Thursday, September 29, 2011

Toyota Announces Yet Another Major Recall - Is Your Toyota Safe to Drive?

Yesterday, the world's largest automanufacturer announced yet another huge, voluntary recall of its product due to safety concerns. Toyota Corp. is recalling over 1.5 million cars currently on the roads, over 750,000 of them here on U.S. roadways. (Read the Toyota announcement here.)

  • Avalon (2005 and 2006 models)
  • Highlander (non-hybrid) (2004, 2005, and 2006 models)
  • Lexus RX330 (2004, 2005, and 2006 models)
  • Lexus GS300 (2006)
  • Lexus IS250 (2006)
  • Lexus IS350 (2006)
Toyota has built a reputation for producing high-quality motor vehicles meeting the needs of various family budgets. Most of us have owned (or own) a Toyota product, or we know someone who does. So, it's extremely disconcerting to learn about YET ANOTHER RECALL by Toyota.

If you've been keeping track, this week's recall brings the total number of Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs that have been recently recalled by the manufacturer to over 12,000,000 vehicles. Vehicles driven by drivers blissfully unaware of the possiblity of failing brakes, sudden acceleration, etc.
Vehicles now the subject of numerous car accident claims and wrongful death lawsuits. There are so many pending lawsuits right now on sudden acceleration issues alone that the plaintiffs' cases are being consolidated in federal courts as part of multi-district litigation to streamline the 200+ lawsuits that have been served against Toyota.

Is there a Toyota model that HASN"T been the subject of a recent recall?
If you or a loved one drives a Toyota, car pools with someone who drives a Toyota, or really is just driving along the road alongside a Toyota, then think about it. Just consider this list of popular Toyota models that have all been recalled in the past 24 months:
  • Avalon
  • Camry
  • Corolla
  • Highlander
  • Matrix
  • Prius
  • RAV4
  • Sequoia
  • Sienna
  • Tacoma
  • Tundra
  • VENZA
From a legal perspective, these questions arise:
How many minor car wrecks much less major car crashes and auto accidents will be the result of a Toyota failure?

How responsible is the Toyota owner for getting their recalled vehicle repaired?
If a recalled, unrepaired Toyota is involved in a crash, who's legally liable -- the driver, or the car manufacturer? Do they share the blame?

If you drive a Toyota, call the company and ask if you need to take the car in for recall repair (it's free): 1-800-331-4331. (They also have a recall list online at http://www.toyota.com/recall/.)

By Bryant Esquenazi on October 21, 2010 11:38 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment