Already it seems like it’s been a banner year for auto recalls, and we still have a few months left to go. On the one hand, our Houston auto injury lawyers applaud the NHTSA and the automakers for taking dangerous, defective vehicles out of circulation. On the other hand, we can’t help but notice that some of the recalled model years date back more than a decade. Does it really take that long to notice and announce a dangerous, life-threatening crash risk problem?
The latest big recall in the U.S. market was announced by Toyota. It covers 778,000 (yes, almost a million) Toyota RAV4 SUVs and Lexus HS 250h. The RAV4, you may know, is a hugely popular vehicle. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stopped behind a vehicle at a light only to notice it’s a RAV4, usually by the prominent logo on the spare tire covering.
The Toyota recall applies to 2006 to 2011 RAV4 SUVs and to 2010 only Lexus HS 250h sedans. Our Houston auto injury lawyers note that the 778,000 vehicles are being recalled because of a problem with the suspension that could lead to separation of the suspension arm, loss of control over the vehicle, and a crash. If the rear suspension nuts in the recalled Toyota and Lexus vehicles aren’t tightened properly after a wheel alignment, the suspension arms could rust and separate from the vehicle. (Source: Associated Press, 8/2/2012)
Toyota has received reports of several crashes and injuries caused by the suspension defect. The NHTSA opened its own investigation into the dangerous problem in June after it received several reports of the problem from drivers. One report described a loss of control over the vehicle that caused the driver to swerve across 4 lanes of an interstate highway after the suspension arm disconnected from the car.
Toyota says the company is currently working on a fix for the problem and will notify owners of the recalled vehicles when it’s ready. In the meantime, Toyota says hat drivers should contact their dealers if they hear an abnormal sound in the rear of their vehicle. We hope that if you should hear that sound (and the abnormal sound isn’t just a mischievous child or a pet), you will have time to pull over and stop before the suspension arm disconnects and chaos ensues. The recall announcement was unclear on that point.
The ubiquitous Toyota RAV4 SUVs actually have a string of recalls and NHTSA investigations to their (dis)credit. A current investigation involves the danger of door fires from a defect in the power window switches. A recall last year covered 2007 and 2008 RAV4s in which the airbags could deploy without warning. And before that, 2009 and 2010 RAV4 SUVs were recalled, along with many other Toyotas, due to sticking accelerator problems.
Unintended acceleration is an ongoing problem in the Toyota universe and one that many Toyota drivers say has not been adequately addressed. Our Houston auto injury lawyers have in fact written several articles on the mysterious and seemingly insoluble Toyota unintended acceleration problem. We suspect we’ll have more to write on that score as time passes.
In the meantime, be aware of the crash and injury risks presented by the suspension arm defect. Get your vehicle repaired as soon as Toyota has a fix for the problem.
And if you or a loved one suffer needless injury because of a defect in your vehicle, contact our Houston auto injury lawyers for a free consultation regarding your possible legal options and potential for a full financial recovery from the manufacturer behind the defect.
Our Houston auto injury lawyers have more than 14 years of experience protecting the rights of innocent injured victims who have received injuries or even lost loved ones because automakers sent a product out onto the market that contained a deadly defect. Let us help you make the full financial recovery your deserve. Call or contact us through our website today.