Toyota Announces Major Recall Affecting Millions of Cars and Trucks | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

What Happened:

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Toyota has announced that it would begin recalling some 7.4 million vehicles across the world, including 2.5 million in the U.S. The reason the auto company gave for the massive recall is a potential fire hazard involving the power-window switches.

The recall is for cars and trucks made between July 2005 and May 2010. Vehicles affected by the recall include the following:

  • Yaris, 2007-2008
  • RAV4, 2007-2009
  • Tundra, 2007-2009
  • Camry, 2007-2009
  • Camry Hybrid, 2007-2009
  • Scion xD, 2008-2009
  • Scion xA, 2008-2009
  • Sequoia, 2008-2009
  • Highlander, 2008
  • Highlander Hybrid, 2008
  • Corolla, 2009
  • Matrix, 2009

The company said the recall was their largest ever dealing with a single part. The recall comes as Toyota is beginning to recover from their last safety scare when millions of other vehicles were recalled due to floor mat issues that may have led to sudden acceleration.

So far there are no known deaths or accidents that have arisen from the faulty power-windows. Engineers said that the circuitry on the driver’s side door panel could become hot and melt if lubricants were applied incorrectly. The company said they are launching the recall as a protective measure before there’s a chance for anything to go wrong.

Toyota said the flawed circuits came from one global parts maker, which it declined to identify. The company first was aware of the safety issue in September of 2008 but only recently determined the cause.

The Virginia Dangerous and Defective Products Lawyers’ Perspective

In a way, it is good that Toyota took the important step of alerting drivers to the risks posed by the power-window switches. On the other hand, the recalls raise questions about why the companies allowed poorly designed and constructed vehicles out of their factories and onto roads to begin with. Also, why did it take so many years for Toyota to launch a recall when it was aware of problems with the circuitry back in 2008?

Attorneys with our Virginia (VA) personal injury law firm have helped several victims of dangerous and defective products recover damages from companies whose negligence or disregard for consumer safety led to injuries. Contact us if this or any other recalled product has jeopardized your safety.

Helpful Info:

Defective and dangerous products come in all shapes and sizes, from cars to cribs and from prescription drugs to building insulation. If you or a family member has been injured, sickened or killed by an unsafe product, you can begin to learn about your legal rights and options by reading this article.

Have Questions?

We maintain a library of attorneys’ answers to frequently asked questions regarding recalled products.


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