Toyota Voluntarily Recalls 90,000 Tacoma Pickups

08/26/96

Friday's Dallas Morning News reported that Toyota plans to recall about 90,000 1995 and 1996 Tacoma pickup trucks that were designed and manufactured in California. A potential structural flaw could affect the trucks' suspension and steering. The recall will only affect two-wheel-drive Tacomas. Toyota said that notification letters would be sent out before September 1.

Toyota told the Dallas Newspaper that it notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the possible problem in July. The NHTSA decided the problem was not serious enough to warrant a high-profile safety recall, thus clearing the way for Toyota to begin a voluntary recall.

Toyota says the potential flaw in the front strut towers was unlikely to cause problems under normal driving conditions. Hydraulic suspension pieces attached to the towers could crack in "severe and unusual driving conditions," possibly causing a suspension strut to collapse or break off, which might affect a driver's control of the truck.

Toyota said only 12 Tacoma pickups have been found to have the problem, so far, and but one of those were used for commercial purposes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had received no complaints about the truck from individuals.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel