Toyota has announced a recall because of the power steering pump on certain Toyota and Lexus models. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Toyota has announced a massive worldwide recall of various Toyota and Lexus models from the 2004 to 2006 model years. The recall concerns the crankshaft pulley on the power steering pump in vehicles equipped with a V-6.

Defect found in power steering pump pulley

The Toyota Motor Corporation has announced a massive recall of more than half a million vehicles around the globe because of a defect in the power steering pump pulley, according to the Wall Street Journal.

On certain Toyota and Lexus models from the 2004 to 2006 model years, the outer ring of the power steering pump pulley can come misaligned from the inner ring. If this happens, noise can begin emanating from the power steering pump or a warning light may be illuminated on the dashboard.

In some cases, according to CNN, the belt can come loose from the power steering pump altogether, resulting in a loss of power steering.

More than 420,000 in the U.S.

The recall concerns Toyota and Lexus models from the 2004 to 2006 model years with a V-6 engine. According to USA Today, 283,200 Toyota and 137,000 Lexus models are subject to the recall in the U.S. and 447,000 in total for North America including the affected models in Canada. There are also 38,000 cars affected Japan, 10,000 in the Middle East, 14,000 in Europe, 14,000 in the rest of Asia, and 25,000 in Australia and New Zealand affected by the recall.

The affected models are the 2004 and 2005 Toyota Camry, Highlander, Solara and Sienna, the 2004 Avalon, the 2006 Highlander hybrid, the 2004 and 2005 Lexus ES330 sedan and RX330 crossover SUV and the 2006 Lexus RX400h.

Fix is free

Toyota reported 79 incidents of the defect occurring, dating back to 2007. No injuries or accidents are known to have occurred as a result of the defect. According to the Wall Street Journal, Toyota is currently manufacturing spare parts for any repairs that may need to be done on the affected cars. Owners will be notified as soon as sufficient parts have been made to make the necessary repairs.

According to USA Today, the spares should be available by January. Toyota will advise owners to take their cars to their local Toyota or Lexus dealership, where an inspection will be performed and any necessary replacements or repairs will be done at no cost. Owners of affected cars, according to CNN, are urged to contact their local Toyota or Lexus dealership service station if they hear any strange noises from the engine compartment. Toyota can be reached at 1-800-331-4331, and Lexus can be reached at 1-800-255-3987 for more information.

Sources

Wall Street Journal

USA Today

CNN

Toyota has announced a recall of Highlander hybrid and Lexus RX400h models from the 2006 and 2007 model years. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The Toyota Motor Company cannot catch a break; it has announced a recall of more than 80,000 Highlander hybrid and Lexus RX400h SUVs. The hybrid utility vehicles have a problem in the drive system that can cause components to burn out and shut the vehicle down.

Transistors can cause vehicle shutdown

Toyota has announced a recall of more than 80,000 hybrid SUVs, according to MSNBC, because of faulty assembly in the hybrid drive system. The Toyota Highlander hybrid and Lexus RX400h are the affected models. The recall is only for vehicles that were made in the United States, though it isn’t known whether all the affected vehicles were traced to manufacturing errors made in one plant. The defect is only confined to hybrid models, as the RX400h only comes in hybrid and the normal Highlander does not have the defect, according to USA Today. Only the 2006 and 2007 model years are affected. The problem is due to a manufacturing defect in the hybrid drive system. The defect can cause the vehicle to enter its “fail-safe” mode or total shutdown.

Solder of misfortune

The defect is caused by a faulty solder joint. According to the press release on Toyota’s website, the problem is with the Isolated Power Module, or IPM, located within the Hybrid System Inverter. Transistors in the IPM’s circuit board were not adequately soldered to the board and can sustain heat damage or burn out during “high load driving,” which includes driving at highway speeds. The inadequately soldered transistors can’t handle the load and could overheat. The defect will cause warning lights to be illuminated and possibly cause the vehicle to enter a “fail safe” driving mode. If that happens, the vehicle will be under-powered and can only be driven for short distances. In the worst case scenario, the vehicle could shut down entirely.

Toyota ordering parts

Toyota is in the process of contacting owners and obtaining replacement parts to fix the defect. Owners should receive a notice in the mail from Toyota by the middle of July about the defect. Once enough replacement parts have been manufactured, Toyota will contact owners and set up appointments to fix the defect free of charge. There are 45,500 affected Highlander hybrid models and 36,700 Lexus RX400h models in the recall, all of which were sold in the United States. Toyota is still reeling from damage from the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan earlier this year. General Motors, according to CNN, is poised to overtake Toyota this year in global auto sales for the first time in five years.

Sources

MSNBC

USA Today

Toyota

CNN

Toyota has announced a recall of all Prius cars made between 1997 and 2003. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

A fault in the power steering system has led to a Toyota Prius recall that applies to every Prius made until 2003, including the first to roll off the assembly line. Nuts in the power steering system can come loose and cause the vehicle’s steering to become unstable.

First Prius ever made affected in recall

Toyota Motor Company, which has issued several recalls in the past two years, has announced a recall of the highly popular Toyota Prius hybrid because of a problem with the power steering system, according to MSNBC. The recall effects every Prius made from 1997 to 2003. In Japan, there are 48,000 affected vehicles from model years 1997 to 2003. Worldwide, the 2001 to 2003 model years are affected, as Toyota did not begin selling the Prius in any foreign markets until 2001. Outside Japan, there are 58,000 Prius units from the affected model years. Of those, about 52,000 are in the United States, about 1,800 in the United Kingdom and 800 in Germany. In total, 106,000 cars are being recalled.

Toyota will fix for free

The Prius recall has been announced over concerns with low-quality nuts in the power steering system, according to AutoWeek. The nuts that secure the pinion shaft to the steering gear box can become loose with wear, causing the steering to become compromised and left turns to become incredibly hard to execute. The loosening will occur, according to MotorTrend, as the wheel is turned to the full lock position rapidly numerous times, which is likely to happen over a car’s lifetime. The fix, which is to install better nuts that will not loosen over time, takes about four hours, and Toyota will complete it at no charge. There has been only one accident, according to USA Today, and it was minor. The first complaint of the problem was made in August of 2007, in Japan. One complaint in the U.S. and 28 in Japan have been made concerning the steering gear box issue.

Toyota plans return to full production

Toyota has announced that it expects to be returning to full production capacity soon. Toyota’s production facilities in Japan, along with other Japanese auto manufacturers, were severely affected as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan earlier this year. However, the car maker says that it is on track to recover from the March 11 disaster faster than expected. Toyota’s operations in Japan are expected to return to 90 percent pre-earthquake capacity nearly immediately. Global operations in Thailand, China and Europe are expected to be at 100 percent capacity this month. Toyota is jumping on this recall as early as possible. The car maker has been publicly rocked by the massive Toyota recalls in the last two years that resulted in more than 14 million cars being recalled.

Sources

MSNBC

AutoWeek

MotorTrend

USA Today

The Toyota recall list includes 14 million vehicles over the past two years with sudden acceleration issues. Image: CC igotphotos/Flickr

Another Toyota recall related to sudden acceleration was issued Thursday. The latest Toyota recall affects 2.17 million vehicles that include six Toyota and Lexus models. Toyota, which has attracted federal investigations with its problems, has issued recalls for more than 14 million vehicles since autumn 2009 for sudden acceleration defects.

Toyota floor mats jamming gas pedals

Toyota, the world’s No. 1 automaker, says the company issued this recall is voluntary, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requested that Toyota add the 2.17 million additional vehicles. Last year Toyota recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles to replace floor mats that jammed against gas pedals. Gas pedal mechanisms on certain models also became stuck. The NHTSA conducted an investigation into Toyota’s sudden acceleration problem and determined that vehicle electronics were not the issue. More than half of the models under the latest Toyota recall involve gas pedals getting stuck in the floor mat. The move satisfied the NHTSA, which has closed its Toyota investigation.

Vehicles on the Toyota recall list

In addition to floor mat defects, Toyota also identified problems with the shape and functionality of interior panels and carpeting that may interfere with the gas pedal. The Toyota recall list issued Thursday includes the following vehicles:

Lexus GS: About 20,000 2006 and early 2007 Lexus GS 300 and GS 350 all-wheel drive vehicles require the shape of the plastic pad embedded in the driver’s side floor carpet to be modified.
Lexus RX: About 372,000 2004 through 2006 and early 2007 Lexus RX 330, RX 350 and RX 400h vehicles require replacement of the driver’s side floor carpet cover and retention clips.
Toyota Highlander: About 397,000 2004 through 2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles have floor mat/gas pedal issues.
Toyota 4Runner: About 603,000 2003 to 2009 4Runners — floor mats.
Lexus LX:17,000 2009 to 2011 Lexus LXs — floor mats.
Toyota RAV4: Some 761,00 2006 through 2010 RAV4 — floor-mats.

