Less than two months since its launch, the bZ4X — Toyota’s first mass-produced EV — is being recalled due to an increased risk that the tires could loosen and eventually come off the vehicle.
According to the automaker, the problem is caused by a malfunction in the wheels’ hub bolts:
The hub bolt that’s attached to the tire may loosen due to repeated sharp turns and sudden braking. Therefore, if you continue to drive in that state, abnormal noise will be generated, and in the worst case, the tires may fall off.
Naturally, Toyota’s urging the affected owners not to use their vehicles until the investigation is complete.
The recall encompasses 2,700 bZ4X models in total: 2,200 destined for Europe, 260 for the US, 110 for Japan, and 10 for Canada.
And it doesn’t stop there.
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Subaru is also recalling 2,600 Solterra EVs — its very first electric vehicle, jointly developed with Toyota — for the same reason.
This isn’t a great start for either of the companies, especially during a time when high gas prices are increasing the demand for electric vehicles.
But on the bright side, the automakers said that most affected vehicles haven’t been delivered to customers yet, which buys them some time to fix the issue without risking safety.
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