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Toyota recalls 6.4M vehicles worldwide
(Updated)
It seems like every week we’re telling you about another major recall from a carmaker — and this week it’s Toyota’s turn again.
Toyota’s second largest recall, it includes more than six million cars — half a million in Canada. 27 different models produced from 2004 to last year.
The RAV 4, the Corolla, the Highlander and the Tacoma — all popular models included in the recall — the size of which is significant according to Charlotte Yates, McMaster’s dean of social sciences: “It’s huge and of course following the 2009 recall you think, is there an issue here?”
This recall is related to airbags, or the adjustment rail on seats or engine starters — but toyota says it’s not aware of any accidents caused by the condition. During the recession, Toyota had a crisis of recalls brought on by faulty floor mats, sticky gas pedals and defective brakes. Just last month, Toyota had to pay the U.S. Justice Department $1.2 billion for hiding those defects: “It did have a disastrous impact on their reputation of having number 1 quality. They’ve learned and they’re not going to repeat that mistake. This, following on the heels of GM makes you think, is there any car that’s safe?”
General Motors is currently dealing with a similar complaint — that it failed to report defective ignition switches. Accidents caused by this fault have been linked to 13 deaths.
But some of the cars involved in the latest recall include GM’s Pontiac Vibe and the Subaru Trezia: The reason why so many vehicle types, that tells us a lot about how autos are produced. Global platforms where you integrate the same part, made often by the same manufacturer, into multiple different vehicles. It means that the impact of a defect is much more widespread than it would have been 15 years ago.”
But she says car makers are also more concerned about quality, and reputation for quality, in today’s market.
You can find out whether your car is included in the recall by putting your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in an online database. The link is below.
