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ASSOCIATED PRESS
A global recall of nearly 2.9 million Toyota SUVs was prompted by a Canadian investigation into a crash that killed two people. U.S. safety regulators revealed the probe in documents posted today.
DETROIT » An investigation by Canadian safety regulators into a crash that killed two people touched off a global recall of nearly 2.9 million Toyota SUVs, according to U.S. government documents posted today.
Last week Toyota announced the huge recall because the rear seat belts can be cut in a severe crash. If that happens, the belts won’t restrain passengers.
Canadian investigators found the problem in crash tests done after two rear-seat passengers died in a May, 2011, collision in Eastern Canada between a Toyota RAV4 and a Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The front-seat occupants survived.
The unusual crash drew interest from Canadian regulators, who did crash tests in October and found that the belts could come in contact with a metal seat cushion frame in a severe crash. Transport Canada, the Canadian auto safety regulator, presented its findings to Toyota, which did its own investigation and confirmed the problem, according to a Transport Canada statement.
“As a result of the department’s investigation into this safety issue, lives will be saved in Canada and around the world,” Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said in a statement. The Canadian government said that Toyota Canada cooperated in the probe and was not aware of the safety issue until Transport Canada’s investigation.
Included in the recall are 1.25 million RAV4s in the U.S. and Canada from the 2006 through 2012 model years and the RAV4 electric vehicle from 2012 through 2014. Also included is the Vanguard sold in Japan from 2005 to 2016, the Japanese automaker said last week. Vehicles in Europe and China also are affected.
Toyota says dealers will add plastic covers to the frame at no cost to customers.
SUV and pick up truck have a relaxed safely standard then cars have. With a flat cargo area, it is presumed that no people will be riding in the back, unlike a car which is made to carry more passengers. That’s why the Neon was converted to a PT Cruiser with a foldable flat cargo area.
No matter how bad Toyota is now (multiple recalls every year on nearly every model) the lemmings (mostly older Japanese males here) will continue to go into Toyota dealer here (Servco monopoly) and blindly buy the Toyota brand with no remorse and without even considering any other brands.
Yes…I don’t get it either. It isn’t like American car manufacturers have a record of killing their customers through poor design and good old negligent behavior.
Can you say “Ford Pinto?” I knew you could.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a6700/top-automotive-engineering-failures-ford-pinto-fuel-tanks/
Or even Ford Mustang. The early models were fire-traps with the potential of exploding gas tanks. Yet, decades later, it’s as popular as ever.
Loyalty misguided? Myself have owned 3 Buicks and Pontiacs, 2
Oldsmobiles and Chevies, 1 Ford, 1 Plymouth, 2 Civics, 1 Toyota and Lexus, and 1 MB. The GM cars were purchased while working for a car dealer preparing his monthly GM financial reports, plus state quarterly tax returns. During that time replaced the car every 2 years after garnerin over 20 K miles each.
What no, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, or Bentley? cojef better get in the groove.
Simple – most consumer reports show Toyotas are most reliable vehicles. People don’t just “blindly” buy cars/trucks.
Well then, I guess these so-called lemmings blindly follow the reports. Crazy lemmings.
It’s all about the treatment at the service department. Toyota is still the best compared to the domestic counterparts which don’t know who you are the second after you sign the contract.
My puppies chewed right through my seat belts.
That would explain a few things….