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Toyota Recall
Information
Last Updated
August, 2010 |
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NEWS:
Toyota recalls 1.1 million Corollas, Matrixes
YAHOO NEWS -- August 26, 2010 – Toyota recalled
1.13 million Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks Thursday because their engines
may stall, the latest in a string of quality problems at the Japanese automaker.
The recall covers vehicles from the 2005-2008
model years sold in North America. Three accidents and one minor injury have
been reported, though Toyota said a link to the engine issue has not been
confirmed.
The automaker said vehicles with 1ZZ-FE engines
may contain a defective engine control module, the computer that regulates the
performance of the engine. In some cases, a crack may develop on the module's
circuit board, which could prevent the engine from starting, harsh shifting or
an engine stall.
Toyota said it will replace the engine control
modules on the recalled vehicles at no charge. It will begin mailing
notifications to customers with affected Corollas and Matrixes starting in
mid-September.
Toyota Motor Corp. has recalled more than 10
million vehicles worldwide over the past year for a range of problems, including
faulty gas pedals, floor mats that can trap accelerators and braking problems in
its Prius hybrid.
Federal regulators have been investigating the
possibility of engine stalls in the Corolla and Matrix models since December and
intensified their probe earlier this week.
MORE RECALL INFO:
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Matrix
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JULY
2010 --
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2008 Lexus passenger cars
manufactured from August 26, 2005 through August 4, 2008. Micro-foreign objects
in the material of the valve spring may degrade the strength of the valve
spring, possibly causing the spring to break. The engine could fail and stop
suddenly while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota
will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The
safety recall is expected to begin during August 2010. . 10V-309
JULY
2010 --
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2000-2004 Avalon vehicles. Due to
improper casting of the steering lock bar, there is a possibility that a minute
crack may develop on the surface of the lock bar. Such a crack may expand over a
long period of repeated lock and unlock operations, and eventually the lock bar
could break. Should the steering lock bar break, the steering wheel would lock
and the driver would lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk
of a crash. Dealers will replace the steering interlock device free of charge.
The safety recall is expected to begin late August 2010. 10V-345
JULY
2010 --
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2007 Lexus LX470 vehicles. The
construction of the steering shaft is such that the snap ring on the shaft may
disengage when the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front
wheels. If the snap ring becomes disengaged and the steering wheel is then
repeatedly turned to the locked position, over time the steering shaft may
become disconnected. This could result in loss of steering control increasing
the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the snap ring with a newly designed
one and install an additional component which will prevent separation of the
steering shaft. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall
is expected to begin during August 2010. . 10V-346
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NEWS:
Toyota says to recall 412,000 cars in the U.S.
YAHOO NEWS -- July 29, 2010 – Japan's Toyota
Motor Corp said on Thursday it would recall 412,000 high-end passenger cars in
the United States to fix steering problems.
Toyota, which has conducted a string of recalls
this year, will recall 373,000 of its 2000-2004 model year Avalon sedans because
the steering lock bar in these vehicles could break under certain conditions, it
said in a statement.
It will also recall 39,000 of its 2003-2007 model
year LX470 sports utility vehicles to eliminate the risk of steering shaft
disengagement, the world's biggest automaker said.
Toyota has received reports of three accidents
involving the Avalon models subject to the recall though there have been no
injuries reported, a Toyota spokesman said.
It is not clear if the three accidents are
related to the possible defect Toyota is now trying to fix, he said.
There have been no reports of accidents involving
the LX470 models subject to the recall, Toyota said.
MORE RECALL INFO:
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NEWS:
U.S. grand jury subpoenas Toyota on steering rods
YAHOO NEWS -- July 20, 2010 – A U.S. grand jury
has ordered Toyota Motor Corp to turn over documents related to problems with
rods that connect vehicle steering systems to their front wheels, the company
said on Tuesday.
The subpoena was at least the third Toyota has
received this year, potentially deepening the automaker's legal issues following
its recall of more than 10 million vehicles since last September.
The embarrassing recalls by Toyota, once
considered a benchmark for high vehicle quality, mainly concern unintended
acceleration, including pedals that stick or become caught under floor mats.
Toyota said in a statement that it was complying
with the subpoena. The company did not identify the models and model years
covered by the latest subpoena, which a Toyota spokeswoman said was received by
a U.S. unit from a federal grand jury in Manhattan on June 29.
A spokeswoman for the office of Manhattan U.S.
Attorney Preet Bharara declined to comment on Tuesday.
A federal grand jury in the same prosecutorial
district subpoenaed Toyota in February as the automaker tackled a crisis over
how it handled problems that caused unintended acceleration in vehicles. The
following month, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox subpoenaed the company
seeking information on the recalls.
A grand jury probe raises the possibility of
criminal charges, on top of dozens of civil lawsuits that could cost Toyota
billions of dollars in damages.
The Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office has one of
the highest profiles in the United States, with jurisdiction over some of Wall
Street's largest publicly traded companies. Toyota has shares listed on the New
York Stock Exchange.
In May, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration opened a probe into the timing of a September 2005 Toyota recall
for a steering relay rod problem. It questions whether Toyota notified the
agency of a defect within five business days, as required by U.S. law.
Toyota recalled Hilux trucks with defective
steering relay rods in 2004 in Japan, but at the time told U.S. regulators the
defect was isolated to vehicles in Japan, NHTSA said.
The automaker later admitted the problem affected
vehicles sold in the United States. Its 2005 U.S. recall covered about 978,000
vehicles, including the 4Runner sport utility vehicle and pickup trucks from the
1989-1996 model years.
The U.S. government ordered Toyota in April to
pay a $16.4 million fine for delaying a January recall over accelerator pedals
that did not spring back as designed. |
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JUNE 2010 --
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 HS250h Lexus vehicles for failing to
comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 301,
"Fuel System Integrity." When the vehicle was rotated following a crash test as
required, the amount of fuel leakage exceeded the allowable limits. Fuel
leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire. Toyota
has not provided a remedy for this campaign or has not determined when the
safety recall is expected to begin. 10V-285 |
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NEWS:
Toyota says 270,000 vehicles have faulty engines
YAHOO NEWS -- July 1, 2010 – Toyota Motor
Corp. said Thursday about 270,000 cars sold worldwide, including luxury Lexus
sedans, have potentially faulty engines, in the latest quality issue to confront
the Japanese automaker after a string of massive recalls.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, the U.S. government's auto safety agency, said Toyota had not
formally notified it about a recall. Japan's top-selling daily Yomiuri said the
company will inform the Japanese transport ministry of a recall on Monday but
the paper cited no sources.
Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma in Japan said the
company was evaluating measures to deal with the problem of defective engines
that can stall while the vehicle is moving. He would not confirm a recall was
being considered.
The world's largest automaker has scrambled to
repair its reputation following the recall of 8.5 million vehicles around the
globe because of problems with sticking accelerator pedals and gas pedals that
can get trapped in floor mats.
Toyota was slapped with a record $16.4 million
fine in the United States for acting too slowly to recall vehicles with defects.
Toyota dealers have repaired millions of vehicles, but the automaker still faces
more than 200 lawsuits tied to accidents, the lower resale value of Toyota
vehicles and the drop in the company's stock.
U.S. regulators are working with scientists from
NASA to investigate what caused some of the vehicles to suddenly accelerate.
That review is expected to be completed by late August. NHTSA officials are also
reviewing whether Toyota waited nearly a year in 2005 to recall trucks and SUVs
in the U.S. with defective steering rods, a case that could lead to additional
fines.
Lexus general manager Mark Templin said during
manufacturing there were some contaminated materials used for valve springs in
the engine, which could cause abnormal noises or rough idling. In extreme cases,
Templin said the engine could stall and drivers would likely hear noises or
idling before the vehicle stalled.
