Post by Venturi on May 25, 2005 11:50:56 GMT -5
Toyota Motor Corp., the world's second-largest automaker, in one of its largest safety recalls ever, is recalling 790,000 pickups and SUVs to fix a flawed ball joint that can make the trucks difficult to steer and cause drivers to lose control.
The recall covers 2001 through 2002 model 4Runner SUVs, 2001 through 2004 Tacoma pickups and 2002 through 2004 Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs, said Ming-Jou Chen, a spokeswoman for the automaker's Torrance, Calif.-based U.S. sales unit. Toyota filed details of the recall Monday with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The problem involves a defective ball joint that connects to the trucks' front suspension that, with wear, may produce looseness in the joint, making steering difficult, Chen said. Toyota has confirmed the flaw in at least six vehicles and is aware of two "minor" accidents that have resulted, she said. Neither accident involved injuries, Chen said.
The U.S. recall is among the largest ever for the Toyota City, Japan-based automaker, which expanded U.S. sales 14 percent in the first four months of 2005, in part because of a reputation for producing relatively defect-free, durable cars and trucks. Toyota's Chen couldn't confirm whether the recall was the largest ever for the company in the United States.
Owners will be notified of the problem beginning in June. Details of the recall weren't available on NHTSA's Web site.
The recall covers 2001 through 2002 model 4Runner SUVs, 2001 through 2004 Tacoma pickups and 2002 through 2004 Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs, said Ming-Jou Chen, a spokeswoman for the automaker's Torrance, Calif.-based U.S. sales unit. Toyota filed details of the recall Monday with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The problem involves a defective ball joint that connects to the trucks' front suspension that, with wear, may produce looseness in the joint, making steering difficult, Chen said. Toyota has confirmed the flaw in at least six vehicles and is aware of two "minor" accidents that have resulted, she said. Neither accident involved injuries, Chen said.
The U.S. recall is among the largest ever for the Toyota City, Japan-based automaker, which expanded U.S. sales 14 percent in the first four months of 2005, in part because of a reputation for producing relatively defect-free, durable cars and trucks. Toyota's Chen couldn't confirm whether the recall was the largest ever for the company in the United States.
Owners will be notified of the problem beginning in June. Details of the recall weren't available on NHTSA's Web site.
