Toyota Tacoma Recall, Defective Seatbelts
Posted on August 8, 2013 Written By: iadminlaw
2001-2004 Toyota Tacoma photographed in College Park, Maryland, USA. Category:Toyota Tacoma (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Toyota is recalling 342,000 midsize Tacoma pickup trucks because of potential faulty performance from the front seat belts.
The recall affects 2004 to 2001 Access Cab models with a small door to the rear passenger compartment.
In a statement on Wednesday, Toyota said “In the involved vehicles, screws that attach the seatbelt pre-tensioner to the seatbelt retractor within the seatbelt assembly for the driver and front passenger can come loose over time due to repeatedly and forcefully closing the access door.”
“If the screws loosen completely, the seatbelt pre-tensioner and the retractor spring cover could detach from the seatbelt retractor, which can affect retractor and pre-tensioner performance.”
According to Toyota, no crashes or injuries have been reported from the problem.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees vehicle recalls in the U.S., has not posted any information about the recall.
Owners of the affected models will be notified via first class mail and should bring the cars into their local dealerships to have them fixed free of charge.
Owners can reach Toyota at (800) 331-4331 for more information.
As mentioned above, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration keeps statistics on automobile recalls in the United States. Their tables show that nationally, a total of 15,500,000 vehicles were recalled in 2011, and 20,000,000 in 2010. The organization says that “Auto recalls can happen for a number of reasons, sometimes severe safety issues or subtle manufacturing defects.”
If you own a vehicle that falls under this particular—or any other—manufacturer recall, you should immediately follow the instructions provided by your dealer, before driving it again. If you are involved in an accident due to a vehicle malfunction, whether or not the model has been subject to recall, do not hesitate to call a top product liability attorney. You deserve remuneration for your loss. The law provides injured people with valuable rights, but those rights can be forfeited by taking too long or guessing at the value of your case. It’s hard, nigh on impossible, to navigate the complexities of the law on your own, without training or experience. Waste no time in contacting a top California product liability attorney. iAccidentLawyer provides you with the lawyer who ensures that you are aptly compensated. You will have peace of mind knowing that one of the nation’s best product liability lawyers is on your team, fighting for your rights.
