(2007 IS 250 shown)
Toyota today announced a voluntary recall of some 1.5 million vehicles to replace a faulty brake master cylinder seal. The recall includes the 2005-06 Toyota Avalon, 2004-06 Toyota Highlander non-hybrid and Lexus RX 330, the 2006 Lexus GS 300, IS 250 and IS 350. The statement said, the recall was "to address the possibility that a small amount of brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp."
740,000 of the vehicles recalled are in the US and are only being called for the seal. The vehicles recalled in Japan and some of those in the U.K., however, are being recalled because of an electrical fault with the fuel pump that could cause the engine to stall. "Expansion and contraction of the fuel tank," said a statement by Lexus U.K., "may stretch the fuel pump's electrical harness. This may lead to a break in the circuit, causing the fuel pump, and so the engine, to stop without warning."
On this side of the pond, though, only braking is on the table. Toyota says, "If the brake warning lamp has illuminated and the vehicle continues to be operated without refilling the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir, the driver will begin to notice a spongy or soft brake pedal feel and braking performance may gradually decline." Lack of fluid will do that to a hydraulic system...
The NHTSA is not involved-- so far-- with this, but that's not surprising; last time Toyota withheld evidence and delayed a recall they were fined $16m and have been dragged through the mud ever since.
hybris says:
09:17 AM, 10/21/10
"If the brake warning lamp has illuminated and the vehicle continues to be operated without refilling the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir, the driver will begin to notice a spongy or soft brake pedal feel and braking performance may gradually decline."
I always notice that these types of statements are almost always made in a European country.
I guess this one must have been written for the Ministry of the Obvious.
mrryte says:
09:43 AM, 10/21/10
Just when you thought it was safe to buy a Toyota ot Lexus.....
93aero says:
09:58 AM, 10/21/10
Id love to see the smile on the faces of all the car dealers for hyundai, KIA, Suzuki, ect. as all the ex-Toyota owners pile in for new cars that are safer, better looking, and just as cheap to maintain. Its a good day to be anybody except Toyota!!!
ocramidajzj says:
11:03 AM, 10/21/10
I'm no fan of Toyota, but this sort of thing can happen and has happened to other manufacturers, so I wouldn't expect them to be gloating, just happy they aren't in the public crosshairs. Also Hyundai has had recalls recently that were also safety related, so they're not perfect either.
tmanz says:
12:35 PM, 10/21/10
hybris,
+1 I laughed when I read it. Basically: "If you ignore the warning light that there is a problem with your brakes it could be bad" Duhhhhh.
"My smoke detector was beeping for half the night. Then my house burned down. What's up with that?"
yes, I know it is a defective seal that is the problem but still....
dg0472 says:
06:42 PM, 10/21/10
Difference is Hyundai and Kia have recalled new models for just a few complaints and took maybe a couple of months to do it. According to the post on the news feed on this site, complaints to NHTSA date back to '06 but we're just now seeing any action on them.
mrjost55 says:
10:47 AM, 10/22/10
Does the recall only apply to one year(2006) of IS250's?
marlowesequoia says:
04:22 PM, 11/20/10
I have been a loyal Toyota Owner for over 20 years, However with this latest accelerator recall I will rethink my entire purchasing habit.
I had an accident that was directly related to the accelerator sticking aruond a turn, when the brake was pressed, the car did not slow down, and when I came out of turn car sped up.
Toyota's response was comletely uacceptable, they said that I should have known something was wrong, even though the recall came out over 9 months after the incident. I even told the insurance company what happened, and the Toyota dealer. Neither of them recommended that the car be rinspected forthe faulty accelertor , nor wher they even aware fo the recall.
No one at Toyota will take responsibility for this, I even had a case number and a form for Toyoto Mototr Sales Claim department, but get this.. They say that because I did not know or say it was the recalls fault (even thought this happened before the recall, (what am I a mind reader), that they will not accept or nor are they willig to cover the cost of repair or the raise in insurance rates due to this accident..Even though tit was repaiered at a Fort Bend Toyota in Houston.
Be warry of whatever Toyota says as they cannot be trusted anymore!!
Is this the SAME company that said they are spending MILLIONS in fixing their problems???
I even got a letter two days ago saying to bring my car in,as they feel the accelerator recall fix was not enough to guarantee that this will not happen again,and they want to put another part in , so that when the brake is pressed and accelerator is stuck, it wil lshut of the engine and slow the car down by itself. Does this sound SAFE to you!!
If anyone is thnkning about buying a Toyotoa Sequoia at this time DONT DO IT