Torrance, Calif. — July 5, 2016 — In approximately 3,106 Toyota Yaris brand vehicles, difficulties with the front shock absorbers could lead to a greater risk of crash. The Part 573 Safety Recall Report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the units were produced between January 13 and February 27 in 2015. This is reportedly the only Toyota or Lexus model in the United States using the affected system.
The report noted that high loads and sudden movements in the affected vehicles could impact the front shock absorbers, perhaps destabilizing the Yaris to a dangerous degree. Owner notification is scheduled for July 24, and recipients should expect a first class mail message directing them to their dealership.
Though the report didn’t list any specific indicators, it mentioned an “abnormal noise” as a potential sign of the problem. The risk increases for vehicles where the strut rod has separated. To remedy this situation, Toyota dealers will replace the defective strut mounting bearing with a more secure unit.
The first field report related to this issue was submitted in October 2015. According to a Defect Information Report from the manufacturer, this first field notice led to further investigations. Four months later, in February 2016, a review connected the fault to a resin cap for strut mounting bearings. The voluntary safety recall campaign began May 19, after Toyota confirmed that resin cap rings could eventually affect the strut bearing.
Some of the data used to guide this recall come from specific Toyota tests. The manufacturer used a speed bump to determine the severity of the defect. The supplier of the problematic part was identified as SKF France, based in Montigny le Bretonneux.