Templin said the engines were included in
previous model years of the IS350, GS350, GS460, GS450h, LS460, LS600h, LS600hL
and Toyota Crown, which is primarily sold in Japan. He said the company was
still evaluating which model years were affected by the engine problems and the
company would make an announcement to customers when a fix is determined.
Lexus said in a statement that approximately
137,000 vehicles could be affected in the U.S. A company official in Japan said
earlier that about 90,000 vehicles with the engine problems were sold in Japan
and a total of 270,000 vehicles worldwide were involved.
Lexus said it had not received any reports of
accidents or injuries related to the issue. Asked whether the cars were safe,
Templin said, "I'm driving one and I feel totally comfortable in it."
Toyota said it has received around 200 complaints
in Japan over faulty engines. Some drivers told Toyota that the engines made a
strange noise. Homma said there have been no reports of accidents linked to the
faulty engines.
Toyota spokesman Ed Lewis said the company had
not formally notified the U.S. highway safety agency about the issue. He could
not confirm any plans for a recall in the United States.
In the aftermath of the recalls, Congress is
considering an upgrade to auto safety laws to toughen potential penalties
against automakers, give the U.S. government more power to demand a recall and
push car companies to meet new safety standards.
Toyota said last week it will recall 17,000 Lexus
luxury hybrids after testing showed that fuel can spill during a rear-end crash. |
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MAY
2010 --
Toyota is recalling certain Model Year 2009 and 2010 Lexus LS460 and LS600
vehicles manufactured from August 20, 2009 through May 13, 2010. A programming
change of the steering control ECU for the variable gear ratio steering (VGRS)
system can cause improper activation of the steering system protection logic
designed to protect the system when larger than normal steering inputs are
applied at a fully turned position. Improper activation of the steering system
protection logic can cause the steering wheel to become off-center up to 90
degrees. This may occur after the driver has fully turned the steering wheel in
one direction then quickly attempts to turn it back to the center position.
Should this occur while driving, the risk of a crash is increased. Toyota will
notify owners and Lexus dealers will replace the steering control ECU free of
charge. Toyota has not determined when the safety recall is expected to begin.
10V-218 |
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NEWS:
Toyota to recall Lexus "LS" vehicles in US
YAHOO NEWS -- May 20. 2010 – Toyota said Wednesday that it will recall a line of luxury Lexus sedans in the United States and Japan to fix a computerized steering problem.The recalls will affect 4,500 Lexus "LS" vehicles in Japan and the 3,800 2010 "LS" models that Toyota has sold in the United States. The line is Toyota's top-priced luxury sedan brand, and includes the "LS 600h" hybrid.
The world's largest automaker, battered by a series of high-profile safety recalls in recent months, said consumers have complained of steering wheels that came off-center during certain driving maneuvers, out of alignment with the directon of the car's wheels. Toyota received 12 complaints in Japan, but said it knew of no accidents caused by the problem. The company has sold about 7,000 Lexus "LS" sedans outside of Japan, including the 3,800 in the U.S., 150 in Europe and 800 in China, with others sold in areas such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia.
After being hit with a record $16.4 million fine in the U.S. and facing strong government criticism both at home and abroad for slow responses to safety problems, Toyota Motor Corp. is working to react more quickly. The company on Tuesday paid the fine in the U.S., where it still faces hundreds of state and federal lawsuits.
The latest issue involves a computerized system that oversees how the steering wheel controls the tires. The steering system comes standard in Japanese models, but is optional in some other regions. It varies the amount that the steering wheel turns the tires on a car, allowing drivers to turn the wheel less at low speeds when attempting to navigate or park in tight spots and providing finer control at high speeds.
The system can take "a few seconds" to return the steering to normal after it has been adjusted, which led to complaints from drivers, said Toyota spokesman
He said Toyota is preparing to conduct a recall in Japan soon, but wasn't sure of the exact timing. The U.S. recall is expected Friday.
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APRIL 2010 -- Toyota is recalling certain
model year 2010 Lexus GX460 passenger vehicles manufactured from November 16,
2009 through April 8, 2010. If the vehicle is driven through a sharp turn at
high speed under certain conditions it could skid and could roll over. If the
vehicle strikes a curb or slides off the pavement, a crash could occur. Toyota
will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles by reprogramming the
vehicle stability control free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin
during May 2010. 10V-159
APRIL 2010 -- Toyota is recalling certain
model year 1998 through 2010 Sienna passenger vehicles manufactured between
August 7, 1997 and January 4, 2010, currently registered in or originally sold
in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington District Of Columbia, Virginia,
West Virginia, And Wisconsin. The subject vehicles are equipped with the spare
tire stowed under the vehicle. If the vehicle is operated in the cold climate
regions of the United States where road salt is frequently used, water splashed
backwards with high concentrations of road salt can reach the spare tire carrier
and corrode the spare tire carrier assembly cable. The cable may break due to
excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, possibly
resulting in a vehicle crash. The manufacturer has not yet provided the agency
with a remedy and notification schedule. 10V-160
APRIL 2010 -- Toyota is recalling certain
model year 2003 Sequoia passenger vehicles manufactured from April 1, 2002
through April 17, 2003. The center position of the Steering Angle Sensor (SAS)
may not be stored correctly due to improper logic of the Skid Control ECU
programming. The Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system could activate at low
speed for a few seconds during acceleration from a stopped position. Should this
occur, the vehicle may not accelerate as quickly as the driver expects,
increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota will notify owners and dealers will
replace the Skid Control ECU free of charge. The safety recall is expected to
begin during May 2010. 10V-176
MARCH 2010 - Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Tundra vehicles with four wheel drive, there is a possibility that an improper weld exists at the union of the propeller shaft and yoke. Due to this improper weld, this joint may separate and the separated shaft may come into contact with the road surface. This may result in a loss of vehicle control increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the front propeller shaft free or charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during April 2010. . 10V-091 |
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| NEWS Toyota recalls 600,000 mini-vans USA TODAY -- April 17, 2010 -- Toyota says it is recalling 600,000 Sienna mini-vans because of corrosion on the cable holding the spare-tire carrier. The problem has surfaced on vehicles in cold climates with heavy use of road salt.
The recall covers 1998 through 2010 model years. The automaker write in its news release that "prolonged exposure" to road salts may cause "excessive corrosion" of the cable. "In the worst case," the company says, cable may fail and the spare tire could "become separated from the vehicle." That creates "a road hazard for following vehicles" and could cause a crash.
Toyota said it's working on a remedy. Until then, owners will receive "an interim notice" telling them to take their vehicles to a dealership for an inspection.
The recall covers vehicles in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The states are: |
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
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- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
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| MORE RECALL NEWS: Toyota Sienna |
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FEBRUARY 2010 -- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Toyota Prius and Lexus HS250H passenger vehicles. Customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel after ABS actuation during slow and steady application of the brakes on rough or slick road surfaces. Stopping distances may be increased compared with a customer's expectation for a given pedal force. Vehicle stopping distances may increase relative to a customer's expectation increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will rewrite the programming of the ABS control unit free of charge. The safety recall began on March 3, 2010. 10V-039
FEBRUARY 2010 -- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Camrys. The length of the power steering pressure hose on vehicles equipped with the 4-cylinder (2AR-FE) engine may be insufficient, such that the gap between the crimp on the pressure hose and the brake tube for the left rear brake may be insufficient. Under these circumstances the brake tube may interfere with the crimp and may wear and then perforate. A brake tube perforation may result in brake fluid leakage. A leak in brake fluid may impact braking performance increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota will notify owners and, if necessary, dealers will replace or adjust the brake tube free of charge. The safety recall began on March 4, 2010. 10V-040
FEBRUARY 2010 -- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks. The propeller shaft may develop cracks during the manufacturing process. Over time, the cracks may eventually lead to the separation of the propeller shaft. This may result in a loss of vehicle control increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect and replace the front propeller shaft on affected vehicles free of charge. Owners will be notified in March and April 2010. 10V-042 |
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NEWS: Toyota to expand recall of Tundra pickups for rust YAHOO NEWS -- March 11, 2010 – Toyota said Tuesday it will expand a recall announced last year to fix Tundra pickup trucks with frames that could rust and lead to spare tires falling from the vehicle.
