Deadly air bag defects trigger Lexus and Toyota Recall

Report Receipt Date: APR 11, 2013 
NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V133000 
Component(s): AIR BAGS

SUMMARY:

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2002 through 2004 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, Tundra, Lexus SC, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

CONSEQUENCE:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.

Toyota is at it again. This time they are recalling 1.53 million Lexus, Avalon and other models in the US and Japan for brake fluid and fuel pump problems and defects.

This adds one more to a list of Toyota recalls that only gets longer. During the last year, Toyota has recalled more than ten million cars and trucks for safety problems, including 1.3 million Corolla and Matrix vehicles because of engine stalling.

The current brake issue involves the brake master cylinder and reportedly could lead to weaker braking power. And that can lead to an accident.

Other models have an electrical problem with the fuel pump that can cause stalling.

If you've got a Toyota-built vehicle, the only way to be sure your vehicle has all the latest recall fixes is to contact your local dealer.

If you have a lemon Toyota or a Lexus lemon, you need a Burdge attorney. Getting rid of lemons, and getting you back your money, that's what we do. Everyday. Since 1978.

Vehicle Make / Model:		Model Year(s):
TOYOTA COROLLA		2009-2010
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER		2008-2010
TOYOTA MATRIX		2009-2010
TOYOTA VENZA		2009-2010
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.		Mfr's Report Date: JAN 27, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V023000		N/A NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL Potential Number of Units Affected: 1093000
Summary:
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).
Consequence:
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.
Remedy:
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.

Yeah, we've heard that one before. It's all over the news but this makes it official. What they don't say is what federal safety investigators have reported, that the defect complaints go back for years and that US recall investigators even went to Japan to try to talk Toyota into doing this recall in December 2009 but factory bigwigs reportedly turned a deaf ear. Meanwhile reports are surfacing that things are much worse at Toyota than anyone knows yet. We'll have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, if you've got a lemon Toyota, don't take a chance. Park it and call us. Getting rid of lemon cars is what we do. Every day. Since 1978.

Burdge Law Office

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

Because life's too short to drive a dangerous lemon Toyota.