New Toyota Recall Involves About 400,000 Vehicles
In its latest recall, Toyota said last week “Thursday that it was recalling almost 373,000 of its 2000-4 Avalon sedans because of a steering problem that could cause a crash.” (C.Jensen, NY Times, 7/29). On top of the Avalon recall, Toyota is additionally recalling nearly 40,000 Lexus LX470 SUV’s for another steering defect.
The recall follows at least six complaints in the United States of a steering problem. Toyota received reports of at least three minor accidents, and, fortunately, no major injuries. According to documents Toyota filed with the National Highway and Safety Administration, the automaker has been investigating the steering problem since October 2007. Toyota, however, insists that it was not until early this year they confirmed the steering problem was severe enough to require a recall.
Unfortunately for Toyota, but perhaps not surprising, “the length and timing of Toyota’s handling of the Avalon defect may interest federal safety officials. In May the safety agency began an investigation into whether Toyota improperly delayed a 2005 recall of almost one million 1989-1998 model Toyota trucks.” As federal regulations “require automakers to notify the safety agency within five days of learning of a defect,” Toyota may face repercussions.
As a car and truck accident attorney, I am not once again disappointed in Toyota’s apparent lackadaisical attitude to defects in its products. I encourage Toyota owners to act quickly to have their vehicles fixed.
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