Toyota spokesman ,,, said the recall will cover Tundra pickups from the 2000-2003 model years in all 50 states. It would broaden a recall announced in November that covered 110,000 trucks in 20 "cold weather" states and the District of Columbia.
Lyons said dealers were notified of the expanded recall Tuesday but he did not immediately know how many additional trucks would be covered. He said Toyota would provide more details.
Toyota has recalled more than 8 million cars and trucks worldwide to address gas pedals and floor mats that can cause the accelerator to become stuck in the depressed position. Federal regulators have linked 52 deaths to crashes allegedly caused by the accelerator problems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into excessive rust on Tundra frames in October after receiving 20 complaints of "severe frame corrosion."
NHTSA said then it had received 15 reports alleging the spare tire, stowed under the truck bed, separated from the frame. Five other reports alleged broken brake lines because of the rust. It urged owners to remove the spare tire from the frame, concerned it could fall onto the road and create a road hazard.
When the limited recall was announced last year, Toyota said it would ask dealers to inspect the frame's rear cross-member. If the inspection found the frame could no longer safely support the spare tire, the cross-member assembly would be replaced.
Toyota had said it was recalling the trucks in the cold weather states because road salts and chemical deicers typically used to treat roads during the winter could cause additional corrosion in the trucks.
The states originally covered by the recall are: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
The Transportation Department had no immediate comment on the expanded recall.
MORE RECALL INFO: Toyota Tundra
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NEWS: Toyota probes Corolla steering, considers recall YAHOO NEWS -- February 18, 2010 -- Toyota is considering a recall of its hot-selling Corolla subcompact after complaints about power steering problems — another blow to the world's largest automaker already reeling from a string of recalls for safety troubles.
Despite pressure from some lawmakers, President Akio Toyoda said he won't be attending the U.S. congressional hearing on the automaker's quality lapses, entrusting the job to U.S.-based executives — though would consider an appearance if the committee requests it. He said he wanted to focus on improving quality worldwide.
"I trust that our officials in the U.S. will amply answer the questions," Toyoda said Wednesday in his third news conference in two weeks. "We are sending the best people to the hearing, and I hope to back up the efforts from headquarters."
He said Yoshi Inaba, who heads Toyota Motor Corp.'s North American unit, was more familiar with the U.S. situation and was the best executive to deal with the hearing. Toyoda said he was still making plans to go to the U.S. and dates have yet to be set.
But in an alarming disclosure that could widen Toyota's recall crisis, the executive in charge of quality controls, Shinichi Sasaki, said Toyota was taking seriously the complaints about power-steering problems in the Corolla, the world's best-selling car.
Speaking at Toyota's Tokyo office, Sasaki said the company was putting customers first in a renewed effort to salvage its reputation and would do whatever is necessary if a Corolla fix is needed.
He said it was still uncertain if a Corolla recall would be necessary, but it is an option the automaker is considering.
He didn't disclose model years or regions that could be affected and said there have been fewer than 100 complaints. Toyota sold nearly 1.3 million Corolla cars worldwide last year.
Drivers may feel as though they were losing control over the steering, but it was unclear why, Sasaki said. He mentioned problems with the braking system or tires as possible underlying reasons for the steering problem.
U.S. federal safety officials have also said they are examining complaints from Corolla owners about steering problems.
Toyota has already recalled 8.5 million vehicles globally during the past four months because of problems with sticking gas pedals, floor mats trapping accelerators and faulty brake programming.
Its once pristine reputation for quality has been hammered, and Toyota's share of the critical North American market has nose-dived. Last month was the first time since February 1998 that Toyota's monthly U.S. sales fell below 100,000 vehicles, according to Ward's AutoInfoBank.
Koji Endo, managing director at Advanced Research Japan, said the Corolla problems, if they expand into a recall, would deal another major blow to Toyota.
"If Toyota has to recall Corollas, I wouldn't be surprised if they have to recall more than a million units again. It's going to be another big, big negative," said Endo.
But others said Toyota was sending a message it was going to be quick and thorough about maintaining quality.
"It really shows the company has learned its lesson from the recall debacle by starting to announce every investigation far more quickly," said Ryoichi Saito, auto analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities Co. in Tokyo.
Analysts had mixed views about Toyoda's reluctance to show up at Congress — some critical but others saying it was OK.
Unlike Western chief executives, Japanese presidents are not always expected to be an authoritative figure and play more of a team leader role in a culture that values harmony and consensus. That role is even more pronounced for Toyoda, the grandson of the company's founder who holds special significance for rank-and-file workers and dealers in Japan.
The U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is holding a hearing on Feb. 24 on Toyota's gas pedal problems. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled one the next day.
Inaba, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and NHTSA Administrator David Strickland are expected to testify at both meetings. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has scheduled a March 2 hearing.
At Wednesday's news conference, a solemn Toyoda reiterated his promise beef up quality controls at the world's No. 1 automaker.
He promised a brake-override system in all future models worldwide that will add a safety measure against acceleration problems that are behind the recent massive recalls. The system is a mechanism that overrides the accelerator if the gas and brake pedals are pressed at the same time.
"We are not covering up anything, and we are not running away from anything," Toyoda said.
The automaker said it was also dealing with questions about whether the gas pedal flaw was electronic and reiterated its investigation has not found any electronic problems.
But it has commissioned an independent research organization to test its electronic throttle system, and will release the findings as they become available.
Scrutiny of Toyota is growing. The U.S. Transportation Department has demanded Toyota hand over documents related to its massive recalls. The department wants to know how long the automaker knew of safety defects before taking action.
Reports of deaths in the U.S. connected to sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles have surged in recent weeks, with the alleged death toll reaching 34 since 2000, according to new consumer data gathered by the U.S. government.
Toyota told NHTSA in January that the problem appeared in Europe beginning in December 2008. Toyota has said it began fixes on that in August 2009, but the company failed to link that with gas pedal problems in the U.S., which surfaced in October 2009.
Toyota took full-page ads in major Japanese newspapers Wednesday to apologize for the recalls in Japan, which affect the flagship Prius hybrid and two other hybrid models.
"We apologize from the bottom of our hearts for the great inconvenience and worries that we have caused you all," the black-and-white ads say.
READ FULL NEWS STORY
MORE RECALL INFO: Toyota Corolla |
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NEWS: Toyota recalls 8,000 Tacoma trucks CNN -- February 13, 2010 -- Toyota announced a voluntary safety recall of about 8,000 four-wheel-drive Tacoma trucks in North America, citing potential production defects in the front drive shaft of certain 2010 models.
The automaker said Friday that the front shaft in a small production run of pickups may include a component that developed cracks during the manufacturing process.
As the vehicles are used, the cracks could lead to "the separation of the drive shaft at the joint portion."
Toyota said the safety inspection and replacement will be performed at no cost. READ FULL NEWS STORY
MORE RECALL INFO: Toyota Tacoma |
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NEWS: Toyota recalls 133,000 Prius & 14,500 Lexus Hybrid Vehicles YAHOO NEWS -- February 9, 2010 – Toyota is recalling 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems — the latest embarrassing safety lapse at the world's largest automaker.
