Toyota has been forced to recall more than 43,000 of its trucks due to defects that could pose a significant risk of accidents.
The automaker has recalled 43,395 of its 2023-2024 Sequoia hybrids in the United States after identifying a potential issue with the vehicles’ trailer hitches.
A trailer hitch is a device located on the rear of a car that is used to connect a trailer to the car so that it can be towed.
‘The vehicles in question are equipped with a resin trailer hitch cover attached by moulded clips to the rear bumper.’ Toyota explained.
‘Due to the design of the fixing structure between the tow hitch cover and the bumper, the retention of the cover may be insufficient.’
Therefore, trailer hitch covers can become detached and become a road hazard while driving, increasing the chances of an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Toyota recalls 43,395 of its 2023-2024 Sequoia Hybrids
Owners of affected vehicles have been urged to take their cars to a dealer to have the towbar cover replaced and the rear bumper modified, free of charge.
According to Toyota, letters notifying all owners of recalled vehicles will be sent by the end of October.
Owners can also call Toyota Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331 with recall reference numbers 24TB10 and 24TA10 to find out if their vehicle may be affected.
Toyota is not aware of how many of the recalled vehicles might actually have the defect.
Although most of the affected vehicles were sold in the United States, about 2,000 were also sold in Central and South America, as well as the Middle East, and were recalled.
It is the latest Toyota recall this summer after the automaker recalled more than 100,000 Lexus cars and trucks in June.
The Japanese automaker has recalled 102,000 2022-23 Tundra and LX vehicles in the United States over concerns that dangerous machinery debris was left in their engines during production.
The manufacturing fault occurred during the assembly process of the V35A-FTS engine where debris may not have been removed.
“During a specific production period, there is a possibility that engine machining debris of a particular size and quantity may not have been removed from the engine during manufacturing,” the company said.
The problem can cause the engine to knock, run rough, not start or lose power, it said in a statement.
The Japanese automaker also recalled 102,000 2022-23 Tundra and LX vehicles in June.
“A loss of motive power when driving at high speeds may increase the risk of a crash,” Toyota warned in the recall notice.
Other automakers have also been forced to issue product recalls recently due to serious safety concerns.
In August, Ford and Mazda warned owners of 477,000 older vehicles in the United States not to drive them because they had deadly airbags.
Takata airbags explode with excessive force, throwing metal fragments at drivers and passengers, safety regulators said.
The recall covered 374,000 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles from the 2004 through 2014 model years and nearly 83,000 Mazdas from the 2003 through 2015 model years.
The vehicles are part of the largest recall in U.S. history. More than 400 Americans were injured and 27 died from the airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).