Not a mere two months following its official debut, the all-electric Toyota bZ4X is now being recalled by the Japanese auto manufacturer as incoming reports suggest that the ride's wheels "may fall off" due to issues with the internal bolts that keep them attached to the vehicle. It is a massive blow to the firm's major ambitions of toppling Tesla in its continued dominance over the EV marketplace.
Toyota announced the safety recall in a blog post published on Thursday, June 23, which prefaces a total of 260 US-based bZ4X vehicles as being affected by the issue and makes a bolded point that "no one should drive these vehicles until the remedy is performed." With that being said, however, the Toyota bZ4X recall thus far has no available remedy, according to the company, but a loaner ride will be issued to all afflicted bZ4X drivers free of charge.
The Japanese automaker highlights the problem as stemming from continued "low-mileage use," after which "all of the hub bolts on the wheel can loosen to the point where the wheel can detach from the vehicle." It continues to note the obvious, that per a wheel's detachment from the bZ4X, control of the EV will be lost, "increasing the risk of a crash."
The recall comes at a rather tricky moment for Toyota as it attempts to gain more influence in the global EV space. Originally launching in April, the Toyota bZ4X was the first of its kind for the automaker, an all-electric SUV that was intended to topple the market through its relative affordability and enhanced performance metrics. On the other hand, it likewise seemingly isn't as exciting as similar rivals, expressed best via Drew Dorian in his Car and Driver Toyota bZ4X review, citing other EVs as being "more exciting on the road."
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Announced in Dec. 2021, Toyota set aside a whopping $35 billion to build a more sustainable and rewarding fleet of electric cars. By 2030, the automaker expects to deliver as many as 30 new electric models and projects to sell a total of 3.5 million on an annual basis in the same time span. It's as of yet unclear how much of an impact the bZ4X recall may have on Toyota's future plans, but it will have to act fast in order to get ahead of the curb.
Beyond the estimated 260 US rides afflicted by the recall, around 2,200 EVs heading to Europe, 20 in Canada, and 110 in Japan also show signs of the hub bolt issue. Recalls such as these are always expected with the launch of a whole new type of vehicle, especially for all-electric EVs. Toyota will have to act fast and ensure its sales aren't affected by the bZ4X recall, as consumer opinion may outweigh the benefits behind the EV.
Given the fact that the bZ4X is an important test case for understanding Toyota's future EV strategy, the recall has many analysts worried about the viability of the brand's potential in the space. Specifically, within the US, Toyota initially considered only selling 7,000 models of the bZ4X crossover and has, according to CarSalesBase, only shipped 199 in May. The company likewise adjusted its global production target not a mere 24 hours prior, highlighting ever-dire circumstances for the automaker as it adjusts to parts shortages and unintended production woes.
