Toyota announced a recall of certain RAV4 and Lexus HS 250h units yesterday.
The carmaker determined that rear wheel alignment services on the models lend themselves to compromises in safety. If the nuts on the rear suspension arm are not tightened according to very exact specifications following the procedures, dangerously excessive tension may be placed on the threaded portion of the arm. This occurrence makes the configuration more likely to see rust formation.
If rust occurs, the rear suspension arm's threaded portion may deteriorate and cause the arm to separate.
Toyota believes that the RAV4s affected are from the 2006 model year and go all the way through to the early 2011 model year. The affected Lexus HS 250h's are believed to belong to the 2010 model year. In total, the issue is thought to affect 760,000 RAV4s and 18,000 HS 250h's.
Toyota says that it is working on a solution to the problem; and that once it has one, it will send a first-class letter to vehicle owners advising them to make appointment with their local authorized Toyota or Lexus dealer. The necessary adjustments to the cars will be made at no cost to the owners.
Toyota has seen a woeful amount of recalls in the last few years, and this is not the first to affect the RAV4. As the Huffington Post reminds us, the compact SUV had 2007 and 2008 models recalled for unpredictable airbags, and 2009 and 2010 models recalled because of gas pedals that were prone to sticking.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
