Torrance, Calif. — June 13, 2016 — One of several Toyota recalls from two years ago is still ongoing, with some recent developments affecting the action. Documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall center show that this particular recall, originally concerning leaf springs in certain Tacoma autos, has been updated multiple times this year.

The first report, submitted Sept. 26, 2014, included 690,000 potentially affected Pre-Runner and 4×4 trucks produced between 2009 and 2010. These particular vehicles feature leaf springs in a certain location above the rear axle, putting it in place for several possible hazards, unlike other Tacoma models.

According to this source, the faulty rear suspension leaf springs could corrode, fracture or even puncture the fuel tank, causing a leak and possible fire hazard. While the original report didn’t feature any remedy description, later updates were announced as the procedure became available for different regions.

The most recent of these, dated for April 21, 2016, stated that the remedy was available for the San Francisco area, as Phase 10 of the entire operation. Owners that were left out of previous efforts due to location may be addressed in the later rounds.

The recall remedy
As the San Francisco update noted, dealers may have to repair and replace both the faulty leaf spring and any of the systems hurt by it. The updated number of vehicles has expanded to 711,000, with the suspected production period now stretching further back to 2004.

The notice includes two other phases currently in the interim stage, with anticipated remedy dates trailing through the end of April and into early May. One will address vehicles registered for Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas, while the second will apply to Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

To actually fix these vehicles, technicians will need to meet appropriate certification requirements and may require the specially shipped leaf spring kits. The latest Technical Instructions describes the methods of removing old leaf springs and installing the new ones, as well as a description of proper shackle bushing replacement steps.

Technicians may need to inspect the fuel tank, shock absorber, brakeline and ABS wireharness for damage, in addition to the leaf springs. Even if there is no damage, the instructions direct dealers to proceed to the leaf spring replacement procedure.

Other 2014 Tacoma actions
As other NHTSA documents show, 2014 saw other Toyota recalls affect the Tacoma. This model was part of a larger action meant to address possible seat heater wiring damage as a result of front seat cushion compression.

With this recall, Tacoma model years between 2006 and 2011 were affected: Other Toyota models included the Avalon, Camry and Corolla. The original Recall Acknowledgement letter stated that a short circuit in the seat wiring could both burn through the seat and injure possible occupants.

The remedy required dealers to disconnect affected heaters, with the owners at risk found specifically in the southeastern United States, in states like Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

An even earlier recall from the same year also concerned Toyota Tacoma vehicles, this one targeting model years between 2008 and 2014, as well as FJ Cruisers vehicles with the same year range.

Tire placards in these vehicles were found to potentially display incorrect information. Each of these brands received its own set of remedy instructions: For the Tacoma, dealer staff may have needed to place a new overlay label to help make the data more accurate.

As these instructions mentioned, a display with the wrong cold tire pressure could violate the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, while also causing problems if owners attempt to inflate the tires to meet the incorrect pressure level.

In that case, the manufacturer stated it would send the correct overlay stickers to both owners and dealers to conduct the fix.

Plano, TX — May 13, 2016 — The Occupation Classification System in several thousand Toyota sedans could make it hard for regular air bag deployment, according to a new press release. Autoblog quoted the statement, which mentioned that multiple airbags in each of the affected vehicles may not function correctly in the event of a crash. As of April 13, the manufacturer is reaching out to owners to keep them informed while recall actions continue.

The recall will include 58,510 total vehicles, 41,630 of which are Camry sedans and 16,880 of which are Avalon autos. Both models are from the 2016 model year, and could fail to engage the general front passenger airbag and the front passenger knee airbags.

If the OCS in these vehicles were not properly calibrated, the OCS could keep airbags restrained when they should be deployed. Fixing this issue will require dealers to re-calibrate the OCS for more accurate detection.

Other automakers have struggled with this issue in recent years. In 2014, Nissan recalled 989,701 vehicles for a similar problem in several car models. That recall only concerned the front passenger seat airbag, and resulted in at least two field incidents, according to Edmunds.com, although there were no fatalities connected to the issue, at least at the time of the company’s statement.

