The company last month halted sales of certain newer Camry, Avalon, Corolla, Sienna, Tundra and Tacoma models equipped with heated seats. The issue was blamed on a supplier that switched fabrics in 2012, resulting in new seats that were not properly certified for flame resistance.
Internal tests and design reviews of the heater assemblies have allegedly found that the “chance of fire or flame induced by a malfunctioning seat heater is essentially zero.”
The petition further suggests that the affected fabric only represents a small portion of the overall soft material found in the seat assembly. The noncompliant heater assemblies are also not likely to come in contact with open flame, cigarettes or matches, as they are surrounded by other materials that meet federal regulations.
If the NHTSA agrees that the issue is “inconsequential,” the company will be able to avoid a recall and begin selling affected vehicles without first implementing a repair program.
The noncompliant seats are believed to be installed in at least 200,000 vehicles with model years ranging from 2012 to 2014.
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