Toyota recalls Avalon due to fire danger

Friday, January 30, 2015
Car catching fire
KGO-KGO

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KGO) -- The third car in less than a month has been recalled due to fire danger.

Toyota Thursday voluntarily recalled the 2011 and 2012 Avalon Sedan.

The automaker says cargo in the trunk could come into contact with wiring from the audio system's subwoofer. If that wire touches metal, it could short circuit, overheat and cause fire.

Late last week, Kia recalled the 2014 Forte Sedan due to fire risk.

On New Year's Eve, Volkswagen recalled the 2014 Beetle, Jetta and Passat as well as the 2015 Golf and GTI. All those recalls are due to fire danger.

Last May, a 7 on Your Side investigation uncovered an estimated 126 non-accident related car fire deaths and $1.2 billion in property loss in 2012 alone.

Over the last 15 years, there have been hundreds of fire related car recalls.

Those recalls are credited with a decrease in car fires.