Drive Train
The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. The hybrid system could also shut down completely resulting in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles are being recalled because one of the electronic components of the hybrid control system, the Intelligent Power Module (IPM), can fail internally. This module is located inside of the inverter module and contains transistors that may become damaged from high operating temperatures. If a failure were to occur, various warning lights would illuminate and the vehicle would only operate in a reduced power mode for a short time or stall completely, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will update the software in both the motor/generator control module and the hybrid control module to correct this concern. If an inverter module were to fail before the software updates are performed, it would be replaced as part of this recall.
Toyota will notify owners of affected vehicles beginning late February, 2014. If you don't receive notification you feel you should have, please contact your dealer for further instruction. They may ask for your vehicle identification number (VIN), so please have it handy when you call.