Safety agency widens inquiry in to fires in Toyota vehicles

DETROIT — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded an investigation into fires that can start in the doors of several Toyota models, adding 600,000 Camrys and other vehicles to the inquiry.

The investigation now includes 1.4 million cars and sport utility vehicles from the 2007 to 2009 model years. When the investigation began in February, it involved more than 800,000 Camrys and 2007 RAV4 sport utility vehicles.

Certain Camrys from the 2008 and 2009 model years, as well as some 2007 to 2009 Yaris subcompacts and all 2008 Highlander Hybrid SUVs, have been added to the investigation, the safety agency said on its Web site Monday. The vehicles were built from September, 2006, through August, 2008, the agency said.

So far, Toyota Motor Corp. and the government have received 161 complaints of fires involving the vehicles. Nine people have been injured, according to government documents.

All the vehicles use the same power window switch in the driver's door. The switches can overheat and cause fires, the safety agency said.

It has upgraded the investigation to a so-called engineering analysis, which can lead to a recall.

Owners of the Toyotas who smell smoke or feel heat in the doors should call their dealers or take the vehicles in for an inspection, Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said. The company is cooperating with the safety agency in the investigation, he said.

Toyota's Camry midsize sedan is the most popular car in the United States, and the RAV4 small SUV also is a big seller. In December, the 2012 Camry received a five-star safety rating, the highest, from the safety agency.

The agency also is investigating a similar fire problem in the doors of 2006 and 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SUVs made by General Motors Co.

The safety agency posted documents Saturday saying that the GM investigation also had been upgraded to a full engineering analysis. Originally it covered more than 309,000 TrailBlazers from the two model years, but the government said that it's up to nearly 342,000 vehicles.

The safety agency and GM have received 242 complaints, including 28 involving fires, about the problem. No one has been injured, according to the documents.

The government said Saturday that it also will evaluate other GM vehicles with the same underpinnings. They include the Buick Rainier, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7X SUVs.

GM has said any TrailBlazer owners who smells smoke or whose power windows stop working should contact their dealers.

Toyota and GM got their power window switches from different parts suppliers, the safety agency said.