Auto manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation recently recalled 7.4 million vehicles in several countries, including 2.5 million in the United States. The recall was issued because of a sticking master switch in the driver’s side door that controls the windows. If the wrong type of lubricant is used to fix the sticking switch, a fire may start in the door.
According to Toyota, the fire risk is not due to a manufacturing defect in the automatic window switch. Rather, the fire risk occurs when the wrong type of lubricant is used on the switch and heat from the electrical system then sets the lubricant on fire. When Toyota owners take their vehicles in for recall-related repairs, mechanics will remove any non-approved lubricants and apply an approved lubricant that does not pose a fire risk.