Toyota Recalls 2006 Lexus GS 300, IS 350, IS 250

Toyota Motor Sales Announces Safety Recall Campaign On Selected 2006 Lexus GS And IS 250/350 Models. The Lexus recall includes about 34,400 various Lexus models.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., will launch a Safety Recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The campaign involves approximately 34,400 2006 Lexus GS 300 (2WD and AWD), IS 250 (2WD and AWD) and IS 350 models. A possible crack may form over time in two specific fuel pipes in the engine compartment in the affected models. This condition only affects certain 2006 model year IS 250/350 and GS 300 vehicles.

The condition is due to high-stress areas that may have been created in two specific fuel pipes in the engine compartment during the manufacturing process. Combined with other factors such as the presence of corrosive agents in the fuel, a crack may form in the high-stress areas over time that could lead to fuel leakage. There has been one case reported with no related accidents.

TMS will notify owners of the involved vehicles with a Safety Recall notification via first class mail beginning in early December 2007. Newly designed fuel pipes will replace the affected fuel pipes at no charge to vehicle owners at any Lexus dealership.

If you think your Lexus is a lemon due to multiple repair attempts for this or any other issue, contact a lemon law attorney in your state now to find out if you qualify for the lemon law.

Toyota recalls floor mats that jam gas pedals

Toyota Motor Co. will recall floor mats from 55,000 Camry and Lexus ES 350 models due to complaints of unintended acceleration caused by the mats sticking underneath the accelerator pedal, federal safety officials and the automaker said Wednesday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration took the unusual step of highlighting Toyota's recall announcement, advising owners of other Toyota models -- including the Prius hybrid and Avalon sedans -- to ensure their floor mats are properly installed.

"We have also received complaints about the RAV 4" crossover "and Tacoma" pickup, said Rae Tyson, a spokesman for NHTSA. "We will continue to monitor all of the other Toyota vehicles not involved in the recall."

As the Free Press first reported last month, NHTSA had opened an investigation into the floor mats after amassing 40 reports of unintended acceleration in 2007 Lexus ES 350 sedans, including eight crashes and 12 injuries.

Since then, NHTSA has received complaints from owners of other Toyota models about the problem.

In several of the original complaints, drivers said the vehicles only stopped after an accident. One driver told the agency the vehicle had hit speeds of 100 m.p.h. over a 6-mile stretch of freeway due to the problem.

A Michigan woman said the problem caused her to lose control of her Lexus, triggering a rollover crash on I-75 that totaled her car. Because some ES 350s are sold with stop/start buttons rather than traditional ignitions, some drivers said they were unable to shut off the engine by pressing the button as the car accelerated.

At the time, Toyota told safety officials it had identified an optional all-weather floor mat that if not properly secured by clips to the floor could stick under the accelerator pedal; in some cases, Toyota said owners had simply put the rubber mat over the standard floor mats.

The company contended it had dealt with the problem through a mailing to customers earlier this year.

Toyota said Wednesday the recall involves 30,500 mats for the ES 350 and 24,500 mats for the 2007 and 2008 Toyota Camry.

Owners will be told of the recall in October and offered replacement mats in November. The company also warned drivers to check their floor mats and make sure that only one was installed.

Sudden and unintended acceleration cases carry a stigma in the U.S. auto industry, due to the collapse of the Audi brand in the late 1980s following a "60 Minutes" report alleging runaway cars. Federal safety officials later cleared Audi, but it took years for the company to rebuild its reputation.

In a separate move, Nissan Motor Co. said it was recalling nearly 420,000 sport utility vehicles because of possible corrosion in the tube where motorists pump gas.

The recall involves Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 SUVs from the 1997-2001 model years. More than 370,000 of the vehicles under recall were originally sold or are currently registered in 22 cold weather states and the District of Columbia. Another 45,000 vehicles are in Canada.

Justin Hyde
Free Press Business Writer