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Toyota Recalls Near 800,000 for July

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 19, 2006

Toyota • Airbags • Engine Problems • Cruise Control • Cooling System • Safety • Toyota Motor Credit • Avalon • Echo • Prius • Tacoma • Tundra --- Reviews • 2006 Prius • 2007 Camry --- News • Toyota Raises Prices, Prius Jumps $400 • Quality Auditor Charges Toyota Cover-Up • Toyota Agrees to Oil-Sludge Settlement • Toyota Camry Named "Car of the Year" • Software Glitch Slows Some 2007 Camrys • Is Toyota's Quality Slipping? • Toyota Delays U.S. Sales of New Corolla to Improve Quality • Facing Massive Recalls, Toyota Executives Promise to Do Better • Toyota Recalls Near 800,000 for July • Japanese Probe Recall Delay at Toyota • Toyota Builds More Efficient Gasoline Engines • Toyota Cuts Entry-Level Camry Price, Boosts Luxury Model • Toyota Dons NASCAR Racing Gear • Toyota Sludge

Toyota has now recalled almost 800,000 vehicles in July, including 8,500 Prius hybrids as well as some Lexus hybrids sold in the U.S. The Japanese automaker is recalling 418,570 vehicles globally, including 150,000 cars sold in the U.S. and Canada because of a faulty crankshaft sensor.

The recall includes 8,500 Prius vehicles and 26,200 Echos in the U.S.

Last week Toyota recalled 367,594 SUVs, including hybrids, in the U.S because of loose clips in the floor carpet cover that might cause the accelerator pedal to stick.

The vehicles involved in that recall are the Lexus RX 330 and Toyota Highlander SUVs from 2004 to 2005 model years, and the Lexus RX 400h hybrid and Highlander hybrid SUVs from the 2006 model year.

Earlier in July, Toyota recalled 24,200 vans in Japan.

The three July recalls are the latest in a string of problems at Toyota raising doubts over whether the automaker can maintain quality standards amid booming sales.

The Prius recall for a faulty cranshaft sensor does not involve any hybrid components and Toyota will replace, free of charge, the crankshaft position sensor on recalled vehicles.

Toyota warned owners that the connector for the crankshaft position sensor may become disconnected causing the vehicle to stall. The automaker initiated the recall along with NHTSA.

Toyota said there have been no reported cases of accidents or injuries related to the recalled vehicles.

Toyota reports that because of "improper molding of the resin body of the crankshaft position sensor, engine oil may penetrate the seal and enter the connector" in the recalled vehicles.

"In addition, the shape of the locking tab to secure the sensor's wire- harness connector may be improper. In this condition, the oil may expand due to heat from the engine and deform the connector, as well as create pressure on the locking tab, causing the crankshaft position sensor to become disconnected."

If the crankshaft position sensor becomes disconnected while the vehicle is being driven, the engine will stall and will be unable to restart, according to Toyota.

Toyota will notify owners of the involved vehicles of the recall later this month. Owners are requested to contact their local Toyota dealer for diagnosis and repair upon receiving notification.

Last year, Toyota's recalls in the U.S. more than doubled as the number of recalls industry-wide registered a slight decline.

Toyota says it is working to maintain vehicle quality, even as it increases production to meet worldwide demand for its vehicles.

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