In the U.S., Toyota will recall 133,000 Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus HS250h vehicles. Nearly 53,000 Priuses are also being recalled in Europe. Toyota is suspending production of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan until the updated software for those models is ready.
If drivers experience a delayed reaction when depressing the brakes in any of these models, they should keep pressing, according to Toyota and the transport ministry. The Prius repairs will start in Japan on Wednesday. U.S. owners will start receiving letters about the recall next week. READ FULL NEWS STORY
MORE RECALL INFO: Toyota Prius Lexus HS250h |
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NEWS: Toyota to recall Prius hybrid in US, Japan YAHOO NEWS -- February 5, 2010 – Toyota will recall 270,000 Prius hybrid vehicles over brake problems in the United States and Japan, a report said Friday, while the beleaguered auto giant launched an investigation into possible problems with the brakes in its luxury Lexus hybrid.
The recall would affect the new Prius hybrid model, and Toyota Motor Corp. would soon notify Japan's transport ministry and the U.S. Department of Transportation of the recall, Japan's top business newspaper, Nihon Keizai, said Friday.
Japanese public broadcaster NHK also said Toyota was considering a recall of Prius hybrids in the U.S. and Japan.
Takayuki Fujimoto, a transport ministry official, said the government has yet to receive a recall notice from Toyota. Toyota cannot announce a recall in Japan until it notifies the ministry.
Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said Friday that Toyota had not yet decided whether to recall the Prius.
"Nothing has been decided on whether we will recall or not," Takeuchi said.
The new Prius hybrid went on sale in Japan and the United States in May 2009. More than 170,000 of the new Prius models have been sold in Japan, with around 103,000 sold in the U.S. since May.
Toyota, reeling from massive global recalls of 4.5 million vehicles involving faulty gas pedals, acknowledged Thursday design problems with the brakes in its prized Prius.
Complaints about braking problems in the Prius — the world's top-selling gas-electric hybrid — have been reported in the U.S. and Japan, combining to some 180.
Takeuchi said Toyota has launched a probe into the luxury Lexus HS250h hybrid model for possible brake problems in Japan and the United States as the vehicle uses the same brake system as the new Prius hybrid.
"We want to ensure safety for our customers," Takeuchi said. Toyota has not received any complaints about the Lexus HS250h, she said. The luxury HS250h went on sale in Japan in July 2009, and September last year in North America.
Toyota said Thursday it had corrected problems with the antilock brake system in the new Prius models sold since late last month, including those shipped overseas.
But the company said it was still deciding what steps to take to fix the problem in Prius cars sold in Japan and overseas before late January.
MORE RECALL INFO: Toyota Prius |
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NEWS: Toyota probe grows with questions on Prius brakesYAHOO NEWS -- February 3, 2010 – Americans should park their recalled Toyotas unless driving to dealers for accelerator repairs, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned Wednesday — then quickly took it back — as skepticism of company fixes grew and the government's probe expanded to other models in the U.S. and Japan. Questions now are being raised about the brakes on Toyota's marquee Prius hybrid.
The Prius was not part of the most recent recall, but Japan's transport ministry ordered the company to investigate complaints of brake problems with the hybrid. LaHood said his department, too, was looking into brake problems. About 100 complaints over Prius brakes have been filed in the U.S. and Japan.
Harried dealers began receiving parts to repair defective gas pedals in millions of vehicles and said they'd be extending their hours deep into the night to try and catch up. Toyota said that would solve the problem — which it said was extremely rare — of cars unaccountably accelerating.......Since October, Toyota first recalled about 5 million vehicles over problems with floor mats trapping gas pedals and now, in a recall announced Jan. 21, some 2.3 million vehicles amid concerns that gas pedals could become stuck or slow to return to the idle position. The latest recall involves 2009-10 RAV4 crossovers, 2009-10 Corollas, 2009-10 Matrix hatchbacks, 2005-10 Avalons, 2007-10 Camrys, 2010 Highlander crossovers, 2007-10 Tundra pickups and 2008-10 Sequoia SUVs. READ FULL NEWS STORY
MORE RECALL INFO: Toyota Prius |
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NEWS: What Toyota Drivers Should Do If Car Speeds Up on its Own
Wall Street Journal -- January 27, 2010 -- Toyota Motor Corp. is advising drivers who own one of the 2.3 million vehicles affected by its latest recall for sudden acceleration to keep driving, but be on the lookout for anything unusual in the car's behavior.
Unlike Toyota's earlier recall of 4.2 million vehicles for full-throttle unintended acceleration caused by accelerator pedals getting stuck under floor mats, the latest problem involves pedals that stick with the throttle partially open.
Toyota says the new "sticky pedal" problem isn't related to the earlier cases. There is, however, an overlap of about 1.7 million cars that could have both problems, Toyota said.
Drivers should look out for symptoms like a rough feel in the accelerator pedal's movement or a pedal that seems to return too slowly to the idle position.
Owners also can have their dealer check the accelerator mechanism for wear that could precede more serious problems.
Drivers who experience sudden acceleration from a stuck accelerator should step on the brake pedal firmly with both feet and shift the transmission into neutral to bring the vehicle to a stop, according to documents that Toyota has distributed to its dealers.
Drivers who are unable to shift the vehicle into neutral should turn the engine off, the documents advise. The move won't cause a loss of steering or braking control, although drivers will have to use more effort because the power systems that assist steering and braking mechanisms with the engine on will be lost.
In vehicles that have push-button starters, drivers should steadily press the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine, the car-maker's documents say.
Owners with a traditional key ignition should turn the engine off but not remove the key since that would lock the steering wheel.
"Toyota is working quickly to prepare a correction remedy and will issue owner notifications in the future," according to the documents seen by The Wall Street Journal.
"No action is required at this time unless you feel you are experiencing this condition. If you are experiencing this condition, immediately contact your nearest Toyota dealer for assistance."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has been working with Toyota to address the defects and plans to review eventual remedies, but had no advice for consumers beyond contacting Toyota.
"Toyota is the lead on this," said NHTSA spokesman Eric Bolton. Mr. Bolton said the agency is pleased that Toyota is taking action to correct the problem and notify drivers of potential hazards.
John McEleney, president of Southgate Motors, a dealership in Clinton, Iowa, is asking his concerned Toyota customers to schedule an inspection appointment to determine if there is a problem.
Other than that, Mr. McEleney said his hands are tied until Toyota begins sending replacement pedals or other corrective parts, which may take a couple of weeks.
"We can at least provide a quick inspection to give customers some comfort," he said.
If a dealer isn't providing inspections, vehicle owners who may be concerned should still call the showroom and get their names on a list for any repair, said Edmunds.com spokeswoman Jeannine Fallon.
She also advised owners to take their vehicles to an empty parking lot and conduct their own tests to see if the accelerator pedal feels sticky.
"If the pedal is slow to respond then don't drive it," Ms. Fallon said.
"This may also be a time to set up other transportation possibilities, such as renting a car or traveling with a friend." |
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|
NEWS:
Toyota
expanding recall by another
1 million vehicles
YAHOO NEWS -- Jan 27, 2010
--
Toyota Motor
Corp
late on Wednesday said it is
expanding a recall of its
cars and trucks by another
1.1 million vehicles to
address the risk of
accelerator pedals becoming
dangerously stuck.
The recall
involves 2009-2010 model
year Corolla,
Venza, Matrix
vehicles and the 2008-2010
Highlander, as well as the
2009-2010
Pontiac Vibe. The
Vibe had been assembled at a
plant in California that
Toyota had operated jointly
with GM.
Toyota
told federal officials of
the expanded recall on
Wednesday. It is the
second high-profile safety
action in less than a week
for the automaker.
Last week,
Toyota recalled 2.3 million
vehicles that it said may
have a faulty accelerator
pedal that sticks.
Last year, Toyota said it
was recalling more than 4
million vehicles for what it
then said were safety risks
linked to improperly placed
floormats. In
November, after the issue
was investigated by the U.S.
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration,
Toyota said it would also
modify or replace
accelerator pedals as well.
The total
number of recalled
Toyotas in 2009 and
2010 now stands at 5.9
million. There are some
models involved in last
week's as well as last
year's recall. In a
letter to the NHTSA on
Wednesday, Toyota said its
plan is to modify or replace
accelerator pedals.
Modifying vehicle floors
also will be considered on
some models, Toyota said.
"Initially, dealers will be
instructed on how to reshape
the accelerator pedal for
the repair," Toyota's letter
to U.S. safety regulators
said. "As replacement
parts...become available,
they will be made available
to the dealers," Toyota said
Models
covered by the latest GAS PEDAL recall
include the
JANUARY 25, 2010
Models
ADDED to the latest FLOOR
MAT recall
include the
JANUARY 27, 2010
Models
covered by the original
FLOOR MAT recall
include
NOVEMBER 21, 2009
|
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NEWS: Toyota halts US sales of 8 recalled modelsYAHOO NEWS -- Jan 26, 2010 -- Toyota is suspending U.S. sales of eight car and truck models to fix sticking gas pedals and halting production lines at plants from Texas to Canada to deal with the problem, the latest to confront the world's No. 1 automaker.
The suspended sales, announced Tuesday, involve a significant portion of Toyota Motor Co.'s fleet and some of its most popular vehicles, including the Camry and Corolla. As part of the plan, Toyota is halting some production at five assembly plants beginning the week of Feb. 1 "to assess and coordinate activities."
There are 2.3 million vehicles involved in the recall, which was announced last week. Toyota has said it was unaware of any accidents or injuries due to the pedal problems associated with the recall, but could not rule them out for sure.
"This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized," said Bob Carter, Toyota's group vice president and general manager.
The Japanese automaker said the sales suspension includes the following models: the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.
Models
covered by the latest recall
include the
Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst for the consulting firm IHS Global Insight in Troy, Mich., said Toyota typically sells about 65,000 Camrys and Corollas a month, and the frozen sales could strike the company's bottom line and reputation for quality.
"That's huge if they can't sell these and they don't have a fix identified. They need to go and get a solution to this fast," Bragman said.
Toyota sold more than 34,000 Camrys in December, making the midsize sedan America's best-selling car. It commands 3.4 percent of the U.S. market and sales rose 38 percent from a year earlier. Sales of the Corolla and Matrix, a small sedan and a hatchback, totaled 34,220 last month, with 3.3 percent of the market and sales up nearly 55 percent from December of 2008.
It was unclear how long Toyota would suspend production of the vehicles. In an e-mail to employees, company officials said, "we don't know yet how long this pause will last but we will make every effort to resume production soon."
Toyota officials did not immediately return phone messages.
The automaker said the move would affect plants in Princeton, Ind., Lafayette, Ind., Georgetown, Ky., San Antonio, Texas, and a facility in Ontario, Canada. About 300 workers who build V8 engines at a Toyota plant in Huntsville, Ala., will also be affected, said Stephanie Deemer, a spokeswoman for the plant.
Deemer said workers there would have the option of receiving additional training, take vacation or unpaid leave.
Toyota said no other North American Toyota facility would be affected by the decision.
Toyota dealers said they were concerned the move would hamper sales and were hopeful parts to fix the problem could be distributed quickly.
"They're going the extra mile to reassure people that they really care about the customers," said Earl Stewart, owner of a Toyota dealership in North Palm Beach, Fla. "It is something that's going to be at least a short-term hardship on the dealers, and especially on Toyota."
The auto company said the sales suspension would not affect Lexus or Scion vehicles. Toyota said the Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids, would remain for sale.
Toyota said last week it was recalling 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix accelerator pedals with mechanical problems that could cause them to become stuck.
The announcement followed a larger recall months earlier of 4.2 million vehicles because of problems with gas pedals becoming trapped under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration. That problem was the cause of several crashes, including some fatalities.
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|
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NEWS:
Toyota
issues new recall for 2.3M
vehicles over sticking
pedals
YAHOO NEWS –
Jan
21, 2010 --
Toyota Motor Corp
said on Thursday it would
recall 2.3 million vehicles
in the United States to fix
potentially faulty
accelerator pedals in an
admission of more
wide-ranging problems with
dangerous acceleration in
its cars and trucks.
The recall
marked an acknowledgment
that potential safety
problems on Toyota vehicles
run deeper than the
automaker had first
announced and broadened a
recall that already ranked
as its largest ever.
The moves
have threatened to damage
Toyota's reputation for
market-leading quality and
safety at a time when the
automaker's U.S. sales
remain under pressure.
Toyota had
previously maintained that
there was no evidence of a
mechanical fault linked to
reports of bursts of
unintended acceleration that
prompted the recall of about
4.2 million vehicles last
year.
The recall
announced on Thursday is
separate from the earlier
action that Toyota said was
aimed at addressing the risk
that the accelerator pedals
could become entrapped by
loose or improperly
installed
floor mats. About 1.7
million Toyota vehicles are
subject to both recalls,
Toyota said.
Models
covered by the latest recall
include the
The
2009-10 Pontiac Vibe --
which was assembled at the
same factory as the Matrix
-- is also going to be
recalled.
Toyota
said its own investigation
in recent months had found
that some accelerator pedals
on those Toyota brand models
might stick in a partially
depressed position or return
slowly to idle. The problems
could occur when the pedal
mechanism becomes worn, it
said.
"Toyota
will continue to investigate
incidents of unwanted
acceleration and take
appropriate measures to
address any trends that are
identified," it said in a
statement. As recently
as November,.... Toyota's
U.S. brand chief, had said
there was "no evidence" to
support claims that the
reported safety problems
could be caused by anything
other than loose floor mats
interfering with the
accelerator pedal.
The National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
had received reports of 100
incidents at the time of
Toyota's first recall. Those
reports included 17 crashes
and five fatalities possibly
linked to floor mats and
accelerator pedals in
Toyota cars and
trucks.
Toyota's
earlier recall covers the
Camry and Avalon sedans, the
Prius hybrid, the Tacoma and
Tundra pickup trucks,
and the luxury Lexus models
IS250, IS350 and ES350.
NHTSA had conducted a
similar investigation of
floor mats in Toyota
vehicles that began in 2007
and resulted in a recall of
more than 50,000 cars.
That probe focused on the
Lexus ES350 and concluded
that grooves in the
floor mat could trap
the accelerator if the mat
was not secured with
retaining hooks. |
|
JANUARY 2010 -
Toyota is recalling certain
model year 2005-2010 Avalon,
model year 2007-2010 Camry,
model year 2009-2010
Corolla, Corolla Matrix,
Rav4, model year 2010
Highlander, model year
2008-2010 Sequoia, and model
year 2007-2010 Tundra
vehicles. Due to the manner
in which the friction lever
interacts with the sliding
surface of the accelerator
pedal inside the pedal
sensor assembly, the sliding
surface of the lever may
become smooth during vehicle
operation. In this
condition, if condensation
occurs on the surface, as
may occur from heater
operation (without A/C) when
the pedal assembly is cold,
the friction when the
accelerator pedal is
operated may increase, which
may result in the
accelerator pedal becoming
harder to depress, slower to
return, or, in the worst
case, mechanically stuck in
a partially depressed
position. The accelerator
pedal may become hard to
depress, slow to return to
idle, or, in the worst case,
mechanically stuck in a
partially depressed
position, increasing the
risk of a crash. Dealers
will install a reinforcement
bar in the accelerator pedal
which will allow the pedal
to operate smoothly. GM will
notify owners for the
Pontiac Vibe please see
10V-018. This service will
be performed free of charge.
The safety recall is
expected to begin early
February and will be
completed in late April
2010. 10V-017
JANUARY 2010 -
Toyota is recalling certain
model year 2008-2010
Highlander, model year
2009-2010 Corolla, Venza and
Matrix passenger vehicles.
The accelerator pedal can
get stuck in the wide open
position due to its being
trapped by an unsecured or
incompatible driver's floor
mat. This recall is an
expansion of a campaign of
3.8 million other Toyota
vehicles announced in 2009
for the same issue (See
09V-388). A stuck open
accelerator pedal may result
in very high vehicle speeds
and make it difficult to
stop the vehicle, which
could cause a crash, serious
injury or death. Toyota will
modify or replace the
accelerator pedals on the
subject vehicles. Floor
surface modifications are
also being considered and
will be included for any
model for which it is deemed
appropriate. Initially,
dealers will be instructed
on how to reshape the
accelerator pedal for the
repair. As replacement parts
with the same shape as the
modified pedal become
available, they will be made
available to the dealers for
the repair. Customers who
have had the pedal reshape
remedy completed will have
the opportunity to receive a
new pedal if they desire,
after replacement pedals
become available. In
addition, Toyota will
replace any Toyota
all-weather floor mat in a
subject vehicle with a newly
designed mat, free of
charge. For those customers
who have the previous design
all-weather floor mat but do
not need or want the newly
designed all-weather floor
mat, Toyota will recover the
previous design all-weather
floor mat and reimburse its
price. Toyota has not yet
provided an owner
notification schedule.
10V-023
NOVEMBER 2009 --
Toyota is recalling model
year 2000-2003 Tundra
vehicles originally sold in
or currently registered in
the following states:
Connecticut, Delaware,
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Vermont, Virginia, West
Virginia, Wisconsin and the
District of Columbia.
Excessive corrosion of the
rear cross member may cause
the separation of the spare
tire stowed under the truck
bed which would present a
road hazard that could cause
a crash. Also, corrosion of
the rear cross member could
affect the rear brake lines
and the proportioning valve
resulting in diminished
braking capability.
Separation of the spare tire
and diminished brake
capacity could increase the
risk of a crash. Toyota is
asking owners of the
affected vehicles to remove
the spare tire from under
the vehicle until a remedy
can be obtained. Dealers
will inspect the rear cross
member and related
components, including the
brake lines, and replace
them if necessary. If the
cross member does not need
to be replaced, it will be
sprayed with a corrosion
protection compound. These
services will be performed
free of charge, however
multiple visits to the
dealer may be required. The
safety recall is expected to
begin on or before December
15, 2009. 09V-444
OCTOBER 2009
-- Toyota is recalling
certain model year 2004-2010
passenger vehicles. The
accelerator pedal can get
stuck in the wide open
position due to its being
trapped by an unsecured or
incompatible driver's floor
mat. A stuck open
accelerator pedal may result
in very high vehicle speeds
and make it difficult to
stop the vehicle, which
could cause a crash, serious
injury or death. Toyota will
notify owners of affected
vehicles to remove any
driver's floor mat and not
replace it with any other
floor mat pending the
development of
model-specific remedies.
Toyota will mail a second
notification to owners of
affected vehicles notifying
them of the free remedy when
it is available. The first
notice was mailed on October
30, 2009 and Toyota will
advise NHTSA an estimate of
the date when the remedy
parts will be available.
09V-388 |
|
|
NEWS:
Toyota
to recall 3.8M vehicles over
floor mats
WASHINGTON –
November 2009 --
Toyota Motor Corp.
said Tuesday it will recall
3.8 million vehicles in the
United States, the company's
largest-ever U.S. recall, to
address problems with a
removable floor mat
that could cause
accelerators to get stuck
and lead to a crash.
The recall
will involve popular models
such as the
Toyota Camry, the
top-selling
passenger car in
America, and the
Toyota Prius, the
best-selling gas-electric
hybrid.
Toyota
said it was still working
with officials with the
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration
to find a remedy to fix the
problem and said owners
could be notified about the
recall as early as next
week. Toyota spokesman Irv
Miller said until the
company finds a fix, owners
should take out the
removable floor mat on the
driver's side and not
replace it.
"A stuck
open accelerator pedal may
result in very high vehicle
speeds and make it difficult
to stop a vehicle, which
could cause a crash, serious
injury or death," Miller
said.
NHTSA said
it had received reports of
102 incidents in which the
accelerator may have become
stuck on the Toyota vehicles
involved. It was unclear how
many led to crashes but the
inquiry was prompted by a
high-speed crash in August in
California of a Lexus
barreling out of control. As
the vehicle hit speeds
exceeding 120 mph, family
members made a frantic 911
call and said the
accelerator was stuck and
they couldn't stop the
vehicle.
"This is
an urgent matter,"
Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood said in a statement.
"For everyone's sake, we
strongly urge owners of
these vehicles to remove
mats or other obstacles that
could lead to unintended
acceleration."
The
recall will affect
Toyota's
previously largest U.S.
recall was about 900,000
vehicles in 2005 to fix a
steering issue. The company
declined to say how many
complaints it had received
about the accelerator issue.
The
Japanese automaker warned
owners that if they think
their vehicle is
accelerating out of control,
they should check to see
whether their
floor mat is under
the pedal. If a driver can't
remove the floor mat, Toyota
advises drivers to step on
the brake pedal with both
feet until the vehicle slows
and then try to put it into
neutral and switch the
ignition to accessory power.
For
vehicles with engine
start/stop buttons, Toyota
said the engine can be shut
off by holding the button
down for three seconds.
In the
August incident near San
Diego, the fiery crash of a
2009
Lexus ES 350 killed
California Highway Patrol
Officer Mark Saylor,
45, and three members of his
family on State Route 125 in
Santee. The runaway car was
traveling at more than 120
mph when it hit a
sport utility vehicle,
launched off an embankment,
rolled several times and
burst into flames. One of
the family members called
police about a minute before
the crash to report the
vehicle had no brakes and
the accelerator was stuck.
The call ended with someone
telling people in the car to
hold on and pray, followed
by a woman's scream.
NHTSA
investigators determined
that a rubber all-weather
floor mat found in the
wreckage was slightly longer
than the mat that belonged
in the vehicle, something
that could have snared or
covered the accelerator
pedal.
Toyota
spokesman John Hanson said
the final report had not yet
been submitted in the
California case.
"We don't
know what the actual cause
was of that accident other
than preliminary reports
that have been published so
it's impossible for us to
comment on that particular
incident," Hanson said.
In
mid-September, Toyota
ordered 1,400 Toyota and
Lexus dealers nationwide to
ensure that each new, used
and loaner vehicles had the
proper floor mats and
that the mats were properly
secured.
In
September 2007, Toyota
recalled an accessory
all-weather floor mat sold
for use in some 2007 and
2008 model year Lexus ES 350
and
Toyota Camry vehicles
because of similar problems. |
|
|
NEWS:
Toyota
recalls 95,700 Toyota, Scion
vehicles
YAHOO NEWS --
August 27, 2009 -- Toyota
Motor Corp. said Wednesday
it is launching a recall of
roughly 95,700 Toyota and
Scion-brand vehicles in the
U.S. due to a possible brake
malfunction.
