Toyota issues recalls for 6.4 million vehicles worldwide

Fri April 11, 2014

It looks like 2014 may go down as the year of recalls. We were already at a record pace, and now it seems Toyota is recalling 6.39 million vehicles worldwide, including about 30 of its models for a variety of problems.{{more}} None of the faults have caused any injuries or fatalities, but there have been two reports of fires caused by a defective engine starter motor.

Toyota’s numbers show 1.772 million vehicles being recalled in the US, but that includes some overlap because the Yaris is being repaired for multiple faults. According to The Detroit News, there are 2.36 million affected models in all of North America, 1.09 million in Japan and 810,000 in Europe, plus smaller numbers in other regions. Toyota tells us that there are 6.76-million faults to repair in total, with those problems spread out over the aforementioned 6.39-million units.

Among the vehicles recalled in the US are 1.3 million units of the 2009-2010 Corolla, Matrix and Tacoma, the 2008-2010 Highlander, the 2006-2008 RAV4 and 2006-2010 Yaris. The problem is that the driver’s airbag module is attached via a spiral electrical cable. The connections on the cable can be damaged when the steering wheel is turned, which could deactivate the airbag and cause the airbag warning light to come on. Toyota is replacing the cable with an improved part, but it’s still making preparations to begin the repair. The company is sending affected owners notifications in the mail. According to The Detroit News, an unspecified number of Pontiac Vibe vehicles are also included in this recall because it shares the part with the Matrix.

A second US recall affects about 472,500 2006-2010 Yaris hatchbacks, 2007-2010 Yaris sedans and 2008-2010 Scion xD models. The seat rails on the driver’s seat and for hatchback models on the front passenger seat as well

have faulty springs to lock the seat to the mechanism, especially if the seats are adjusted often. If a spring brakes, the seat may not lock the seat into position, which could increase injury in a crash.

Worldwide, the spiral connector recall affects 3.5-million vehicles and the seat lock issue 2.32-million units.

Toyota will replace the seat track assembly on affected cars, but the parts are not in place yet. It will contact owners when repairs begin, but for now, Toyota spokesperson John Hanson tells Autoblog, “We are stepping it up and fixing it as quickly as possible.”

Outside of the US, models are being recalled to repair a bracket holding the steering column, fix the windshield wiper motor and correct a starter motor that could cause fires. (AUTOBLOG)