Toyota Recalls Nearly 800,000 RAV4 SUVs
DETROIT (CBSMiami) — First Ford, now Toyota.
On Wednesday, Toyota Motor Corp. joined the recall fray by recalling 778,000 RAV4 SUVs and Lexus HS 250h sedans in the U.S.
The car company warns that, if the rear suspension nuts are incorrectly tightened after a wheel alignment, the arms can rust and separate from the vehicle, resulting in a crash.
Affected by the recall:
- 2006-2011 model year RAV4 SUVs
- 2010 Lexus HS 250h sedans
The recalls are the latest in a spate of recalls issued by car companies in the past two weeks.
In mid-July, Ford recalled its Escape SUV because the engine could catch fire. Then, in late July, Ford recalled its Escape and Maverick SUVs for sticking gas pedals.
Toyota reported nine crashes and three minor injuries from its recall.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the problem in June after getting several reports from drivers, including one who reported swerving over four lanes of an interstate when the suspension arm disconnected. Four drivers told NHTSA they temporarily lost control of their vehicles because of the issue.
Toyota says it's developing a plan to fix the problem and will notify owners by mail when it's time to take them to dealers for a free repair.
In the meantime, the company says drivers should contact their dealers if they hear an abnormal sound in the rear of the vehicle.
This is the latest issue for the popular RAV4, which is currently involved in a government investigation of door fires that have been linked to power window switches.
Last year, RAV4s from the 2007 and 2008 model years were recalled because their air bags could go off without warning. And two years ago, RAV4s from the 2009 and 2010 model years were among the millions of vehicles Toyota recalled for sticky gas pedals.
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