Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing: Safety Recalls in 2006

IF THE TETHER STRAP IS NOT CORRECTLY ROUTED, THE FRONT SIDE OF THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED, WHICH MAY RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT OCCUPANT PROTECTION DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH OR ROLLOVER EVENT.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH CSA FRONT TETHER STRAPS, AND IF NECESSARY, REROUTE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.

IF THE SIDE IMPACT SEAT-BOLSTER AND CURTAIN SIDE AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY, THEY COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY IF AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS THE DOOR THAT IS CLOSED WITH A HIGH RATE OF FORCE. UNTIL THE REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A MINIMAL FORCE/SPEED BE USED TO CLOSE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS OR CLOSING THE DOORS AFTER 90 SECONDS HAVE ELAPSED FROM TURNING THE IGNITION KEY FROM THE "ON" TO THE "OFF" POSITION.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SENSORS AND INSTALL A URETHANE PAD IN THE FRONT DOORS, IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-866-548-1851.

ENGINE OIL INSIDE THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND COULD DEFORM THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE CONNECTOR MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

IF THE TIRE LOSES AIR PRESSURE IT MAY LEAD TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FIVE TIRES, INCLUDING THE SPARE TIRE, TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE WITHIN THE AFFECTED TIRE-TO-WHEEL ASSEMBLY RANGE AND REPLACE ALL INVOLVED TIRES WITH NEW TIRES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331. NOTE: DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE DOT SERIAL NUMBER SECTION OF THE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS, A NUMBER OF VEHICLES WERE NOT INSPECTED CORRECTLY. TOYOTA RELAUNCHED THIS CAMPAIGN IN MID-AUGUST 2006.

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND INSPECT THE SLIDING YOKE AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

AN OCCUPANT NOT PROPERLY WEARING A SEAT BELT MAY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY DURING A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPECIFIC SRS AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371, SCION AT 1-866-548-1851, OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A BULGE MAY BE FORMED ON THE SIDEWALL AND AIR MAY LEAK FROM THE AREA OF THE DAMAGED BEAD AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIRES AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE THE REAR, LEFT-HAND SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ANCHOR BOLT WITH AN IMPROVED ONE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 800-255-3987.