More recently, Mercedes-Benz announced a recall for unexpected airbag deployment, although this instance was due to wiring harness problems, not the OCS. It also affected far fewer vehicles than the other two examples, with only 888 cars from two different model types recalled.

These SUVs have the 2016 model year and were built between last June/July and November. Fixing this issue requires dealers to replace the harnesses and inspect them afterwards as necessary. The same issue could also stall affected vehicles.

Torrance, CA — April 18, 2016 — Toyota’s new recall will address problems in more than 12,800 vehicles, as the company looks to correct brake actuator assemblies in the affected units. Owners can expect a first-class mail notification, and dealers should be prepared to inspect the suspect vehicles for serial numbers. Because the possibly faulty system could affect multiple functions, solving the problem may restore multiple functions to drivers, including vehicle stability and traction control.

All of the recalled vehicles are from the 2016 model year: they include the RAV4, RX350 and ES350. According to a press release from the company, distributed through Autoblog, the affected vehicles might prove unstable to a hazardous extent. The actuator represents a major single point where multiple systems can be affected all at once.

“There is a possibility that a component inside the actuator could have been damaged during manufacturing, preventing the actuator from operating properly,” the statement read. “This could cause a loss of vehicle stability control, increasing the risk of crash.” A company representative quoted by the source denied the chance to explain whether or not there were any incidents connected to this recall.

Cars.com reported on a different recall from earlier this year also involving the RAV4. In this effort, the model years showed greater range, from 2006 to 2014. Car occupants were in danger from lap belts that could separate during a crash, due to a seat belt defect.

Although this earlier recall only included two models, the RAV4 and the RAV4EV, the volume of vehicles was greater, accounting for more than 1 million. The source stated that dealers would solve this issue by placing resin covers on the seat cushion frames.

Torrance, CA — March 02, 2016 — Although most of the vehicles in a new Toyota recall are in North America, this action affects almost 3 million SUVs around the world. A press release from the manufacturer explained that seatbelts in these autos ustould accidentally detach and leave occupants at risk, something possible during a severe impact.

The recall will affect RAV4 and RAV4 EV vehicles with combined model years ranging between 2006 and 2014. So far, there have been two reports of incidents where a crash caused a seatbelt in these affected vehicles to detach. The issue is due to a design that could make it easier for the seat frame to cut the belt.

North America alone will recall 1.3 million vehicles for this problem, as the manufacturer reaches out to vehicle owners. The manufacturing production dates stretch as far back as 2005. Toyota’s solution will see the seat frames fit with a resin cover to reduce the chance of seatbelts detaching, a process that could take an hour at maximum.

“There is a possibility that, in the event of a very severe frontal crash, the lap belt webbing could contact a portion of the metal seat cushion frame, become cut, and separate,” the statement reads. “If this occurs, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, which could increase the risk of injury.”

Outside of the United States, the CBC reports that China will see 434,000 vehicles recalled, while Japan’s version of the Toyota recalls only concerns 177,00 vehicles. More than 300,000 SUVs in countries that aren’t in North America, Europe, Japan or China are part of the ongoing effort as well. Another report, this from the New York Times, notes that the defect reportedly does not stem from a supplier issue.

Tokyo, Japan — October, 29 2015 — More than 6 million vehicles are part of a new worldwide Toyota recall over faulty power window switches. According to the Wall Street Journal, North America will see closer to 2.7 million vehicles recalled, as the manufacturer addresses cars produced over a five year period, beginning in January 2005. No serious fatalities and one minor injury has been attributed to these conditions, though there have been more than 11 cases documented in which fires affected the vehicles.

In affected vehicles, fires could break out because of too-little grease on driver’s side windows. Components inside the car could melt, leaving drivers and passengers both at risk. Over time, the electrics can wear down and spark a fire, destroying or damaging sections of the auto, like the switch assembly. Vehicle models involved in this recall include RAV4s, Corollas and Camrys. In addition to these numbers, more than 1 million cars will recalled in Europe.

The company has acknowledged that the fault could lead to a potential fire in target vehicles, and is not related to the Takata recalls that have affected millions of Toyota vehicles. The supplier in this case is Tokai Rika Co., a representative of which defended the car company’s actions.

