Recall Alert: Airbag Problem Affects Millions of Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda Vehicles

Four Japanese automakers — Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda — have announced a voluntary recall of 3 million vehicles worldwide because of possibly faulty airbags; more than a million of those vehicles are in the U.S.

According to the automakers, the problem lies in the front-passenger airbag inflator, which in affected vehicles could deploy with too much pressure due to improperly manufactured propellant wafers, causing the inflator casing to rupture. This could result in injuries to passengers, though none have been reported. The airbags were manufactured by Japan's Takata Corp., a major world supplier of airbags.

According to Toyota, affected vehicles in the U.S. include 510,000 Toyota Corolla compact sedans, Matrix compact hatchbacks, Sequoia SUVs and Tundra pickup trucks, as well as Lexus SC 430 sport coupes, all manufactured between 2001 and 2003. According to news reports, Toyota is recalling 1.7 million vehicles worldwide.

Toyota said it will notify owners by mail. Dealers will inspect the front-passenger airbag; if it is equipped with an affected inflator, the inflator will be replaced with a new one for free. Toyota owners can go to www.toyota.com/recall or call Toyota customer service at 800-331-4331; Lexus owners can go to www.lexus.com/recall or call Lexus customer service at 800-255-3987.

Recall Alert: 3,235 2009-13 Toyotas

Southeast Toyota Distributors is recalling 3,235 vehicles spanning model-years 2009-13 due to problems with the occupant sensing system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were modified by Southeast Toyota Distributors to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or head-restraint DVD system. During the installation process, the passenger seat occupant sensing system may not have been tested. This could cause the airbags to not deploy or to deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size, increasing the risk of injury. 

Toyota's U.S. Production Returns to 100%

Toyota confirmed that production at its North American plants has returned to normal this week. The news comes after nearly five months of slowed production due to limited supplies from the automaker’s Japanese part suppliers. Toyota’s 13 North American plants make the company’s best-sellers in the U.S., including the Camry, RAV4, Corolla, Highlander and Sienna. In all, nearly 70% of the cars Toyota sells in the U.S. are made in North America.

The recovery is ahead of schedule; Toyota originally stated that it didn’t expect to get everything up and running again until November or December at the latest.

The company will now focus on replenishing dealer inventories with overtime and Saturday shifts at some plants. Toyota expects there to be a 15% increase in its supply in the last three months of 2011.

The company also says that construction work on its 14th North American assembly plant, a Corolla factory in Mississippi, is almost complete. Production will begin there in October, employing 2,000 workers. 

Recall Alert: 22,000 Toyota Vehicles

Toyota is recalling about 22,000 vehicles from the 2008-11 model years because the tire pressure monitoring system in these vehicles was not properly calibrated, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects the 2008-11 Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tacoma and Tundra.

In the affected vehicles, the tire pressure warning light will not illuminate at the required minimum activation pressure. This could lead to tire failure and increase the risk of a crash.

Dealers will re-initialize the system to restore the proper calibration at no charge. Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Consumer Reports Restores Recommendations on Recalled Toyotas

Today, Consumer Reports reinstated its recommendations for eight Toyota models the automaker recalled last January due to concerns over sudden acceleration.

The Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sequoia and Tundra met the requirements for Consumer Reports' coveted “recommended” status before the recall, but the publication stopped recommending the vehicles after Toyota recalled and put a “stop sale” on the affected models.

Consumer Reports says it has monitored the recall situation carefully, and, judging from its analysis, decided that the safety concerns diminished enough to restore the designations because new versions of said Toyota models came with a new accelerator pedal that prevented sticking problems; most of the recall models have been fixed; and all 2011 models come with a brake override system. In addition, the publication notes it has seen a drastic decrease in consumer complaints about sudden acceleration on Toyotas since January.

Overall, 1.8 million of the 2.3 million recalled vehicles have had the potentially affected part repaired or replaced.

Consumer Reports reinstates recommendations on eight Toyotas (Consumer Reports)

2010|Toyota|Avalon

2010|Toyota|Camry

2010|Toyota|Corolla

2010|Toyota|Highlander

2010|Toyota|Matrix

2010|Toyota|RAV4r

2010|Toyota| Sequoia

2010|Toyota|Tundra

Toyota Announces October Incentives

Throughout the summer Toyota offered fairly generous incentives on its vehicles to compensate for its flagging sales, which were caused by a deluge of safety recalls.

For October Toyota’s incentives are fine-tuned to get rid of its remaining 2010-model-year inventory and other slow-moving vehicles. These incentives are good through Nov. 1, but it’s important to note that some regions and dealer groups have opted out of the incentive programs, changed the terms or shifted incentive money from one model to another that’s weak in their specific region.

For instance, the Los Angeles region has an incentive on some models of no down payment, no security deposit, no money due at signing and no first month’s payment deal. The Chicago area has a $1,000 cash-back offer for recent college grads when they buy or lease select Toyotas as well as special lease rates.

To find detailed incentives, go to buyatoyota.com for the current offers in your area.

Below you’ll find a list of incentives on current Toyota vehicles.

Large SUV Sales Surge Faster Than Small Cars

Plug-in electric hybrids and electric cars have taken up much of the digital airwaves over the past few weeks (or years, depending on your perspective), but it may surprise you to find out that “passé” full-size SUVs are increasing in popularity once again. 

So far this year, full-size SUV sales have increased 19%, beating overall industry growth of 17%. The full-size SUV category is composed of large body-on-frame SUVs, like the GMC Yukon, and large crossovers, such as the Lincoln MKT and Chevrolet Traverse. 

Today's News From the Cars.com Family

Ford Explorer hysteria infected a good portion of Cars.com’s suite of blogs today. On Ask.cars.com, find out how much a new 2011 Explorer will set you back. At MotherProof.com, find out what Chief Mama Kristin Varela thinks of the new Explorer. Finally, go to PickupTrucks.com to learn about the potential death of the Toyota Sequoia and what Toyota has in store for the next-generation Tundra. 

• How much will the new 2011 Ford Explorer cost? (Ask.cars.com) 
• Ford Reinvents Family SUV With 2011 Explorer (MotherProof.com) 
• Sources Say Toyota is Sticking with the Tundra, Designing Next-Gen Half-Ton (PickupTrucks.com)

Toyota Addresses 2003 Sequoia Recall

Earlier today, news broke that Toyota would initiate yet another recall, this time for the 2003 Sequoia SUV. Now, the company has released a statement on the problem and how and when it will fix owners’ vehicles.

Read the automaker’s statement below:

Recall Alert: 2003 Toyota Sequoia

The Detroit News is reporting that Toyota will recall 50,000 2003 Toyota Sequoia SUVs due to problems with the stability and traction control systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has at least 64 complaints about the systems engaging at “inappropriate” times. Toyota counts 96 reports.

Toyota says there are several issues responsible for the problems that can include loss of throttle control, braking and brake light illumination once the traction control system engages.

We expect to hear more from Toyota directly about the recall.

The news comes just weeks after the company’s brand-new 2010 Lexus GX 460 was recalled for a stability control problem that was discovered by Consumer Reports.
 
Toyota to Recall '03 Sequoia (Detroit News)