the issue is hardware and therefore very very expensive to fix. So they will have to be forced to do so.
It's interesting that model year 2018 is NOT included. If it's an unsolved software issue, how could that be?
Definitely a possibility… but do we know enough facts to be affirmative? Besides, it could be hardware and still be – or not – managed by software (see Civic’s bad pulley material). It could also be software ending up in hardware damage (see Nissan’s fluid temp management).
The thing is in both those examples, complaints on forums, NHTSA and medias were numerous and soon specific enough to identify the cause. This case is puzzling because not much transpires despite millions of units on the road worldwide over the last 10 years (with only firmware varying according to areas). And because, as I said, the campaign is still going on in Canada.
Also, what’s the nature and extent of the alleged bug in the software remedy? Does it affects all “fixed” vehicles (obviously not), only those with CVTs already damaged by the problem – those are replaced by the way – or is the bug related to the general management of the car or the specific problem identified ? In all probability, 2018 were produced with the new software, for better or worst.
Also of interest is the fact that during the covered period (2014-2017) Toyota day to day management of recalls/campaign was under judicial monitorizing after the sudden acceleration debacle.
Actually, those anonymous cases are from the NHTSA.gov website.
It’s not in the article, it’s the site itself. Too coincidental and very scarce, oriented infos. The article on the Prius better be convincing, with two safety recalls on the matter (worldwide, by the way, which shows how the current NA Corolla’s CVT is odd). Still, it manage to cite facts that anyone can find on forums, or as you point, the NHTSA site.
So it shows that NHTSA is monitoring the Corolla situation. One difference is that Prius or Civic CVT were “safety recalls” because the car could stop suddenly. So far, if/when the problem manifest itself, the Corolla enters into limp mode, which is different, another fact the article avoid.
So my point is maybe there is a major and wide spread problem or maybe not (and I wouldn’t yet discard a logistic problem of updating a large number of cars) but I don't know any new facts than what I haven't seen in forums after reading this article. Time to worry ? Yes. Time to panic ? No ! Actually, if my CVT was to go, I sure wouldn’t be happy but this car (which was my first Toyota) would still be the only one of many brands to have run trouble-free and with low maintenance cost for almost 5 years now (exceptions being the firmware updates for Valvematic and now CVT, with the car going flawless both before and after).
Recall letters are only issued for safety events, as required by the NHTSA in the U.S. This issue was categorized as a campaign (no safety impact), therefore no letter would be issued in the U.S. I'm sure the laws differ in other countries.
The law is the same in Canada. No mandatory letters (or email or phone call) for a campaign but they do it anyway. If they wouldn't advise customers, it wouldn't be a "campaign", but a TSB. My direct experience is that's the policy of others manufacturers in Canada also. I don't know about Toyota US, but there is an indication in one document of the article : "Toyota has not yet sent owner notifications about Special Service CampaignJ0D. Toyota will notify owners when J0D is no longer suspended."