Toyota’s sudden acceleration nightmare

Toyota, which had established a reputation as the most reliable brand in the world, has seen that image sullied by an epidemic of sudden acceleration problems over the past two years. Toyota recalls have quelled the automaker’s momentum and given its rivals an opportunity to gain market share. While major automakers increased U.S. auto sales in 2010, Toyota’s U.S. auto sales declined, and the company ceded its No. 2 spot in U.S. auto sales to Ford. Toyota is also dealing with hundreds of personal injury, wrongful death and economic damage lawsuits related to sudden acceleration issues in models dating back to 2002.

Sources

Los Angeles Times

USA Today

MSNBC

Toyota received a reprieve from NASA over its electronic throttle control. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/d3ims/Flickr)

After months of testing, NASA has rule that the sudden acceleration problem in some Toyota and Lexus vehicles does not appear to be electrical in nature. Automotive News reports that Toyota is ecstatic over the news, as sales have dipped significantly since the string of nearly 10,000 accident reports began. While sales numbers may recover, the Toyota brand reputation may never be what it once was, said Efraim Levy of Standard & Poor’s Equity Research in New York.

Toyota: A brand in recovery

The sudden acceleration problem was not the specific reason why more than 8 million Toyotas were recalled globally, but it is in the minds of a doubting public who may view Toyota quality with some degree of suspicion.

U.S. Toyota sales in 2010 dropped by a significant 0.4 percent during a time when the industry as a whole was on an 11-percent upswing, and a rash of lawsuits and $48.8 million in federal fines damaged the Japanese automaker’s reputation. According to London-based market research firm Interbrand, the firestorm cut Toyota’s brand brand image value by 16 percent, to $25.7 billion. Toyota remains Japan’s most valued automotive brand.

NASA can’t find defect in Toyota’s electronic throttle control

The common belief among experts was that the electronic throttle control system in Toyota vehicles was the culprit responsible for various sudden acceleration accidents, yet NASA could find no defect in that component that could conclusively cause spikes of sudden acceleration. However, this doesn’t wipe the slate clean for Toyota, says Rebecca Lindland, an analyst at IHS Automotive of Lexington, Mass.

“There really were people killed and injured. There really were runaway cars,” said Lindland. “They are saying it was mechanical and not electronic. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It doesn’t end the fallout.”

Toyota blames driver error

All the joint exploratory venture by NASA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration could determine is that defective floor mats could cause Toyota accelerator pedals to stick to the floor. This mirrored Toyota’s previous statement on the matter. Toyota and the NHTSA have shared the consensus opinion that driver error is the most likely cause of the sudden acceleration.

Sources

Automotive News

Toyota gets clean bill of health from NASA

Toyota seems to think males will pay more attention to a car if a "Toyota girl" is selling it. (Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Taiwan Show Girls)

Depending upon your point of view, a Toyota launch in Japan could be all about the car or all about the sizzle. Automotive News sides with the former, although the publication’s description of the recent launch party for the Lexus CT 200h suggests that the experience has left the car behind – not exactly at the starting line, but somewhere in the dust.

Music, models and all the Toyota girls the fire marshal allows

Toyota launches used to be corporate and static. Now, as Automotive News puts it, a Toyota launch is a “made-for-TV multimedia spectacle” loaded with “Toyota girls” and everything but the standard media question-and-answer session. When the 2011 Lexus CT 200h went on sale Jan. 12, the occasion was about everything but the car.

First came a piano concerto that was ostensibly “inspired” by the showcase Lexus. Then there was a DJ spinning club music for supermodels to dance to. The program quickly diverged into a discourse on bamboo, Japanese fashion and the lines of modern buildings. Somewhere along the way, Toyota was selling the 2011 Lexus CT 200h.

Bringing in Miss Universe for the hard sell

Toyota clearly knows that artsy ruminations can appear trendy, but it’s the sex that sells. The automaker brought in the reigning Miss Universe, Ximena Navarrete of México, to hype the 2011 Lexus CT 200h. While Miss Navarrete may actually know a great deal about cars, it seems what Toyota is going for here is sizzle.

When it comes to pretty girls and cars, 11-year-old Alec Greven of Castle Rock, Colo., author of the book “How to Talk to Girls,” has sage wisdom to impart:

“Pretty girls are like cars that need a lot of oil.”

