<p style="text-align: justify;">Toyota is poised to recall six model units in North America over concerns the fabrics in those models&#8217; heated seats doesn&#8217;t comply with safe flammability standards.</p>
<p>The models in question include the Camry, Avalon, Sienna and Tacoma models with heated seats from the 2013 and 2014 model years, as well as Corollas and Tundras from 2014.</p>
<p>It was the Korean Automotive Test and Research Institute, South Korea&#8217;s safety agency, which found that the fabric backing material used in the seat heaters did not comply with U.S. vehicle flammability standards.<br />
Although fortunately no fires or injuries have so far been reported from units already sold, John Hanson, Toyota spokesman, said the company cannot legally sell the cars.</p>
<p>Toyota has informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the cars. It had also issued a &#8220;stop-sale&#8221; order to its various dealers.</p>
<p>&#8220;The timing of this issue, and its impact on Toyota&#8217;s most popular models, couldn&#8217;t be much worse,&#8221; Karl Brauer, a senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book, told Reuters. &#8220;Given that much of the U.S. is currently in the grips of a record cold snap, there&#8217;s sure to be high demand for models with seat heaters.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Toyota officials appear confident there is no risk and as a result they feel any hit to the company&#8217;s reputation would be short-lived and less costly than a full recall,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p>Mr Hanson cannot specify how long the repairs could take. &#8220;We don&#8217;t think it will take long to get the parts and make the changes,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have any numbers on the timing.&#8221;</p>
<p>He said the material that will be used as replacement is now being manufactured and is at the same time being installed at factories.</p>
<p>According to research firm Kelley Blue Book, the number of affected vehicles in the U.S. alone could reach 111,000 units.</p>

Toyota Issues Stop-Sale Order on Autos from U.S