“We have been taking various measures to prevent problems from recurring,” this person said, as the Wall Street Journal notes. “But the recalled vehicles carry older components.”

USA Today notes that Toyota has issued a similar recall in the past, centering around 150,000 vehicles from between 2007 and 2009. The company will administer a free remedy in response to the recall.

San Antonio, TX — October 26, 2015 — In a new voluntary recall action, Toyota will address airbag bolt problems in more than 300 2016 Tacoma vehicles. On October 13, the same day in which it announced that the truck had been honored by the Texas Auto Writers Association, the company released a statement detailing the issue, which involves faulty bolts used to hold a knee air bag module in place within the vehicle.

As part of a more comprehensive injury reduction technique during a crash, knee airbags are meant to spread out the cushioning and protect drivers. Their use stems from increased government interest, including the New Car Assessment Program, as reported by Edmunds.

Another manufacturer employing knee air bags in new vehicles is Ford, which has incorporated them into the passenger side of its 2015 Mustang. In contrast, driver-side knee air bags inflate under the steering apparatus.

The manufacturer explained the problems associated with the recall-worthy issue and tied the problem to operations at a specific factory. To remedy this issue, dealers will replace all four of the module’s bolts in affected vehicles at a yet-undisclosed date.

“There is a possibility that incorrect bolts were installed during vehicle assembly at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California plant,” the statement reads. “This could result in the bolts loosening over time. A loosened bolt could affect the performance of the knee air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.”

Last September, Toyota also issued a recall for Tacoma vehicles, albeit one that applied to 690,000 units associated with a fragile rear suspension leaf spring system.

Jacksonville, FL — September 9, 2015 — Several thousand Toyota 4Runner vehicles with production years between 2010 and 2015 are part of a new recall based on possible burn risk for consumers. According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2,530 vehicles are potentially affected and all 100 percent of these are estimated to have the defect.

In the targeted 4Runners, the exhaust tips may burn anyone reaching for it while standing behind the vehicle. This is because these tips are meant to be out of reach for people, even though they are recessed behind the bumper, as it should be.

The recall officially comes from Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, which is responding to reports of a burn traced back to this fault earlier this summer. The report details the remedy this action requires, as well as the qualities that will separate the replacement parts from the exhaust tip currently used in these vehicles.

“The exhaust tip will be replaced with a new, re-designed exhaust tip that is smaller in diameter and is recessed a greater distance behind the bumper,” the source says. “The new exhaust tip is smaller in diameter and will be recessed a greater distance behind the bumper.”

As the report document, dated August 17, describes, the planned dealer notification date was schedule for some time between August 11 and 12, while the owner notification will happen on September 21. The manufacturer is also encouraging owners to respond to its recall communications by calling its customer service line.

Tokyo, Japan — July 16, 2015 — Toyota Motor Corporation is reportedly recalling 625,000 Prius hybrids throughout the world, and in a statement released through the company’s official website, it specified that the action concerns ECU controls within the affected vehicles.

According to Reuters, most of the Priuses being recalled are in Japan, and 120,000 of those vehicles are in the United States. The affected model is the Prius V, which is also known by other names, possibly adding to the inherent confusion of such a large recall effort. Model years for the defective vehicles range between 2012 and 2014.

The statement says that dealers will attend to the risks by updating the software in the ECU’s. The issue poses a possible danger for transistors in these Priuses, due to overly high levels of “thermal stress” within the system. No injuries have been linked to this problem yet, but it does follow on a larger recall issued last year for more than 1 million Priuses.

“If this happens, various warning lights will illuminate and the vehicle can enter a failsafe mode,” the statement says, referring to the aftereffects of the Prius faults. “In rare circumstances, the hybrid system might shut down while the vehicle is being driven, resulting in the loss of power and the vehicle coming to a stop.”

The context of recall actions of this nature matters for the fixes to be applied effectively, and proper awareness and response campaigns will communicate the severity of an issue in a way that leads to real improvement and prevention. In such cases, it may be necessary to know some history of a vehicle defect in addition to the immediate dangers that a threat poses.