Toyota is recalling nearly 200,000 recent Prius vehicles that have an increased risk of catching fire, the automaker said Wednesday.

The voluntary recall covers some 2016-2018 Priuses, and owners known to the company will be contacted by the end of the month by first-class mail. The repair work will be done at no cost to the vehicles' owners.

The problem behind the recall stems from a wire harness in the engine that connects to the hybrid power control unit, Toyota said. It can wear over time and eventually cause a short circuit that can generate heat, and that can lead to a fire.

The company's recall notice didn't indicate if any fires have been reported from the defect. A Toyota spokeswoman said a vehicle with the wire harness issue was reported to Japan's vehicular oversight ministry but wouldn't comment on vehicles in the United States.

Anyone with questions can contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. To look up a Toyota's recall status, enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate at toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls.