Toyota Caught In Takata Recall Wave
Toyota Motor Corporation dealt with several recalls over the past year, with problems including faulty brakes, tie rod failures, airbag issues and more. Toyota owners can use the National Highway Traffic Safety Association’s (NHTSA) website to check if their vehicle is currently under recall. Any car under recall is by definition a “lemon,” and the manufacturer must repair or replace any recalled part or system free of charge, according to the requirements set into law by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Toyota, along with Chrysler, Ford and many other manufacturers, used the now-recalled Takata airbag deployment system. According to recent reports, several Toyota vehicle models contained Takata airbag deployment systems, which use non-desiccated ammonium nitrate airbag inflators. The inflators can degrade and possibly rupture during a crash, spraying metal shards into the passenger compartment.
Takata recently appeared in a U.S. court regarding its airbags. According to a Reuters report, Takata pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed to pay criminal penalties of $1 billion in connection with the company’s conduct.
The Takata recall is the largest in U.S. history, involving more than 42 million vehicles in America. Takata airbags are implicated in 11 deaths and 180 injuries.
The Toyota vehicle models involved in the Takata recall include the 2007-2012 Lexus ES, 2010-2013 Lexus GX, 2006-2012 Lexus IS, 2012 Lexus LFA, 2002-2010 Lexus SC, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2010-2012 Toyota 4Runner, 2003-2007 and 2009-2012 Toyota Corolla, 2003-2007 and 2009-2012 Toyota Matrix, 2004-2005 Toyota RAV4, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2002-2007 Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2006 Toyota Tundra, and 2006-2012 Toyota Yaris.
The following Toyota vehicles are not currently under recall, but use the defective Takata inflators that will need to be replaced by 2018: the 2015 Lexus IS250C and Lexus IS350C, 2015-2016 Lexus GX450, 2015 Scion xB and 2015-2016 Toyota 4Runner.
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Earlier in 2017, Toyota recalled approximately 73,000 2016-2017 Toyota Tundra vehicles. This action followed reports their resin brackets for rear step bumpers could become surreptitiously damaged following a collision, and fail if stepped on leading to injury. Toyota said it would replace the resin brackets with new steel brackets at no cost to consumers.
The manufacturer issued a recall for approximately 744,000 2011-2016 Toyota Sienna vehicles sold in the United States following the discovery of an issue with its door circuits.
The company said if the sliding door operation is impeded, the door’s motor circuit can be overloaded and open the motor’s fuse. If this occurs when the door latch is in an unlatched position, the door could open while the vehicle is in motion and put occupants in danger.
Toyota announced in October 2016 a recall of approximately 340,000 fourth-generation Toyota Prius hybrids around the world for faulty parking brakes, with 92,000 sold in the United States. The company said if the driver exits the vehicle in a gear other than park while the ignition is on, the vehicle could roll away. Toyota said its dealers are being told to “add clips on the top of the brake cable dust boots to prevent the cable from becoming inoperative,” at no cost to owners.
The company issued a recall in September 2016 for 337,000 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 crossovers built between Oct. 31, 2005 and Sept. 7, 2010 as well as 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles built between July 6, 2009 and Aug. 26, 2010.
The recall states whenever these vehicles are given an alignment and the tie rod adjustment nut on the rear control arm isn’t tightened properly, the threads on the rod can rust. This can cause the nut to break off and throw off the alignment suddenly and drastically, potentially leading to a crash.
No crashes or injuries have been reported as a result of this issue, according to the NHTSA, though dealers are ordered to completely replace the rear suspension assemblies.
If you drive one of the vehicles mentioned above, check with your dealership to see when you can take the vehicle in for service. Remember under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act the dealership must repair the issue free of charge.
Think you have a lemon, click here to fill out a 60 second form.