Toyota lobbying leads to brake pad recall

Toyota has enjoyed a win in its war against suppliers of counterfeit parts in Australia.

But rather like Al Capone being done for tax avoidance, the counterfeit part supplier in question has issued a recall notice not because the brake pads supplied were branded as Toyota parts – which Toyota insists they are definitely not – but because they contained asbestos.

In a press release issued yesterday, Toyota revealed that the brake pads being recalled were supplied by a business trading online as Westend Spares. The pads, which fit HiLux and HiAce models, were sold between June 2013 and last month (October 2015).

Westend Spares, according to the press release, has contacted all customers to offer a full refund of the purchase price. Customers are also being asked to dispose of the brake pads or return them to the supplier to be destroyed.

“We were shocked to find an Australian supplier selling counterfeit brake pads containing asbestos,” said Wayne Gabriel, Toyota Australia Corporate Manager.

“Not only have Toyota customers unwittingly bought counterfeit brake pads, but their safety has been put at serious risk.

“We are pleased with the supplier’s swift action and we will continue our ongoing work to stamp out counterfeit parts that put customers’ safety at risk.”

Unlike the issue addressed in our previous report about fake airbags, the asbestos-filled pads have not been sold to or through Toyota's dealer network. Toyota, while pleased that the supplier has recalled the brake pads quickly, did express concern that the same supplier is selling other counterfeit parts, in the form of spiral cables, water pumps and wheel bearings. According to the press release, Toyota is currently in discussion with Westend Spares to negotiate a resolution.

In its report, the ACCC revealed that Westend Spares was selling the pads through eBay and the pads were found to contain chrysotile asbestos (white asbestos). The ACCC recommends three courses of action for customers with the brake pads:

1. Place the brake pads in a plastic bag (ziplock or double bagged and sealed with a knot) or in their original packaging and return to the supplier.
2. Take the brake pads (in a bag or their original packaging) to an authorised asbestos disposal facility. Your nearest asbestos disposal facility can be located with the online tool on the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) website (asbestossafety.gov.au/search-disposal-facilities). It is the law that any materials containing asbestos must be disposed of at licensed facilities.
3. Consumers can also ask Westend Spares to reimburse them with any reasonable disposal costs and they should retain receipts for this purpose. Consumers should not send these products in the mail.