378,000 Toyota Prius Hybrids to be fixed for overheating problems

US division of Japanese manufacturers Toyota has issued a campaign based on about 378,000 Prius Hybrids purchased between the year 2004 and 2007. The campaign has been started to solve a problem in the water pump of the cars, which may be a potential cause for overheating of the cars on long rides.

According to John Hanson, Toyota Motor Sales National Manager of Environmental, Quality and Safety Communications, the water pump is a major component of the car cooling system and is so designed as to cool the hybrid power train components of the car and to create a separation from the engine cooling system. Thus a fault in the water pump can result in building up of air bubbles and hence cause a disruption in the flow of coolant, which in turn can lead to overheating of the engine.

The company has further stated that a checkup in the engine light can point to the problem. If a person drives the car above the mentioned level of the temperature of the hybrid components, then the engine has a probability to reach a critical level, resulting in the vehicle to enter “fail-safe mode” to prevent further damage.

Quite surprisingly though, the Japanese manufacturers have expressed concerns in a press statement and said that the issue should be considered to be a “customer support campaign” and not a “recall” as the company feels that this is not at all safety issue. They have stated further that report of accidents or injuries with respect to this condition has not been heard of yet.

The customers will get mails from the Japanese company who on the other hand would replace the water pump with a new improved one if the customers manage to get their cars to Toyota before 30th of November 2013. So they are providing quite a lot of time for customer service which is a very positive sign. Customers who have already replaced their water pumps owing to this problem will receive a refund of their payments.

For further detailed information customers can call the Toyota Customer Experience Center Help Line at 1-888-270-9371.

Source: carscoop