2006 Lexus Ls430 Base Sedan 4-door 4.3l on 2040-cars

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Toyota expands Takata airbag inflator recall

The Basics: Toyota will recall 198,000 examples of the 2008 Corolla and Matrix and the 2008-2010 Lexus SC430. The Problem: The vehicles contain Takata's dual-stage inflators in their front passenger airbags, which could rupture in a crash. Injuries/Deaths: None reported in this population of vehicles. However, experts believe Takata's inflators have links to at least ten fatalities. The Fix: Dealers will replace the part with a newly manufactured one. If You Own One: Toyota will notify owners about the recall by first-class mail in March and will send a remedy letter in June when the parts are ready. TOYOTA EXPANDS TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL TORRANCE, Calif., March 2, 2016 – Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. today announced that it is expanding two of its recalls involving Takata front passenger airbag inflators. This will add model years of certain vehicles previously recalled and will cover all remaining dual-stage front passenger inflators of a particular type, as a precautionary measure. Approximately 198,000 Model Year 2008 Corolla and Corolla Matrix and Model Year 2008-2010 Lexus SC430 vehicles will be added to the recalls. The involved vehicles are equipped with a Takata-produced dual-stage front passenger airbag inflator which could potentially be susceptible to rupture when deployed in a crash. All known owners of the affected Toyota / Lexus vehicles will be notified by first class mail. Dealers will replace the airbag inflator or the airbag assembly with a newly manufactured one at no cost. Information about automotive recalls, including but not limited to the list of involved vehicles, is subject to change over time. For the most up-do-date Safety Recall information on Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles, customers should check their vehicle's status by visiting toyota.com/recall and entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Safety Recall inquiry by individual VIN is also available at the NHTSA site: safercar.gov/vin. For any additional questions, customer support is also available by calling Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331, or Lexus Customer Service at 1-800-255-3987. ###

Toyota to pay $17.35M federal fine for delayed Lexus RX recall

This summer, we brought you news that Lexus was recalling over 150,000 RX and RX hybrid crossovers tied to its massive pedal entrapment issue. An update to that story included word from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it was considering launching a federal investigation into potential delays by the automaker in notifying owners about the problem. Now comes news that parent company Toyota will pay a hefty $17.35 million in fines for delaying its recall of the 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h. According to The Detroit News, the Japanese automaker is being forced to pay the maximum fine for delaying recalls - and this isn't the first time. In fact, this is the fourth time since 2010 that Toyota has been required to do so, including paying $48.8M in civil penalties in 2010 for failing to recall vehicles in a timely manner - in three separate campaigns.
In addition to the fines, Toyota has agreed to restructure the way it handles quality control and review "safety-related issues." Though the Japanese automaker has not admitted any wrongdoing, Toyota has agreed to meet with NHTSA for six months on the matter and may extend the meetings another six months.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he is counting on Toyota to improve its ability to address such safety issues: "With today's announcement, I expect Toyota to rigorously reinforce its commitment to adhering to the United States safety regulations," he said in a statement.

Lexus teases new luxury concept for Tokyo

Lexus certainly doesn't want to reveal any secrets about the concept premiering at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show on October 28. The company's teaser simply shows a squinting LED headlight with a devilish, hooked tail running underneath. Plus, the dearth of descriptive text merely says that the vehicle is a "vision of progressive luxury." While there's not much useful info, some recent rumors might hint at what we're looking at. One possibility is the concept providing a peek at the next-gen LS because the rounded, current generation no longer matches the rest of the Japanese brand's sharper styling. Reports earlier this year even suggest a fuel-cell version under development as part of a hydrogen push in Japan. This range-topping model could potentially weigh even less than the current hybrid by adapting the powertrain from the Toyota Mirai. The less likely alternative is a concept pointing the way towards Lexus' second flagship. Reportedly a successor to the SC, the model isn't rumored to debut until the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Still, the company could shuffle things around, and we look forward to seeing what's worth being so coy about in Tokyo in just a few days. Lexus' Vision of Progressive Luxury at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show October 21, 2015 See it all here, at 13:45 (JST) on October 28th. What do you want to see and know about most from the Lexus booth? Tell us by using hashtag #LexusInTokyo and you may receive an image or video reply from Lexus. News Source: Lexus Design/Style Tokyo Motor Show Lexus Concept Cars Tokyo 2015