Toyota Australia recalls almost 300,000 vehicles

Update, April 28, 2014: Toyota has expanded its recall to include the Prado SUV. 2050 units of Toyota's popular off-road wagon, built between September 2009 and June 2010, are affected, the company advises. The problem is the same concern that prompted the recall of the HiLux (now reduced from 179,000 to 142,900 vehicles affected). A spiral cable between the steering wheel and steering column may be worn prematurely by repeated turning of the wheel. This would lead to the driver's airbag malfunctioning and the fault light for the airbag illuminating.

One of the biggest vehicle recalls in Toyota Australia's history has been issued, with 118,600 Toyota Yaris models built between June 2005 and May 2010 and 179,000 HiLux utes built between April 2004 and December 2009 affected.

Australia's number one car brand is calling the recall of two of its most popular models -- 297,600 vehicles in all -- as a "preventative measure" for an airbag issue in the HiLux and a seat latching concern in the Yaris. This recall affects 6.4 million vehicles globally.

The announcement is just a few hundred units shy of Toyota's local October 2012 recall in which 297,931 cars were potentially afflicted with dodgy window switches. That was part of a global recall affecting 7.4 million vehicles.

Earlier again, in 2009 and 2010, more than 10 million Toyotas were recalled globally for issues relating to unintended acceleration. Just last month Toyota was hit with a $US1.2 billion fine by the US Attorney General's office, after misleading the public in its communication of that particular recall.

In the latest recall, Toyota Australia's top-selling HiLux ute is being recalled due a faulty cable that can result in the driver's airbag failing to inflate during a collision.

Ironically, Toyota's HiLux is heavily promoted as "unbreakable".

The company says a spiral cable located in the steering column can become damaged if the steering wheel is "repeatedly turned". This, in turn, can cause an error with the SRS airbag warning light, fooling the car into thinking it's inoperable.

In a worst-case scenario, "the driver's airbag may not deploy in the event of an accident, which may increase the risk of injury to the driver," says Toyota.

According to an official press statement, the Toyota Yaris recall was issued "due to the possibility that if the seat is moved forwards and backwards frequently the spring locking the driver's seat track in position may break."

Toyota says if the seat locking mechanism fails, it could increase the risk of injury. There is also the possibility that the seat may appear to be locked securely in position but is actually only held by the broken spring being jammed in place.

This potential problem may be of particular concern for owners of three-door Yaris hatchbacks, whose front seats often see more work due to back-seat passengers moving them around to enter and exit the vehicle.

"There have been no reports of any accidents or injuries as the result of this condition," Toyota said in press statements concerning both recalls.

Toyota says that despite the massive recall, owners vehicles will be repaired free of charge.

Owners will be asked to schedule an appointment with an authorised Toyota dealer to fix the problems.

In both cases Toyota says owners can continue to drive their vehicles.

HiLux owners will be sent letters from late July, which is when Toyota will begin taking delivery of new parts to rectify the problem. The company says it will take around one hour to rectify the issue.

The Yaris seat issue takes much longer to correct – between 90 minutes and three hours, says Toyota – because the driver's seat has to be removed and the seat rails replaced. Yaris owners will be notified by mail from early May, which is when Toyota will take delivery of the parts necessary to fix the seats.

Globally, the recalls affect 6.76 million vehicles, but because some vehicles are involved in more than one recall only 6.39 million are being called back.

Apart from faulty spiral cables in driver’s airbags (totalling 3.5 million vehicles) and potential locking problems with seat rails (2.32 million), the litany of problems found overseas also includes failing steering column brackets (760,000), windscreen wipers with drainage problems (160,000) and possible fire hazards in starter motors (20,000).

Outside Australia, the airbag cable issue also affects the RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Kluger/Highlander, Tacoma, Reiz, Fortuner, Innova, Prado and Camry models.

Concerned owners can call the Toyota Australia recall helpline on 1800 643 242.