Toyota recalls 370k Sienna minivans, 10.5k Lexus GS models over separate issues

Thu, 22 May 2014

The year of the recall continues, but this time it isn't from General Motors. Toyota is announcing two, separate recalls affecting a pair of its models.

First, Toyota is recalling 370,000 Sienna minivans from the 2004 to 2011 model years that are registered or originally sold in cold-weather states. The problem is that the spare tire carrier assembly cable can be splashed by water contaminated with road salt and cause corrosion. There is a splashguard in place to prevent this, but it sometimes gets lost in "normal usage," according to the company. If the cable does break, then "the spare tire may separate from the vehicle."

This is actually the second repair for this problem for some of these vehicles. In 2010, Toyota issued a recall on 600,000 Siennas from the 1998 to 2010 model years. At the time, it installed a new splashguard and sprayed the area with an anti-rust chemical. However, according to Toyota spokesperson John Hanson speaking to Autoblog, the campaign worked for the 1998 to 2003 models but wasn't sufficient for the newer ones. For the latest recall, the vehicles are getting the entire cable replaced with a stainless steel unit and a new splashguard.

Lexus is separately recalling 10,500 GS350 sedans from the 2013 model year because of a manufacturing defect in the brake pedal load sensing switch. If it malfunctions, it could cause the brakes to activate without the driver pressing the pedal and without the brake lights coming on, which could obviously be quite dangerous. However, Lexus says it isn't aware of any accidents, injuries or fatalities caused by the problem. The affected vehicles will have their brake pedal support assembly replaced, and Hanson said that the notifications will go out to owners in June. Scroll down to read the official announcements about both recalls.

Toyota Announces Recall of Certain Toyota Sienna Minivans

May 22, 2014
TORRANCE, Calif., May 22, 2014 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced plans to conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 370,000 Model Year 2004-2011 Sienna Minivans originally sold in or registered in specific cold climate states.

The involved vehicles are equipped with a spare tire carrier stowed under the vehicle with a light-weight, foam water splash protector in front of the spare tire carrier. Due to variation in the placement of the splash protector or loss of the protector during normal usage, water splashed rearward with high concentrations of road salt can reach the spare tire carrier and corrode the spare tire carrier assembly cable.

Some of the involved vehicles, 2004-2010 model year, were involved in a recall announced in April 2010. The recall remedy included the addition of a water splash protector and an anti-rust agent application to reduce the effects of corrosion. If the splash protector is misplaced or falls from the vehicle on these 2004-2010 model year vehicles, the spare tire carrier assembly cable may not have sufficient anti-rust protection even after the anti-rust agent application that was part of the recall remedy.

If an involved vehicle is operated in cold climate regions of the United States where road salts are frequently used, in an extreme case, the cable may break due to excessive corrosion and the spare tire may separate from the vehicle.

Detailed information is available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and by calling the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Lexus Announces Recall of Certain 2013 GS Sedans

May 22, 2014
TORRANCE, Calif., May 22, 2014 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it plans to conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 10,500 Model Year 2013 Lexus GS 350 sedans.

The brake pedal assembly in the subject vehicles contains a brake pedal load sensing switch which allows the brake system to detect brake pedal force application by the driver. Due to a manufacturing error, there is a possibility that the switch could improperly cause the brake system to activate without driver input while driving and without activating the rear brake lights. This could result in unexpected moderate deceleration.

For all involved vehicles, Lexus dealers will replace the brake pedal support assembly.

To date, Toyota is not aware of any accidents, injuries or fatalities caused by this condition.

Detailed information is available to customers at www.lexus.com/recall or by calling the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Center at 1-800-25-LEXUS (1-800-255-3987).

By Chris Bruce