Thirteen months after issuing the first recall, Toyota has issued a second recall of the same RAV4 SUVs and Lexus sedans. Over 800,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada are affected by this second recall.
In August 2012, Toyota recalled its 2006-2011 RAV4 SUVs and 2010 Lexus HS 250h sedans after reports of suspension failures surfaced. Drivers started noticing problems after rear-wheel alignments and that caused Toyota and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate the issue. It was determined that improper tightening of the lock nut during a rear-wheel alignment could eventually cause the arm to separate from the vehicle and result in a loss of vehicle control.
Over the past year Toyota has attempted to inspect and repair the issue but has been unsuccessful. Toyota learned from its dealers that some vehicles were still having problems which led Toyota to conclude the repair procedure wasn’t correct. Toyota has now recalled the same vehicles to try a different repair. It is reported that this defect has already been responsible for at least 9 car accidents and three injuries.
This recall comes on the heels of a number of other high profile recalls Toyota has had over the past two years and only one month after Toyota announced a recall of 340,000 of its Tacoma trucks. In 2011, Toyota was considered one of the top two manufacturers for reliability but has recently been found to have slipped down to the fifth spot in 2013.
If you or someone you know have suffered injuries due to an automobile defect, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211.