Toyota recall: Tacomas, Venzas, Camrys on the list
Toyota recall involves nearly 700,000 cars from model years 2005 to 2011. The Toyota recall this time involves flaws in the air-bag system and a lamp switch.
A Toyota Camry is seen at the Chicago Auto Show in this 2010 file photo. The Japanese automaker said Wednesday that it will recall about 495,000 Tacoma pickup trucks from model years 2005 to 2009 to replace a part in the steering wheel. It is also recalling about 70,500 Camry mid-sized cars and 116,000 Venza crossover vehicles from model years 2009 to 2011 to replace a stop lamp switch.
John Gress/Reuters/File
LOS ANGELES
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to recall almost 700,000 vehicles because of a variety of safety issues.
Chrysler Group also announced a big recall.
Toyota said it will recall 495,000 Tacoma trucks from the 2005 to 2009 model years to replace the steering wheel spiral cable assembly.
The automaker has detected friction in the cable assembly that can disconnect the driver's airbag, preventing deployment in a crash.
Additionally, Toyota will recall 2009 Camry sedans and 2009 to 2011 Venza vehicles to replace the stop lamp switch. Approximately 70,500 Camrys and 116,000 Venzas are covered by this recall. The Camry is the best-selling passenger car in the United States.
Toyota said that during the installation of the switch at one of its North American assembly lines, silicon grease may have reached the inside of the switch and caused an increase in electrical resistance.
"If this occurs, warning lamps on the instrument panel may be illuminated, the vehicle may not start, or the shift lever may not shift from the 'park' position. In some cases, the vehicle stop lamps may become inoperative," the automaker said.
Meanwhile, Chrysler is recalling about 210,000 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles originally in Midwestern and Eastern Seaboard states that use road salt during the winter months. Corrosion issues with rear lower control arms could cause a driver to lose control of the SUV.