemon Law and Consumer Law cases. The Ohio Super Lawyer results are published annually in the January issue of Cincinnati Magazine. Ronald L. Burdge was named Consumer Law Trial Lawyer of the Year 2004 by the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the nation's largest organization of consumer law private and government attorneys. "Your impact on the auto industry has been magnified many times over because of the trail you blazed for others," stated NACA's Executive Director, Will Ogburn. Burdge has represented thousands of consumers in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere since 1978 and is a frequent lecturer to national, state and local Bar Associations and Judicial organizations. Burdge is admitted to Ohio's state and federal courts, Kentucky's state courts, and Indiana's federal courts. Other court admissions are on a "pro hac" temporary, case by cases basis.