Loss of steering is a serious safety issue.
The recalls just keep coming from Toyota Motor Corporation.
The company in Japan announced today that hundreds of thousands of Avalon and Lexus 470 models have steering problems.
While apparently unrelated, both defects can make steering wheel inputs from the driver worthless.
The larger safety recall is for about 373,000 2000-2004 model year Toyota Avalon sedans sold in the United States. It is possible that that the Avalon’s steering lock bar could break. If it does the steering wheel could jam while the Avalon is in motion. The problem mostly occurs when the vehicle is parked, the steering wheel is turned to be locked and the ignition key is removed, according to Toyota.
There have been six reported cases of this condition in the U.S. There are three unconfirmed minor accidents, and no injuries. About 27,000 Avalons will be recalled outside the U.S.
Toyota’s U.S. Lexus luxury division in a separate action is recalling 39,000 2003-2007 model year LX 470 sport utility vehicles to address a steering shaft problem where a snap ring can let go, rendering driver inputs to the steering wheel useless. About 80,000 LX 470s are affected globally.
The steering shaft may "disengage."
Lexus said in a statement that it is not aware of any accidents related to this safety defect.
The design of the steering shaft on involved LX 470s is such that the snap ring on the shaft may disengage when the vehicle experiences an “unusually severe impact” to the front wheels, such as striking a deep pothole.
“If the snap ring becomes disengaged and the steering wheel is then repeatedly turned to the full locked position, the steering shaft may disengage over time,” Lexus said.
The remedy for this defect involves replacing the snap ring with a newly designed one and the installation of an additional component to prevent separation of the steering shaft.
Lexus will begin sending out notification to owners of involved vehicles by first class mail beginning in mid-August 2010, advising them to bring their vehicles to their local Lexus dealer
As part of the Avalon recall, Toyota will replace the steering column, a repair that takes about two hours to complete depending on the dealer’s shop schedule. Toyota will notify owners by first class mail beginning in late August 2010 to bring their vehicles to their local Toyota dealer for replacement of the steering column bracket at no charge to the customer.
Toyota said that the Avalon fix takes about two hours.
Detailed information and answers to questions are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331, or through Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-255-3987 or www.lexus.com/recall.