RECALL: Hundreds of new Toyota Corolla hatches could have reverse light fault

Toyota Australia has recalled 780 new Corolla small hatches over a potential issue with their reverse lights.

Affecting petrol and hybrid examples built between December 5 and 12 last year, the recall affects 661 vehicles that were sold and 119 that remain in dealer stock.

“For involved Corolla vehicles, the back door (rear hatch) contains a wire harness and connectors for electrical components. Damaged equipment was used during the production process to inspect the conductivity of the wire harness and the installed electrical components through a specific connector,” Toyota Australia said in a statement.

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“In this condition, an oxide layer may develop on the surface of those terminals due to vehicle vibration and exposure to air over time, resulting in increased electrical resistance.

“Due to this increase in electrical resistance, the back-up lamps may become inoperative. If the back-up lamps do not illuminate when the vehicle is in reverse, there is an increased risk of a crash.”

Impacted owners will be contacted by Toyota Australia with instructions to book their vehicle in for a free-of-charge inspection and replacement of the rear hatch’s wire harness, which is expected to take about an hour to complete.

However, replacement parts won’t become available until around June due to shipping delays related to the ongoing global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

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According to Toyota Australia, these vehicles can still be driven in the interim, although it’s yet to confirm any local cases yet.

Those looking for further information can call Toyota Recall Campaign Helpline on 1800 987 366 during business hours. Alternatively, they can reach out to their preferred dealership.