NEWS:
Toyota recalls 22,000
vehicles over tire pressure monitors
DETROIT NEWS -- March
5, 2011 – Toyota Motor Corp. said
Saturday is recalling 22,000 SUVs and
pickups that have faulty tire pressure
monitoring systems — the latest safety
campaign issued by the Japanese automaker.
The recall
covers some versions of 2008-2011 Toyota FJ
Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tacoma and
Tundra vehicles.
Under federal
regulations, the vehicle's tire pressure
monitoring systems must warn the driver not
more than 20 minutes after the inflation
pressure in a tire is equal to or less than
either the pressure 25 percent below the
recommended pressure.
Toyota said
the recall covers accessory wheels approved
by Toyota that were installed at vehicle
processing centers prior to distribution to
dealers or by dealers prior to first sale.
When the
tires were changed, the tire pressure
monitoring systems were not recalibrated
correctly and do not start illuminating the
low tire pressure warning sign at the
required minimum activation pressure, Toyota
said.
Toyota will
reset the system in most of the vehicles so
they alert drivers as required.
For the FJ
Cruiser, the tire pressure monitoring system
computer module will be changed because it
cannot be reset.
Toyota
spokesman .. said Saturday that the company
is unaware of any crashes or injuries
related to the tire pressure system recall.
Toyota hasn't
decided on a recall schedule yet.
Toyota has
recalled 2.45 million vehicles this year in
five campaigns after leading all automakers
in recalls in 2009 and 2010, with about 11.8
million vehicles called back over the
two-year period.
Last month,
Toyota issued three separate recall
campaigns for 2.17 million for pedal
entrapment issues. The recalls ended the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration's year-long investigation
into whether Toyota had recalled enough
vehicles connected to sudden unintended
acceleration issues.
MORE RECALL INFO:
MARCH 2011 --
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 FJ Cruiser, Land
Cruiser, Tacoma, Sequoia and Tundra vehicles for failing to comply with the
requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138, "Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)." When factory-installed wheels and tires were replaced
with Toyota authorized accessory wheels and LT tires prior to first sale, the
tire pressure monitoring systems were not re-calibrated correctly and therefore
do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning telltale at the required
minimum activation pressure. Failure to warn of tire deflations is a
non-compliance with FMVSS 138 and could lead to tire failure increasing the risk
of a crash. For the land cruiser, sequoia, Tacoma and tundra vehicles, the
dealer will re-calibrate the tire pressure monitoring system on affected
vehicles and install an updated tire and loading information label at no charge.
For the FJ cruiser vehicles, the TPMS cannot be reset so the electronic control
unit (ECU) for the TPMS will be replaced. Toyota is currently developing the
remedy ECU. If an owner is not certain whether his or her vehicle is equipped
with these accessories, please contact any Toyota dealer for an inspection at no
charge. The safety recall began on March 31, 2011. 11V-148
