Toyota recalling nearly 40k Highlanders fitted with... optional stainless exhaust tip?!
Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are announcing an equipment safety recall on the Japanese automaker's 2008 Highlanders and Highlander Hybrid models.
On the 2008 model year crossover, the optional stainless steel exhaust tip retention clamp apparently has a manufacturing defect that can cause it to develop microscopic cracks, and in the worst case, fall off. We're not entirely clear on why this warrants a full-blown safety recall (perhaps to avoid the possibility of road debris), but in any case, NHTSA reports that ten incidents have been filed and the recall is moving forward. Overall, only 39,100 clamps are suspected to be flawed, but Toyota is notifying all 121,000 Highlander owners in case they bought the add-on exhaust finisher at their local dealer's parts counter.
You can read the full press release after the jump, and contact your dealer for an inspection and fix if necessary.
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE
Toyota Announces Equipment Safety Recall on Select Vehicles
TORRANCE, Calif., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. will launch an Equipment Safety Recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involving approximately 39,100 Toyota Stainless Steel Exhaust Tip retention Clamps. This optional accessory was designed specifically for 2008 model year Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles sold in the United States.
Due to improper heat treatment, the original clamp used to secure the stainless steel exhaust tip to the exhaust pipe may develop microscopic cracks. If this occurs, the crack may expand causing the clamp to break and in the worst case the exhaust tip may fall off.
There are approximately 39,100 accessory kits that may be affected by this condition. Because this accessory is installed at the Toyota vehicle processing centers and dealers, and is available over-the-counter, all of approximately 121,000 vehicle owners will be notified.
There have been ten reported incidents of this condition in the United States; no other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this recall.
Toyota will inform owners of the involved vehicles with a Safety Recall notification via first-class mail beginning in early May. The notification will include inspection instructions for owners to determine if their vehicle is equipped with this accessory. Affected owners are requested to contact their local Toyota dealer for inspection and repair.
Customers with questions or concerns should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Franz 5:34PM (4/28/2009)
..............................................................
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asng15 6:35PM (4/28/2009)
it's normal for the first year production, still the best in class
Taglane 5:37PM (4/28/2009)
................okay
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Jon 5:38PM (4/28/2009)
Good thing I threw some Ray's Custom Exhaust on my Mom's Highlander Hybrid. Thing screams. Well, when the engine is running at least.
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MP 5:45PM (4/28/2009)
I have one of these peices of crap. I never should have traded my RAV4 in for this huge turd. It's noisey load and the quality is for crap. Very unhappy.
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UH2L 5:51PM (4/28/2009)
What has gone wrong with it?
zamafir 6:22PM (4/28/2009)
I'm also eager to hear, having had a trouble free first year and having taken many significant road trips with the truck.
Tricky dicky 5:51PM (4/28/2009)
calling all riced out highlanders.. Looks good - to keep the million yaris and 215k lexus already recalled in 09 company.
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P.V. 5:53PM (4/28/2009)
That's a weird reason for a full-scale recall.
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Turall 6:01PM (4/28/2009)
roffel.
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Sea Urchin 6:03PM (4/28/2009)
"perhaps to avoid the possibility of road debris"---------Could be a serious issue.
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Swede 6:16PM (4/28/2009)
LOL
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mikemaj82 7:06PM (4/28/2009)
Now these are the types of things that GM should have been on top of as well!
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Kimura 7:12PM (4/28/2009)
Maybe instead of recalling exhaust tips falling off they should be more focused on recalling 2000-2001 Tundra whose frames are rotting...
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TigerMil 7:15PM (4/28/2009)
Betcha they'll think twice before sourcing their crap clamps in China.
Watch out for counterfeit fasteners. Grade 8 means nada in Chinese...oops....it means 'screw the gaijin'
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DCorbett 7:20PM (4/28/2009)
Except that gaijin is a Japanese word, not a Chinese one...
jinsei888 8:05PM (4/28/2009)
This is almost as stupid as when Mini had to recall the performance exhaust because it was burning peoples' legs...human complaint fail!
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ambientFLIER 10:02PM (4/28/2009)
Actually, the Mini incident made a LOT more sense than this recall. People were actually getting hurt, even if it WAS their fault. This is just...stupid.
icu812ru469 9:10PM (4/28/2009)
Pure PR. Pretty easy "fix" of something and makes it look like "they care" by fixing the smallest things. Good move on Toyota's part.
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Tom 10:46PM (4/28/2009)
I love seeing Toyota's quality continue to keep falling and falling...... :)
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