More than 600,000 Toyota pickup trucks and SUVs were voluntarily recalled in the U.S. last week due to various problems that could increase the risk of accidents, the vehicle maker said.
The initial announcement on February 21 stated that approximately 280,000 vehicles, including 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra, Tundra Hybrid and Lexus LX600 vehicles and 2023-2024 Sequoia Hybrid vehicles, were being recalled. Because “certain parts of the transmission may not disengage immediately when the vehicle is shifted into neutral,” Toyota said in a statement.
The defect “may result in some engine power continuing to be transferred to the wheels and cause the vehicle to inadvertently crawl forward at low speed when on a flat surface and not braked, resulting in an increased risk of an accident.” said Toyota.
A defect information report posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website said affected vehicles could “inadvertently crawl forward at low speeds (up to about 4 miles per hour).”
The second recall announced Tuesday affected approximately 381,000 2022 and 2023 Toyota Tacoma pickups, according to the company.
Toyota said in a statement that weld residue on the ends of the rear axle assembly “could cause the nuts to loosen over time and eventually fall off, potentially causing a part to separate from the axle.”
“If a separation occurs, it may affect vehicle stability and braking performance, increasing the risk of an accident,” Toyota said.
Amanda Roark, a spokeswoman for Toyota, said in an email that only the 2022 and 2023 Tacoma models were “affected by this recall.”
“If the vehicle is operated with the nuts loosened, the driver may experience vibrations, hear an unusual noise and/or observe a differential oil leak,” she said.
Toyota declined to comment on whether any of the problems that led to the recalls resulted in accidents or injuries.
Owners of affected vehicles will be notified of the recalls by the end of April, Toyota said, and should contact their local dealers for appropriate repairs.