Ford, now Toyota, watch out automakers, you know everything comes in threes. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. announced today two voluntary recalls in concerns for safety. Owners of affected vehicles will receive notification by mail. The company also directs customers to its websites and the Customer Experience Center.
The first involves 2006-2010 model year Highlander Hybrids and 2006-2008 model year Lexus RX 400h’s, about 133,000 vehicles total. The hybrid system’s inverter assembly transistors can be damaged by heat from variations in characteristics of the transistors built in parallel circuits. If this happens, warning lights on the instrument panel will light up and in limited incidents, the hybrid system will shut down, preventing the vehicle from being driven.
The second covers 2006-2011 model year Lexus IS 350, IS 350C and GS 350 vehicles, numbering approximately 102,000. The concern involves bolts used to secure the variable valve timing control devices, which can come loose and stop the vehicle while it is being driven. Early warning signals include odd noises post-start-up.
The company also revealed today that August was a banner month in comparison to Augusts of the past, posting August 2013 sales up 18.4% year-over-year. Toyota division group vice president and general manager, Bill Fay, complimented the auto industry as a, “bright spot in the economic recovery.”
The recalls also involve Toyota brand vehicles across the globe, adding up to a total 369,000 covered. Spokespersons state that no accidents or injuries have been called in over the security concerns.
This follows a series of recalls in June over braking issues in the Prius and Lexus hybrids, April recalls for airbag defects and October 2012 recalls over power window malfunctions.
Company-sponsored Twitter and Facebook accounts are keeping silent, focusing more on fun factoids and features about the vehicles and leaving the heavy lifting to corporate websites and the US Post Office.
Testing one mom’s patience while testing the spaciousness of the #LexusRX. #6SecondTestDrives http://t.co/Htldi0h5y9
— Lexus (@Lexus) September 4, 2013
Though perhaps this Tweet was conveniently placed:
#LetsGoPlaces safely. Learn about the #safety features that are available in our vehicles. WATCH: http://t.co/MYTEr6pWyk #themoreyouknow
— Toyota USA (@Toyota) September 4, 2013
[Image via Facebook.]