The recall affects some 2009
and 2010 Toyota Corolla and
Corolla Matrix vehicles and
some 2008 and 2009 Scion xD
vehicles, Toyota said. For
those vehicles equipped with
1.8-liter engines, condensed
moisture may seep into the
brake system and freeze in
low temperatures,
potentially causing ice
accumulation and weakening
the power-assist to the
brakes.
Those affected by the recall
will be asked to return the
vehicle to a dealer, where a
new intake air connector
will be installed. Customers
will not be charged for the
hour-long procedure, Toyota
said.
Toyota said vehicle owners
from 19 states will receive
recall notices in early
September. They are: Alaska,
Colorado, Idaho,
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,
Maine, Michigan,
Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada,
New Hampshire,
New York, North
Dakota, South Dakota,
Vermont, Wisconsin
and Wyoming.
MORE RECALL INFO:
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AUGUST 2009
-- Toyota is recalling
certain model year 2010
Corolla vehicles for failing
to comply with the
requirements of Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 208, "Occupant
Crash Protection." The air
bag label installed on the
driver side sun visor can
separate from the surface of
the visor. This does not
meet the standard
requirements. Dealers will
inspect the label and
exchange the driver's side
sun visor free of charge.
The recall is expected to
begin on or before October
15, 2009. 09V-332
AUGUST 2009
-- Toyota is recalling
certain model year 2008-2009
Scion XD and model year
2009-2010 Corolla, Corolla
Matrix and Pontiac Vibe
vehicles equipped with 1.8L
engine and originally sold
in or currently registered
in the states of Alaska,
Colorado, Idaho, Illinois
Iowa, Kansas, Maine,
Michigan, Minnesota,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Hampshire, New York,
North Dakota, South Dakota,
Vermont, Wisconsin, and
Wyoming. When driving under
certain unique conditions in
extremely low ambient
temperatures, the intake
manifold suction port for
the brake vacuum can become
locked due to the freezing
of condensation resulting
from positive crankcase
ventilation. This could lead
to an increase in vehicle
stopping distance and a
crash could occur. Dealers
will install a newly
designed intake air
connector which will
relocate the brake system
vacuum port. This service
will be performed free of
charge. The recall is
expected to begin on or
before September 15, 2009.
09V-338
JUNE 2009 -- Toyota is
recalling 1,348 Model Year
2009 and 2010 passenger cars
built from June 2, 2008 to
May 4, 2009. These vehicles
were not equipped with load
carrying capacity
modification labels which
fails to conform with the
requirements of Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 110, "Tire
Selection and Rims."
Incorrect load carrying
capacity modification labels
could result in the vehicle
being overloaded, increasing
the risk of a crash. Toyota
will notify owners and
provide them with a new,
accurate label to be
installed over the
inaccurate label free of
charge. The safety recall is
expected to begin during
July 2009.
09V-223
JUNE
2009 -- Toyota is
recalling 1,281 Model Year
2006 through 2009 Sienna,
2004 Land Cruiser, and 2009
Lexus GX passenger vehicles.
The vehicle capacity weight
on the tire and loading
information label and the
GVWR on the certification
label is insufficient for
certain vehicles. Some
vehicles were accessorized
through vehicle processing
centers and had accessories
installed that caused the
vehicle to exceed the GVWR
value. These vehicles fail
to comply with the
requirements of Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 110, "Tire
Selection and Rims," and 49
CFR Part 567. The GVWR is
insufficient for the load
carrying capacity of the
vehicles. Toyota will notify
owners instructing them to
return their vehicle to a
Toyota or Lexus dealer for
an exchange of the
certification label and the
tire and loading information
label, an installation of
the load carrying capacity
modification label, if
necessary, and a correction
to the owner's manual. This
remedy will be performed
free of charge. The safety
recall is expected to begin
during July 2009.
09V-234
JANUARY 2009 -- Toyota is recalling 214,570
MY 2006-2008 Lexus IS, MY
2006-2007 GS and MY
2007-2008 LS passenger
vehicles equipped with
aluminum fuel delivery pipes
(fuel rails). Ethanol fuels
with a low moisture content
will corrode the internal
surface of the fuel rails.
As this condition
progresses, the engine
malfunction indicator light
may illuminate. Over time,
the corrosion may create a
pinhole resulting in fuel
leakage. Fuel leakage, in
the presence of an ignition
source, could result in a
fire. Dealers will inspect
and replace the fuel
delivery pipes free of
charge. The recall is
expected to begin during
February 2009. Owners may
contact Toyota/Lexus at
1-800-255-3987.
09V-020
JANUARY 2009 --
Toyota is conducting a
safety improvement campaign
involving 26,501 early 2004
MY Sienna vehicles. In the
event the retention clip
used to secure the floor
carpet cover is missing, the
cover can interfere with the
operation of the accelerator
pedal if the acceleration
pedal is depressed to nearly
the full throttle position.
If this occurs, the
accelerator pedal can become
stuck which could result in
a vehicle crash. Dealers
will replace the retention
clip and floor carpet cover
at no charge. The
manufacturer will begin
notifying owners in early
February 2009. Owner
notification is expected to
be completed by early April
2009. Owners may contact
Toyota at 1-888-270-9371, if
they have any further
questions. This action is
deemed a safety improvement
campaign and is not being
conducted under the safety
act. However, Toyota has
informed NHTSA that it will
provide the modifications
described above at no cost.
This recall was the subject
of an Engineering Analysis,
EA08-014, conducted by the
Office of Defects
Investigation.
09V-023
JANUARY 2009 --
Toyota is recalling 134,895
MY 2006-2007 Yaris vehicles
equipped with driver and
front passenger seat belt
pretensioners, which are
designed to be activated in
response to a severe frontal
impact. When the sensor
detects a severe frontal
impact, the front seat belts
are quickly drawn back by
the retractors so that the
belts snugly restrain the
occupants. The involved
vehicles contain a center
pillar sound
insulator located underneath
each front seat belt
pretensioner. In the event
of seat belt pretensioner
deployment, the gas
generated may affect the
sound insulators. In the
worst case, if the sound
insulators ignite, this
condition will result in a
post-collision fire. Dealers
will modify the vehicle free
of charge. The modification
will entail removal of the
small urethane center pillar
sound insulators (sponge)
underneath the driver and
front passenger seat belt
pretensioners. The recall is
expected to begin during
February 2009. Owners may
contact Toyota at
1-888-270-9371.
09V-031 |
|
|
NEWS:
Toyota
recalls 130,000 Yaris cars
in US
Yahoo News --
January 28,2009 -- Toyota
said Wednesday it will
recall almost 1.3 million
vehicles worldwide due to a
defect that could cause a
foam pad near the seat belt
to ignite during collisions.
The
Japanese automaker said the
recall includes 134,900
model-year 2006 and 2007
Yaris subcompacts that were
sold in the U.S. Toyota
Motor Sales USA said it is
working with the National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration to recall the
vehicles.
Toyota
spokesman said in "severe
front-end collisions," the
mechanism that tightens the
vehicle's seat belt expels a
gas that could cause a
sound-insulating foam pad
nearby to ignite. In a
worst-case scenario, the
problem could cause a fire,
he said.
However,
... said no cases of either
have been reported where
this actually happened in
the U.S., and no other
vehicles are affected.
The recall
affects about 1.28 million
vehicles worldwide that are
based on Toyota's Yaris
platform.
MORE RECALL INFO:
Toyota
Yaris
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JUNE 2008
-- Toyota is conducting
a safety improvement
campaign involving 196,222
MY 2004-2006 Toyota Sienna
vehicles equipped with power
rear liftgate struts. The
gas struts used to help lift
and support the rear power
liftgate could wear out
sooner than expected. As the
gas struts deteriorate, the
performance of the liftgate
will begin to degrade and
the power rear liftgate will
operate more slowly than
when the gas struts were
new. If not repaired, the
gas struts may not be able
to support the weight of the
liftgate when it is open,
and eventually, the gas
struts could deteriorate to
the point that the liftgate
will fall about ten inches
after it reaches the fully
open position, at which
point the power motor will
engage and power the
liftgate to the fully closed
position. This condition may
cause injury to a person who
is struck by the liftgate
when it falls or when it is
closing. Dealers will
replace the gas struts with
newly designed gas struts
that have a longer service
lift. The campaign is
expected to begin during
August 2008. Owners may
contact Toyota at
1-888-270-9371. This action
is deemed a safety
improvement campaign and is
not being conducted under
the safety act. However,
Toyota has informed NHTSA
that it will provide the
modifications described
above. This recall was the
subject of an Engineering
Analysis, EA06-020,
conducted by the Office of
Defects Investigation.
08V244
APRIL 2008
-- Toyota is recalling
662,178 MY 2003-2004
Corolla, Corolla Matrix and
Pontiac Vibe vehicles
equipped with power windows.
The driver and front
passenger door glass bolts
may loosen and come off,
causing the door glass to
separate from the window
regulator. Due to the
components becoming loose
and possibly rattling, an
abnormal noise may be heard
from the driver and/or front
passenger door when
operating the power windows.
The door glass may separate
from the window regulator,
bind and shatter during
operation of the power
windows, causing driver
distraction and/or injury.
Dealers will replace the
driver and front passenger
door glass bolts with newly
designed bolts free of
charge. The recall is
expected to begin during May
2008. Owners may contact
Toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
This recall was the subject
of an Engineering Analysis,
EA08-004, conducted by the
Office of Defects
Investigation. 08V-162
APRIL
2008 -- Toyota is
recalling 90,189 MY 2008
Highlander and Highlander
Hybrid vehicles equipped
with a third row seat. These
vehicles fail to conform to
the requirements of Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 208, "Occupant
Crash Protection." The
non-driver designated
seating positions (DSP) on
these vehicles are equipped
with seat belt assemblies
that have a feature that
converts the retractor from
an emergency locking
retractor (ELR) to an
automatic locking retractor
(ALR). The belts convert to
the ALR mode after the
webbing has been fully
withdrawn from the
retractor. The system is
designed so that as the belt
is released into the
retractor, the system
remains in the ALR mode so
that a child restraint
system can be tightly
secured. However, for the
two third row seating
positions on these vehicles,
the ALR mode deactivates
before the webbing is fully
retracted, so that it will
not lock when certain
rear-facing child restraint
systems that have a short
seat belt routing path are
installed in the vehicle.
This can allow the seat belt
webbing to spool out during
normal driving maneuvers,
which could affect the
stability of a child
restraint installed at those
seating positions. As such,
this could discourage the
use of a child restraint and
in the event of a crash, the
child may not be adequately
protected possibly resulting
in injury. Dealers will
install a newly designed
seat belt component free of
charge. The manufacturer has
not yet provided an owner
notification schedule for
this campaign. Owners may
contact Toyota at
1-800-331-4331. This recall
was the subject of an
investigation,
OA-208-071120E, conducted by
the Office of Vehicle Safety
Compliance. 08V-181
DECEMBER
2007 -- Toyota is recalling 15,616 MY
2007 Tundra 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. Due to the improper
heat treatment of the slip yokes that had been reworked during
the manufacturing process, the hardness of the slip yoke may be
insufficient. In this condition, there is a possibility that the
yoke may break causing the propeller shaft to separate at the
joint and come into contact with the road surface or the fuel
tank which could result in a loss of vehicle control or a fuel
leak. Dealers will inspect the slip yoke and replace the
propeller shaft if necessary. The recall is expected to begin
during January 2008. 07V-579
NOVEMBER
2007 -- Toyota is recalling 34,343 MY
2006 Lexus GS and IS vehicles. High stress areas may have been
created in two specific fuel pipes located in the engine
compartment. Combined with other factors such as the presence of
corrosive agents in fuel, a crack may form over time leading to
fuel leakage from the fuel line(s). Fuel leakage in the presence
of an ignition source could result in a fire. Dealers will
replace the two involved fuel lines with newly designed lines
free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during December
2007. 07V545 |
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NEWS:
2004-2006 Toyota Sienna
ConsumerReports.org -- July
21, 2008 -- Toyota is
conducting a safety
improvement campaign on over
196,000 Toyota Sienna
minivans equipped with power
rear liftgate struts. The
gas struts used to help lift
the rear power liftgate
could wear out earlier than
expected and could
eventually cause the
liftgate to fall a few
inches or completely close.
Dealers will
replace the gas struts with
new ones that have a longer
life. Owners can contact
Toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
MORE RECALL
INFO:
Toyota Sienna
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NEWS:
Toyota recalls 90,000 Highlander SUVs over seat belt problem
Toyota recalling about 90,000
Highlander sport utility vehicles over seat belt problem
NEW YORK (Associated Press/CNNMoney.com)- May 2,2008 - Toyota
Motor Corp. plans to recall about 90,000 Highlander sport
utility vehicles in the United States.
The Japanese automaker wants to fix a problem that could prevent
the seat belt in a third-row seat from securing a rear-facing
child seat.
Toyota spokesman ....said Friday the company had issued a stop
sale of the 2008 Highlander SUV and hybrid version with
third-row seats to retrofit changes to the seat belt.
There have been no complaints or injuries tied to the seat
belts.
The vehicles under the recall were built between May 2007 and
March 2008. .... says owners will be notified of the recall in
June, and dealers will install a newly designed seat belt
component.
MORE RECALL
INFO:
Toyota Highlander |
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NEWS:
Toyota and GM recall 662,000 cars in U.S.
DETROIT (Reuters) - April 10,
2008 - Toyota Motor Corp and General Motors Corp are recalling
more than 662,000 vehicles sold in the United States due to
defects in power windows, the two companies said on Wednesday.
Toyota will recall 539,500 Corolla and Matrix vehicles for the
2003 and 2004 model years, it said in a statement.
GM said it would recall 122,598 Pontiac Vibe hatchbacks, which
share the same platform with Toyota's Matrix and are built by GM
in a joint venture with the Japanese automaker.
On vehicles equipped with power windows, the driver and front
passenger glass bolts may loosen and cause the door glass to
separate from the window regulator, Toyota said. Vehicles
equipped with manual windows are not subject to the recall.
Toyota will notify vehicle owners by mail, beginning in late
April. It advised owners to contact their local Toyota dealer
for inspection and repairs.
Replacement of the driver and front passenger door glass bolts
will be done at no charge, Toyota said.
MORE RECALL
INFO:
Pontiac
Vibe
Toyota Matrix
Toyota Corolla |
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NEWS:
Toyota
recalling 15,600 Tundra pickups
DETROIT (Reuters) -- December 14,
2007 -- Toyota Motor Corp said on Friday that it is recalling
15,600 Tundra pickup trucks in the United States because a rear
propeller shaft may separate at the joint.
The recall involves 2007 model-year Tundra four-wheel-drive
pickup trucks.
"There is a possibility that a joint in the rear propeller shaft
may have been improperly heat treated, resulting in insufficient
hardness," Toyota said in a statement.
This may cause a section of the rear propeller shaft to separate
at the joint, it added.
No injuries or accidents have been connected to the recall. |
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VEHICLE RECALLS |
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