Another Toyota Recall

Toyota to recall Sequoia SUVs to repair stability control units


Automotive News
April 28, 2010 - 11:41 am EST

UPDATED: 4/28/10 4:51 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., which recalled Lexus GX sport-utility vehicles this month because stability controls failed to engage fast enough, is recalling Sequoia SUVs to adjust a control system that drivers say is too aggressive.

Toyota, the world's largest carmaker, told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today 50,000 of the 2003 Sequoias are covered in the recall. The agency has been investigating the defect since 2008. About half those vehicles had the control unit adjusted after a technical service bulletin was sent to dealers, said John Hanson, a Toyota spokesman.

“We have customer complaints dating back to 2003” that vehicle stability control “kicked in at times it shouldn't have, maybe too early,” said Hanson, based at Toyota's U.S. sales unit in Torrance, Calif.

Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles worldwide in the past year for defects that may cause unintended acceleration in its cars and trucks. The company on April 19 said it would recall the Lexus GX 460 SUV after Consumer Reports magazine rated it a “safety risk” because the model can roll over in certain driving conditions.

“Toyota is cooperating with NHTSA's request to issue a safety recall of the 2003 Sequoia,” said Julia Piscitelli, an agency spokeswoman. “NHTSA has been investigating electronic stability control malfunctions which have turned up 163 safety- related failure incidents” reported to the agency or Toyota.

The VSC system can help control a loss of traction in turns as a result of front or rear tire slippage during cornering. In vehicles without the upgrade, the VSC system could, in limited situations, activate at low speed (approximately 9 mph) for a few seconds after acceleration from a stopped position and, as a result, the vehicle may not accelerate as quickly as the driver expects. There have been no reported injuries or accidents as a result of this condition.

Toyota instituted a running production change during the 2003 model year and published a Technical Service Bulletin to address this issue when it was first identified in fall 2003. Since that time, Toyota has been responding to individual owner concerns by replacing the Skid Control Engine Control Unit (ECU) in Sequoias impacted by this condition. Of the approximately 50,000 vehicles included in this recall, approximately half have already been serviced under warranty.

Starting in late May, Toyota will begin mailing letters to all 2003 Model-Year Sequoia owners included in this recall, including owners of vehicles that have been previously serviced. If a customer has previously paid to replace the Skid Control ECU for this specific condition prior to receiving a letter, the customer should mail a copy of their repair order, to the following address for reimbursement consideration: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Toyota Customer Experience, WC 10, 19001 South Western Avenue, Torrance, CA 90509.

Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.