Toyota, Chrysler announce major recalls
The 2009 Tacoma is part of Toyota’s recall of 700,000 vehicles. Credit: Handout
Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. said Wednesday that it's recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles, including 495,000 Tacoma trucks that need a steering wheel repair.
Separately, Chrysler said it is recalling about 200,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs, because a key part could break and cause a crash.
The Tacoma recall includes trucks made during the 2005 through 2009 model years that need to have their steering wheel spiral cable assemblies replaced, Toyota said. Friction may occur in some vehicles between the assembly's spiral cable and the retainer and, over time, cut the connection to the driver's air bag.
That could cause the air bag to be deactivated, preventing it from deploying during a crash, Toyota said.
In addition, the automaker is recalling about 70,500 Camry sedans made during the 2009 model year and about 116,000 Venza crossovers made during the 2009 through 2011 model years, to replace their stop lamp switches.
Toyota said that during installation of the switch, silicon grease may have reached the inside of the switch and caused an increase in electrical resistance.
That could cause warning lights to illuminate, keep the vehicle from starting, or prevent it from shifting out of park, Toyota said.
Toyota said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by these two problems.
The Chrysler recall affects certain 2004 and 2005 model year Jeeps, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website.
The Libertys were originally sold, or are currently registered in, 20 "salt belt" states, including New York.
Road crews in those states traditionally use salt to melt ice and snow during the winter months, which can cause vehicle corrosion.
NHTSA says some of the vehicles in question may have rear lower control arms that could break as a result of corrosion and lead to a crash. -- AP
