Toyota said Wednesday it is recalling nearly 1.9 million small RAV4 SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with batteries that can move during high-speed turns and potentially cause a fire.
The recall affects certain RAV4s from model years 2013 through 2018. Toyota said in a statement that some replacement 12-volt batteries used in the SUVs have smaller top dimensions than others. If the clamp clamp is not properly tightened, the battery can move, causing the positive terminal to come into contact with the clamp and causing a short circuit, the company said.
Toyota said it is still preparing a solution. When the solution is complete, dealers will replace the terminal clamp, battery box and positive terminal cover with upgraded ones. The company said it will notify owners in late December.
Toyota declined to say whether the problem had caused fires, crashes or injuries.
Owners can check if their RAV4s are affected by visiting www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and entering their vehicle identification number.