Toyota denies warranty for GR Corolla fire, citing tire issue

Toyota Motor Corp. denied liability or warranty coverage when the engine of a GR Corolla caught fire last month, blaming high speed driving and possibly the tires.

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We first reported on this incident in mid-June. Dashcam footage shows the owner of this cool hatchback was driving at 85 mph (137 km/h) on a North Carolina highway when the engine suddenly stalled. White smoke began to seep into the cabin, while black smoke billowed out of the exhaust. The driver realized something was wrong, pulled over and quickly called the fire department.

Read: Toyota GR Corolla suddenly caught fire, and the dashcam recorded everything

Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene, but the fire had spread to the entire front half of the vehicle.

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The owner contacted Toyota to get a replacement car, but Toyota’s response simply summarized the incident, noting the damage and the February 2024 Carfax report for the accident, and then said that without “high-speed tires,” the GR Corolla should not be driven faster than 85 mph.

On June 24, 2024, a fire inspector analyzed the vehicle and found a small hole on the upper side of the engine block, and found oil residue on the turbocharger, the bottom of the engine, the chassis and the exhaust pipe.

“The owner’s manual warns against speeding,” Toyota responded. “Even if the legal speed limit permits, do not drive in excess of 85 mph unless your vehicle is equipped with high-speed tires. Driving in excess of 85 mph could result in tire failure, loss of control, and possible injury. Always consult a tire dealer before driving at such speeds to determine if the tires on your vehicle are high-speed tires. Based on our inspection and the facts surrounding this incident, we are unable to provide any assistance in this matter.”

The comment about the tires is puzzling. The GR Corolla leaves the factory with Michelin rubber rated for well above 85 mph. Tires rated below 85 mph are usually reserved for trailers or spares. Even the most basic Q-rated winter tires are rated for speeds up to 99 mph (160 km/h), while most entry-level passenger cars use S- or T-rated tires, which are safe at 112 mph (180 km/h) and 118 mph (190 km/h), respectively.

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We have reached out to the owner to determine which tires were used at the time of the accident and will update the story once we hear back from them.

Here is Toyota’s full response:

“You report that you were driving on the highway when you noticed your vehicle began to make strange noises (like a knocking rod). You then noticed the oil temperature was high and the vehicle was sounding warning sounds. You pulled over, got out, opened the hood, and noticed a fire in the rear of the engine. You called 911 and the fire department arrived about 5 minutes later and put out the flames.

You stated that approximately 30 days prior to the accident, you took your vehicle to a Toyota dealer to have the oil changed and the fuel problem fixed.

In response to your question, the vehicle was inspected by an EAA (Engineering Analysis Associates) fire inspector at Copart on June 24, 2024. The vehicle’s last odometer reading was 23,413 miles. According to the CARFAX report, on February 12, 2024, the accident report showed damage to the front, left front, right front, and right rear of the vehicle.

During inspection, the front of the vehicle and the engine compartment were damaged by fire. There was a small hole on the upper inside of the engine block, which was caused by internal damage to the engine. Oil residue was found on the turbocharger, the bottom of the engine, the chassis and the exhaust pipe.

The owner’s manual warns against speeding. Even if the legal speed limit permits, do not drive faster than 85 mph unless your vehicle is equipped with high-speed tires. Driving faster than 85 mph could result in tire failure, loss of control, and possible injury. Always consult a tire dealer before driving at these speeds to determine if the tires on your vehicle are high-speed tires.

Based on our findings and the facts surrounding this incident, we are unable to provide any assistance in this matter.“

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