RECALL ALERT: Well, that’s unfortunate: just as Toyota works to build hot-hatch cred for the 2019 Corolla Hatchback, a torque converter recall looms

Toyota announced a safety recall yesterday of about 3,400 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback vehicles in the U.S. that are equipped with the automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) option.

In their statement, the automaker disclosed the possibility in the affected vehicles of a torque converter failure, which under certain conditions could result in a loss of motive power for the vehicle.

According to Toyota, “Loss of motive power while driving at higher speeds could increase the risk of a crash.”

Announced with much fanfare last April with a clear push to appeal to the hot-hatch zeitgeist, the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is built with a transverse-mounted front-engine, front-wheel-drive powertrain.

Owners will receive notifications in the mail by mid-February, the automaker said. Currently, Toyota is obtaining parts needed for the recall repairs, and promises that Toyota dealerships will replace the Direct Shift CVT, free of charge to customers, with a new transmission that contains a new torque converter that is not affected by the issue.

Since details about recalls can change, Toyota recommends that Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicle owners visit toyota.com/recall to obtain the most current information by entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license place number in a the search form. Recall information is also available from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

From the point of view of Toyota’s effort to leverage a hot-hatch vibe to breathe new life into Corolla, a model that in recent years has grown tired, predictable, and nondescript in the eyes of many car enthusiasts, the recall comes at an unfortunate time.

It doesn’t help matters that the issue specifically affects the CVT, a type of automatic transmission that many enthusiasts find detrimental to the driving experience, citing shift points that are less discernible and predictable compared to the traditional automatic transmission.

It is advisable, however, to experience Toyota’s specific approach before to the CVT before dismissing the idea based on experiences with other vehicles or anecdotal information about CVTs. Toyota’s CVT for the 2019 Corolla Hatchback is equipped with simulated 10-speed Sequential Shiftmatic steps, Sport Mode, and paddle shifters. It also features what Toyota touts as “the world’s first launch gear in a passenger vehicle CVT.”

Hardcore hot-hatch enthusiasts will probably prefer to opt for the six-speed iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) gearbox that is available as an option.

If there was any doubt about Toyota’s push to win credibility for the 2019 Corolla Hatchback as a “hot hatch,” that doubt was obliterated by Toyota’s impressive, eye-catching display of custom builds on the platform at the SEMA show this year.

The display included the Super Street Corolla—built, according to the automaker, “with the Tokyo Auto Salon in mind”—as well as a Hoonigan Toyota rally car and a rear-wheel-drive conversion Drift Demo Corolla built by Papadakis Racing to compete in the Formula DRIFT Pro Series.

Hopefully this recall will be sorted out soon so that the market can continue to sort out what it thinks of this promising new take on Corolla.