Toyota Recall for Steering Issue Affects 447,000 North American Owners

Pasadena injury lawyers pass along news of an important Toyota recall that could affect your safety. Toyota Motor Corp. has issued a recall notice on 550,000 vehicles worldwide, most in the United States for a defect that affects steering and handling of the vehicle. The Toyota recall problem derives from the possibility that the outer ring of the crankshaft pulley of the engine could become misaligned with the inner ring.

The ring misalignment could cause an unusual noise as well as the illumination of a warning light. But the real problem is that if the Toyota recall problem is not corrected, the power steering pump’s belt could detach from the pulley, causing the vehicle to suddenly become more difficult to steer and turn. In traffic, this defect could present a deadly danger to the driver. Our Pasadena injury lawyers have seen a number of disastrous accident cases caused by steering defects over the years.

Toyota says that it has received reports regarding this problem since 2011. (Pasadena injury lawyers note that it is now 2011. It took 4 years from finding the problem to issuance of a Toyota recall.) Toyota says it has not received any reports of injuries relating to the problem.

The affected vehicle models in the United States comprised in the Toyota recall follow.

2004 and 2005 Camry, Highlander, Sienna and Solara.
2004 Avalon.
2006 Highlander HV.
2004 and 2005 Lexus ES330 and RX330.
2006 Lexus RX400h.

This Toyota recall relating to a steering issue represents only the latest in a recent string of large Toyota recalls that now affect 14 million vehicles. Customers who once lauded the reliability and careful engineering of their durable Toyota vehicles have begun to doubt the company’s ability to continue to produce good, reliable vehicles.

Pasadena injury lawyers note that adding to Toyota’s current woes are the delays in vehicle and vehicle parts production caused by the Fukushima disaster and the huge amounts of flooding in Thailand, location of several Toyota suppliers and assembly plants. The once-renowned automaker is suffering a cascade of recent losses and problems that could affect its long-term outlook and prospects.

Toyota says that it will notify United States owners of the vehicles affected by the steering defect by mail. These owners can then make an appointment to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer for inspection and parts replacement if inspection proves that necessary. Toyota further states that if your vehicle begins making unusual noises that might be caused by the Toyota recall steering problem that you shouldn’t wait for the letter. Make an appointment with your dealer at once to get your car checked out and repaired. Pasadena injury lawyers know that your safety is paramount. Taking a little extra time to prevent problems and accidents caused by vehicle defects if you can is always the best course to take.