Toyota recalls nearly 30,000 vehicles in Canada

Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is recalling 19,000 2007 through 2008 model year RAV4 vehicles and 6,000 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles sold in Canada to replace the airbag sensor assembly. The auto giant is also recalling 3,450 2011 model year Tundra trucks in Canada to inspect the rear propeller shaft.

In the U.S., the recall includes about 214,000 RAV4s, 94,000 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles, and 51,000 Tundra trucks.

In the curtain shield airbag system of the subject RAV4 and Highlander vehicles, there are two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly, which are designed to detect vehicle roll angle. If one of these sensors malfunctions, the airbag warning light will illuminate and the roll detection system will be suspended; however, the airbag remains available in the event of a side collision. If both sensors fail nearly simultaneously after the initial airbag system check, the seat belt pretensioner and the curtain shield airbag could be inadvertently activated.

No other Lexus or Toyota vehicles are involved in this recall, and this condition only involves vehicles sold in the North American market; vehicles sold in other markets are not equipped with this airbag sensor assembly.

Toyota dealers will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one at no cost to the customer.

In regards to the Tundra recall, TCI said that the rear propeller shaft in an estimated 0.05 percent of the vehicles may include a slip yoke that could break due to improper casting during the foundry process.

No other Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles are involved in this campaign, and Toyota is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition in Canada. The company is aware of one slip yoke failure.

Toyota dealers will perform an inspection to identify a specific “production lot” number located on the rear propeller shaft. Based upon the inspection results, in a small number of cases, the rear propeller shaft may need to be replaced. The inspection and/or replacement will be performed at no cost to the vehicle owner.

Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a letter advising them of this recall by first class mail beginning in May 2011.

Over the past year and a half, Toyota has wrestled with numerous recalls covering a wide range of defects, including faulty floor mats, sticky gas pedals and glitches in braking software, ballooning to more than 14 million vehicles globally.

Customers who have any questions are asked to contact their local Toyota dealership or contact Toyota Canada at 1-888- 868-6828.

www.toyota.ca