Certain Toyota Camry, Highlander, and RAV4 vehicles equipped with an electric power steering (EPS) System could experience loss of steering assist due to a manufacturing error. According to reports, a resistor on the EPS electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, resistance may become high enough for the ECU to detect an abnormal current in the circuit. The problem may result in an illumining instrument panel warning light and the vehicle entering fail safe mode, suspending power steering assist. Loss of power steering assist results in increased steering effort during low speeds, increasing the risk of an accident.
The vehicles affected by this recall include:
Toyota will ask owners to return to their dealership to have the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly inspected. Affected vehicles will have the EPS ECU replaced free of charge. For more information about the problem, owners are asked to contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. The NHTSA campaign number is 15V-144.