If Toyota’s strategy is to dazzle journalists into not asking about such pesky things as the massive Toyota recall and the accompanying lawsuits, the company is going to need a lot more oil. Focusing on lifestyle – a tactic Toyota adopted with the introduction of the Ractis Japan-market subcompact – may bring an air of fun, but Toyota needs sales. Leaning away from the engineering aspect in sales presentations could be a very slippery gamble.

Sources

Automotive News

New York Post

The glamour and adventure of the Lexus CT 200h

The Toyota Highlander is one of the models affected by the most recent Toyota recall. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Another Toyota recall has been announced — or rather, three recalls at once. A recall by Toyota is starting to become a regular occurrence, and some are looking forward to when Toyota stops recalling cars. More than 1.5 million cars are affected. The first recall, of over 1.3 million vehicles concerns a possible defect in the braking system or the fuel pump. The second is for just over 130,000 cars that could have rusty brake drums.

Yet another Toyota recall

Toyota Motors has announced that they are recalling upwards of 1.53 million cars worldwide. There is a possible defect in the braking system. The models affected, according to ABC, are the Toyota Highlander, Avalon and the Lexus GS300, IS250 and IS350. The problem is a possible defect in the seal for the master brake cylinder. The master cylinder seal can potentially crack, which can lead to brake fluid leaking. The leak in brake fluid can lead to a warning light and a possible loss in brake pressure. There are 740,000 cars in the United States affected by the brake cylinder recall. No accidents have been reported as a result of the possible leak.

Other Toyota recalls

Toyota is also recalling 130,000 vehicles in China because of a defect in the rear wheel disk brakes, which can possibly rust. Besides the recall of the 740,000 cars in the United States, Toyota is also recalling almost 600,000 vehicles in Japan over possible defects in the fuel pump. The fuel pump can have a possible electric fault, which can cause the vehicle to stall. That defect is so far only thought to be in vehicles in Japan, according to the New York Times. The fuel pump problems are thought to be mostly confined to the Crown model, which is not sold in the U.S.

What to do

Toyota will be mailing out notifications to owners. The cars that are subject to the recall are from model years 2004 to 2006. This has not been a good year for Toyota. The car maker continues to be raked over the coals for recalls, though recalls by car makers are often preventative.

Sources

ABC

New York Times

Allstate is suing Toyota in an attempt to recover over $3 million paid out in claims linked to sudden acceleration. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Colin/Flickr)

The Toyota recall that focused on problems with sudden acceleration has drawn a great deal of negative attention for the automaker. Automotive News reports that Allstate Insurance Co. is now ready to pile on. Allstate has sued Toyota in an attempt to recover over $3 million paid out in accident claims related to the sudden acceleration issue.

Allstate sues Toyota, then Insurer B sues, then Insurer C…

Toyota’s massive economic losses stemming from the sudden acceleration problem may accelerate if the Los Angeles Superior Court where Allstate filed the lawsuit has anything to say about it. Allstate spokeswoman Christina Loznicka told Reuters that Allstate fully expects other insurance companies to join the fight against Toyota. Allstate’s claims essentially duplicate the current consumer class action against the automaker. The sudden acceleration problem, according to Allstate’s action, stems from a defective electronic throttle system that Toyota allegedly covered up, rather than enacting a recall back in the 1990s when the throttle system was introduced. Property damage, injuries and fatalities were the measured result.

Toyota insists Allstate’s suit has no basis

Allstate’s request for $3 million plus pales in comparison to the $10 billion Toyota could conceivably owe in U.S. civil liability. However, once other auto insurance companies join the fray, multiple that $3 million or more by every company with Toyota customers affected by the sudden acceleration debacle.

Toyota spokesman Steven Curtis told Automotive News that while the automaker has not perused Allstate’s action in detail, “based on reports, (Toyota) believes the unfounded allegations in this suit have no basis.” Company engineers continue to maintain that there has not been a single observed case where an electronics fault caused sudden acceleration, says Toyota’s Chief Quality Officer, Steve St. Angelo.

Silver lining: 80 percent fewer claims since April

According to Toyota’s North American manufacturing group, sudden acceleration problems are down 80 percent since April 2010. At that time, writes Automotive News, Toyota “instituted a new approach to handling those complaints.” Curiously, the publication does not elaborate as to what “a new approach” means.

