Toyota Issues Recall for 209,000 FJ Cruisers Due to Seat Belt Defect
On March 25, 2013, Toyota Motor Corp. issued a recall for specified FJ Cruiser SUVs from the 2007-2013 model years. The retractors for the vehicles’ front driver and passenger seat belts are mounted in rear-door panels, where cracks can form if the rear doors are forcefully closed repeatedly over a long period. If this happens, the seat belt retractor could detach, which would increase the risk of injury in a crash. In a document filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Toyota said the recall includes 209,000 vehicles.
Click here to read the full report: Defect Information Report
In its report to NHTSA dated March 25, 2013, Toyota advised, “Due to insufficient strength of the access door panel, cracks may develop in the panel if the access door is repeatedly and forcefully closed over an extended period of time.” This can cause the seat belt retractor to detach, increasing the risk of injury.
Click here to read the full Wall Street Journal article: Toyota Recalls More than 200,000 FJs for Seatbelt Flaw
Nissan Issues Recalls for Transmission lever defects in 18,800 Vans
On March 25, 2013, the Chicago Tribune reported that “Nissan is recalling 18,880 model-year 2012 and 2013 NV commercial vans due to a problem with the transmission lever, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.” The affected vehicles were manufactured from December 20, 2010 through January 4, 2013 and are equipped with steering column mounted transmission shift levers. According to the reports, “The transmission lever gear selector plate lock clip may have been installed incorrectly, and normal road vibration could make the gear position indicator not match the gear-shift lever position. If this happens, the gear indicator may falsely display that the vehicle is in park, allowing it to roll away unexpectedly and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.”
Nissan will begin notifying owners April 8, and dealers are available to correct the installation of the transmission lever gear selector plate lock clip for free. For more information, owners may call Nissan at 800-647-7261, or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Americans rely on their car manufactures to provide a safe well-designed vehicle. Sadly, that is not often the case. The Auto Defect Attorneys at the Brandi Law Firm has successfully represented many people injured from defective Toyotas, Fords, GM products and numerous other manufacturers and suppliers. Often times, people involved in accidents don’t examine the issues of defective vehicle design nor whether the car was truly crashworthy- does it contain the appropriate crash protection. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto crash, our attorneys at the Brandi Law Firm are available to consult with you. Please contact our office at 800-481-1615 or email us.