WASHINGTON – Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. is offering to replace the rear hatch struts on nearly 200,000 Toyota Sienna minivans because the struts may deteriorate and allow the liftgate to drop unexpectedly.
The affected vehicles have power-operated hatches and were built for the 2004-06 model years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had investigated complaints about the hatches since late 2006. The agency and automaker collected more than 400 complaints involving 98 reported injuries.
Toyota says the strut replacement is a “safety improvement campaign,” not a safety recall as defined by federal law.
Chris Tinto, vice president for technical and regulatory affairs at Toyota Motor North America Inc., said the company resisted the recall designation because the potential for injury is low, and most complaints were about bumps and bruises.
Still, notices to owners scheduled to go out in August will tell customers that their vehicles are being recalled, Toyota said in a letter to the NHTSA.
If gas-filled struts deteriorate, an opened liftgate might drop quickly about 10 inches and then continue to close, a NHTSA report said.
During the inadvertent drop, the liftgate exerts “an extremely high force to an object or a person in its path,” NHTSA investigators said. They called some injuries “serious.”
Toyota had offered an extended warranty on the struts, but the NHTSA said the offer did nothing to prevent accidents.
Separately, the NHTSA said Toyota is replacing retractor components on third-row seat belts in about 90,000 Toyota Highlanders and Highlander Hybrids built for the 2008 model year because they may not hold some child safety seats securely.
Ford Motor Co. said it will notify owners of about 606,000 pickups that dealers will replace a brake booster vacuum hose. Affected vehicles are 2005-06 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT trucks, all with 5.4-liter, three-valve engines.
The NHTSA said the hose may deteriorate and detach from the intake manifold, making brakes harder to use. The agency and Ford Motor collected more than 300 complaints, including reports of 14 crashes.
Other recalls reported by automakers to the NHTSA:
Problem: Air-conditioning condenser fan motor corrodes, may overheat and burn.
Repair: Install thermal protection kit; test motor and replace it if damaged.
Number of affected vehicles: 181,000.
Problem: Front-impact air bags may deploy too forcefully in low-speed crashes.
Fix: Replace front crash sensors.
Number: 77,000.
Problem: Trailer hitch receiver may separate from attachment bar.
Fix: Reweld assembly.
Number: 53,000.
Problem: Ignition-transmission interlock fails, creating rollaway danger.
Fix: Install spring and cam assembly to prevent removal of ignition key unless transmission is in park.
Number: 73,000.
Problem: Engine stalls under certain conditions.
Fix: Reprogram power control module.
Number: 24,000.
Problem: Wiring harness chafes on transaxle mount, creating fire hazard.
Fix: Install tie wrap to secure harness; repair damaged wiring.
Number: 6,700.
Problem: Rear axle hub nuts loosen; half-shaft may separate from wheel hub.
Fix: Replace hub nuts.
Number: 5,500.
Problem: Brake lights and rear hazard lights fail.
Fix: Replace hazard switch carrier.
Number: 5,900.
Some repairs involve parts replacement, but a sufficient supply of parts may not be available at all dealerships. It is best to contact the dealer of your choice to schedule an appointment.