Car Deal Expert knows what low cost auto loans means

Sources:

Automotive News

The issues on recalled Toyota models, like the Prius and others, are nearly all fixed according to Toyota. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Toyota has announced that the company has fixed nearly all of the problems that led to the recalls by the automaker. There were a series of Toyota recalls, which led to outrage at the popular automaker. The company has also come up with a fail-safe, which is reported to put a stop to unintended acceleration. Self-accelerating cars were the problem that led to recalls and outrage.

Toyota recall nearly over with

Toyota recently announced that the recalled vehicles are nearly all fixed. According to USA Today, the car maker had upwards of 5 million repairs done in 15 recalls. Of those recalled vehicles, almost 3.9 million have been fixed. The Toyota floor mat recall is over 58 percent complete. That recall affected 5.4 million cars. The sticky gas pedal, which affected 2.3 million cars, is almost 80 percent complete. The faulty brake pedal on 148,000 Toyota Prius and Lexus models, due to a software glitch, is over 86 percent complete. Though Toyota is almost done fixing these faulty cars, there are still pending investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Override created for new models

Toyota also has a new idea that may prevent a runaway car scenario from happening again. The company will be installing a brake override system. There are already brake overrides on 8 of 10 models manufactured under the Toyota, Scion and Lexus banners. The override kicks in if the computer senses something wrong. Should the driver be trying to brake too suddenly, or try to slow the vehicle down in a way that might be construed as panic, the computer takes control. Toyota has also augmented its accident recorder system.

Trying to remake image

Toyota has been painted somewhat of a villain over the last year. Unintentional acceleration is a scary thing for a driver to experience. Toyota has been diligently working to repair the vehicles affected. The company also wants to make sure the recalls don’t repeat themselves, and customers feel safe in their Toyotas.

Sources

USA Today on recalls

USA Today on brake override

Lexus and Toyota Crown sedans are affected by a new Toyota recall related to engine problems that can cause stalling and excessive noise. (Photo: Flickr)

Communication problems continue to fester for Toyota. Reuters reports that the automaker had failed to alert the U.S. government about a new Toyota recall involving one Toyota and seven Lexus sedan models. This time, engine issues are to blame. Excessive noise and even the potential for stalling have been documented. This Toyota recall should reclaim 270,000 vehicles worldwide.

More than half of Toyota recall vehicles are from the U.S.

Specifically, of the 270,000 Toyota recall vehicles, about 137,000 are U.S. vehicles. Accident or injury data has yet to be reported regarding this round of Toyota recalls, which is fortuitous, considering that Toyota has acknowledged that the stall can occur while a Lexus or Crown sedans in question is being driven. This is comparatively good news for Toyota, whose previous bouts with recalls and the U.S. government have led to accidents, injuries and massive fines. In addition to lambasting in the court of public opinion, Toyota’s credit rating took a tumble. Recalling more than 10 million cars worldwide (7.3 million in the U.S.) has a tendency to produce such undesirable results.

What models are affected by the Toyota recall?

While the Toyota recall will not be official until government regulators rule on the matter, the eight models under this latest recall in question would include:

• Lexus LS 460
• Lexus GS 350
• Lexus GS 450h
• Lexus GS 460
• Lexus IS 350
• Lexus LS 600h
• Lexus LS 600hl
• Toyota Crown sedan

The Lexus LS 600h is not sold in the United States, writes Reuters. The “h” designation indicates a gasoline-electric hybrid model. All models involved in the latest Toyota recall have either 4.6- or 3.6-liter engines, according to the automaker. The specific engine issue is a defective valve spring that causes the idling problems and possible engine failure.

Another blow to the Lexus line

Just last week, Toyota pulled the plug on Lexus HS 250h sales because of possible fuel leak issues. Crash tests sponsored by the U.S. government showed that if the HS 250h was struck from behind by a vehicle traveling at 50 mph, a fuel leak could easily develop. That recalled back 17,000 vehicles, 13,000 of which were sold in the United States. Interestingly, Toyota conducted its own tests on the matter and claimed it could not reproduce the same result. Luckily, no accidents or injuries have been documented with the HS 250h, either.

What should you do if your Toyota vehicle was recalled?

Contact Toyota’s Customer Experience Center for further information. It can be reached via telephone at 800-331-4331 or fax at 310-468-7814. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST. For mail inquiries, address correspondence to:

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
19001 South Western Ave.
Dept. WC11
Torrance, CA 90501

Click below if you need auto loans for a new Toyota not on recall…

Sources:

Reuters

And then there are the rusting Tundras: